You may have noticed fresh vegetables out a lot earlier this season at some farmers markets in West Virginia.
That's because some farmers are testing out a new technique that doesn't rely so much on Mother Nature's unpredictable -- nature.
"You can see that these do get really big," said Morgan Higginbotham, 19, of Roane County.
The Marshall University student is majoring in business and is planning, and planting, big things for her family's farm in Gandeeville, Roane County.
Those big things specifically include about 300 tomato plants, 200 pepper plants and 20 to 25 cucumber plants, using a technique called a high tunnel.
"In the high tunnel, it's directly in the ground. So, all the nutrients are from the ground. They're all vine-riped and the heat is helping to ripen and keep those plants alive," Higginbotham said.
It's sort of like a green house for food. High tunnels are structures used to lengthen the growing season, reduce pest and disease problems and enhance the quality of the crop.
Morgan was able to secure a $15,000 grant from the U.S. Agriculture Department to build the high tunnel.
"It allows your customers to realize that you have good quality products because it's the first products you have and so they're buying them because they can trust that your products will be good for the rest of the season also," said Higginbotham.
Farmers started experimenting with high tunnels about five to six years ago nationwide. This is believed to be the only one in this area.
"I think in the upcoming years, you'll see a lot more of these high tunnels around as farmers come up ways of growing and producing earlier," said Tony Richard with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.
For Morgan, her home is down on this farm, and she plans to make sure it continues to flourish.
If you're into growing vegetables, you can build much smaller versions of high tunnels. Just contact the West Virginia Agriculture Department for more information.
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