Rise of hoops- (and I'm not talking 'bout basketball)

Had enough of the white stuff yet? With the winter comes basketball, the great American past-time that helps warm things up and take the chill off freezing temperatures & snow piled up to your nose -(and wondering if we'll ever see a green leaf again!)

Hark. There's hope. There's a new hoop in town! Before you get nervous b-ball lovers, I'm talking high tunnel/hoop houses. http://www.youtube.com/usda

The USDA is piloting a 3-year initiative to fund high tunnel/hoop houses to farmers so they can grow food year-round. It's part of the USDA's Know your Farmer, Know your Food Initiative and funded by the

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The premise is that hoop houses conserve water, reduce pesticide use, and maintain vital soil nutrients- and increase crop yields of locally grown fruit and veggies. Yum!

And since the White House Kitchen Garden is hooped out (and supplying winter veggies and herbs) - let's hope the USDA's initiative meets with grand success, so all farmers from coast-to-coast can jump in on a very promising trend.

* USDA photo credit

~Lynne

GMG