Visitors in the area of 761 Hays Road may have observed a new structure being erected behind St. Paul Mission Grade School. Anyone guessing it’s a greenhouse would only be slightly wrong since it’s a high tunnel, also known as a hoop house.

While often confused for a traditional greenhouse, high tunnels are actually a relatively new development in the world of protected farming and gardening. Unlike their larger, more permanent cousins, high tunnels are designed to be lighter, more mobile, more flexible, and more versatile.

Because it does not require a traditional foundation, a high tunnel can be installed more quickly and easily than a standard greenhouse—making it a perfect option for the private Catholic school that serves approximately fifty elementary school age children on the Fort Belknap Reservation.

According to Kayla Tandy, a teacher at the school, the high tunnel will be getting its plastic covering on the weekend of May 15. With only a single layer of covering, high tunnels offer the perfect option for growers looking to combine outdoor and indoor growing throughout the season.

As part of their science curriculum, students in grade one through five have been nurturing tomato, pepper, and cucumber plants in their classrooms for the past two weeks. These will be transplanted directly in the ground under the high tunnel, as opposed to the raised beds of a standard greenhouse. That way, the gardener has the option to simply remove the poly covering and give crops full exposure to the outdoors. Then, when the weather starts to change, the covering can be replaced for nearly full protection. This flexibility offers the perfect growing environment for season extension, protecting crops from the worst of the early spring frost and the late fall chill without the financial burden of a fully-equipped greenhouse system.

“We hope to get some seedlings in by the end of next week,” Tandy said. “We’ll plant some root crops like potatoes, carrots, and radishes outside the high tunnel, as well. This project has enabled the students to get outside and to learn the value of food sovereignty as they participate in a healthy relationship with the land and its plants that provide us with food.”

With the high tunnel, the students’ crops will not only be protected from wind and hail but from other potentially destructive forces such as wildlife, weed sprays, and harmful insects. Although the high tunnel will shelter the plants from rain, the benefit is that the soil—in the absence of run-off—can retain the fertilizers and nutrients that it has, allowing plants to thrive.

Over the summer, students will spend time weeding, watering, and otherwise caring for the garden. “I have been amazed at how some of the kids find such peace when they’re outdoors. When it comes time for harvest, they will have access to fresh food,” Tandy explained.

In addition to all of the outlined benefits, a high tunnel will typically increase crop yields. Many studies suggest that crops grown in a more ideal environment, which a high tunnel provides, grow more vigorously than in a field environment. The structure provides greater control over essential inputs—like water, fertilizer, and temperature—while also providing protection from harsh weather and other adverse conditions. For these reasons, a high tunnel reduces lost crops, allowing growers to see increased yields.