Still no decision. I am calling the NRCS office tomorrow and just laying out the situation. With some prayer and patience I hope things start to work out. It is a sellers market so hopefully more people will list their homes soon- within 7 miles of his job.

Will NRCS let you move the tunnel after it is installed? Seems like if you move it to land you are buying it is not much different. I have a friend in Mississippi who has moved but is choosing to continue to work her tunnel on the old land for the two remaining years. In Miss they would not let her move the tunnel till the four years was up. hope things work smoothly for you.

Kathy

Update. I didn't get approved for the high tunnel this year anyway. We found a new construction lot with house just started. It has 2.59 acres and almost every bit will be usable for growing. It will be done mid September. I have to get a soil test, get legume cover crop planted and work out water source. The plan had been to augment the soil the first year and get the perennials in but to farm at the old place in 2016 but of course I don't want to. I'd rather start at the new place but do very small sales instead. What do you think? The soil is sandy and will need lots of OM. The present field is exhibiting disease this year and I want out.

Not that this is an emergency, but sometimes you can't stop thinking about something. We should secure our new property tomorrow. It is new construction ready mid September, although I bet they would let me work the land and sow clover once secured this summer. The soil is very sandy and most likely high ph, high in P and K and cal and iron and low in N and OM like everywhere in my town. The plan had been to just cover crop, work in, cover crop again, until weed seeds were reduced and N and OM increased, but I can't help wanting to just start growing there next spring instead of renting my field again! I have been thinking I would rather do a small portion of the new land next spring and have few members next season rather than grow at the rental place anymore. Will you talk me out of that or do you think with hard work and fertilizer I could do ok next season? The other idea is to put in some crops at each location. The hands off crops could go at the rental field- potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, garlic, onions. So the three choices I see are: do a half in each place and work at the rental one time per week, just rent one more season and really prep the new land, or just jump right into the new land.
PLease help with valid opinions; thanks!

if you can get by with reduced income in the first year then you could put all your effort into your new place. perhaps with construction equipment there it wouldn't be too expensive to truck in some bulk soil amendments...clean top soil for one, bulk compost for another.

Do you have a large established CSA customer base? If so, it seems like it would not be good to cut back too much and lose good customers. Perhaps find a way to grow at the new place with added OM and fertilizers or do some at both places so you can keep reliable customers for the future.

I was thinking if I did the 2016 just at the new place I would only sell shares to the present members but no market. Also telling them it is a transition year and I'm not sure how it will go but will give them a discount in 2017 for being great supportive members in 2016. I have a small CSA but many of the members now are just awesome.

We are moving this Wednesday. The date was changed twice this month! I have a lot of work to do. A cover crop needs to be sown ASAP. Perennials I am bringing are just going to be heeled in somewhere. 3 shade trees to plant and lots of planning! Next year will be nuts!

We have 2 locations, and it is difficult managing both. If at all possible, I'd try to stick to one location next year. If you think you can get a cover crop in, and bring in compost, or a bunch of organic matter to till in this fall, I'd try to plant your new location. When we got location #2, it was late enough in the year that all we had time for was to till, and plant. It was all grass. We planted it, and yields were mediocre - not great - not horrible. And that was with doing nothing but tilling. I'd personally say go for it at your new location. But I've also been known to do crazy things.... Good luck!