A high tunnel is defined by growing fruit or vegetables in a greenhouse, but the plants are grown in the ground and no heat is provided. High tunnels can be used to extend the production time, allowing local farmers to produce fruit or vegetables during times of the year that normally would not be possible. High tunnels are somewhat new to the Buffalo Trace area and many Mason County residents never seen one. A tunnel is a great resource because farmers can plant month’s earlier, in comparison to growing outdoors 

A Mason County producer wanted to live off their own farm but found it impossible to have produce during off months of late fall and winter, so they decided to install a high tunnel. Having a high tunnel for the first time can be difficult for many producers because there is a learning curve in producing vegetable in a new environment. In 2017 the producers attended 20 out 25 vegetables classes offered and had a direct impact of increasing their knowledge by 100%. Best practice management and techniques learned at classes directly impacted the high tunnel producer’s production and increased their produce for farmers market, growing their business where they were able to join two farmers markets and sell four to five days a week. In 2018 they plan to grow vegetables in the high tunnel all four seasons, to have vegetables to sale year around.