Moving a Hoop House
There's never a dull moment here at my Bedford, New York farm - this week, the hoop house, located behind my main greenhouse, is on the move.
I have four hoop houses on the property - all used specifically for storing tropical plants during the cold season. Recently, I decided to relocate the smallest of the group down to a space near two of the others, just up the carriage road from my chicken yard. This would make maintaining the stored plants easier and free up the area outside the greenhouse for displaying pretty potted specimens. In order to do this, the hoop house had to be dismantled, and slowly transported piece by piece, using our trusted Hi-Lo.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- If you follow my blog regularly, you may recognize this area in front of my former vegetable garden. Earlier this summer, we measured the space and removed the sod where the small hoop house would go.
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- The hoop house is not as big as the other three, but is definitely used quite a bit for storing warm weather plants. It is also temperature and humidity controlled and can house a good number of potted specimens at various heights.
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- The first step was to remove the strong plastic that covers the hoop house. The plastic comes in two layers – one is a heavy-duty, woven polyethylene that features an anti-condensate additive to reduce moisture buildup and dripping. The other side contains UV additives that allow the fabric to maintain its strength through the seasons
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- Here, Pete removes the wood holding the plastic at the base of the structure. This wood will be completely replaced.
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- Pete removes the plastic from its side supports…
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- … And then pulls the plastic off.
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- The hoop house is now completely bare -just the front and back paneling and the durable metal frame are left standing.
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- Pete folds up the old plastic, so it can be stored. I am sure it can be repurposed for another project in the future.
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- All the hoop houses at the farm are equipped with fans and heaters. Inn each house, the electrical systems are located at the back of the enclosure.
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- These supplies are very heavy. It took four strong men to lift it and move it to the vehicle for transport.
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- Next, Pete secures the front panel, so it can be forklifted out of its space and brought down to its new location.
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- Here’s Fernando manning the controls inside the Hi-Lo.
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- Slowly the front of the hoop house is lifted and moved.
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- This part of the hoop house is one of two sides made from twin polycarbonate paneling. This one houses the access door and two windows.
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- Whenever we move anything with the tractors, we always use moving blankets to pad the machinery – taking the time to do this will always protect what is being moved and prevent any damage.
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- Slowly, the panel is driven down the carriage road…
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- … all the way to the new site. Pete walks with the panel the entire way to ensure it does not hit anything in its path.
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- Next, Fernando loosens the supports used for the framing.
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- All the metal frame piping is removed also. This framework shape is known as gothic style. It is the style I use for all the hoop houses on the farm. I chose it because of its high peak which can accommodate my taller plants.
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- All the framed pieces are removed and placed onto the forklift of our Hi-Lo.
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- Here is the last arch put onto the Hi-Lo. The next phase will be to put it all back together again.
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- And once again, Fernando drives the last pieces of the hoop house down to the new space. In my next blog, I’ll share how it is reassembled in its new space and what we’ll store in it for the winter. Stay tuned.
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