When I purchased the used tunnel, I had intended for it to go between the smaller tunnel and the next one to the east. The problem was I left enough space to build another 18 foot tunnel there, not a 30 foot tunnel. The distance btwn the two was 35 feet. That only left me with 2.5 feet between tunnels, not good for air flow or build up of snow. Also, I did not have another space that was large enough to put it that was already in production. In order to put this tunnel in a new location, I would have to have done lots of dirt work and that would have added to the cost. I did have a space that I was wanting to build another smaller tunnel on. It was currently in outdoor production, it was level and ready to go. So, I decided to build over the smaller one. I started this project in November and I knew the ground would freeze and I would have had a hard time getting it built if I waited until spring. So I set all the ground posts, in both locations. Then I have slowly, as weather allowed, finished the big tunnel. I also have established beds in the small tunnel that I am going to continue to use in the big tunnel. I didn't want to loose these wonderful beds. I have worked hard to build my soil with compost and organic matter. Last winter this tunnel was uncovered and we had lots of rain and snow. It was very wet. That would help with any salt build up to flush it out. Also about salt build up, I have heard conflicting reports about this. I have heard a lot more that it isn't a problem. In fact one College professor/researcher presenter said he has never seen a salt build up problem in a tunnel. In addition, I had a few crops still growing in the smaller building that I didn't want to loose. To answer you question about the purlin. There is another purlin that goes down the center of the building. I was unable to put it on because I would have had to walk down the center of the smaller tunnel or hire someone with a bucket truck to come out and help put it on. Also, I didn't want to remove the inner plastic before the outside one was ready for plastic. Now, I have the plastic on the big tunnel, I am going to finish the doors on the big one and take the plastic off the smaller one. Then remove the ribs, add the third purlin to the big one, and then remove the rest of the small one and move it to its new location. About cross bracing, I was wondering about adding that too, but I have contacted the company, Stuppy's and they said they are engineered to not need them. Also, we don't get the snow that you do in the Northeast, so I am not too worried about it. The person I purchased it from lives one hour away and his location was very similar to mine. Top of hill, no wind break and he never had any problems. So I am trusting the company and the previous owners experience with that aspect. Will I add some cross bracing, maybe, just in case. Thanks for the questions. Jay

Agreed, earlier is better. This time of the years sales are sluggish. Everyone is tired of eating the same stuff every week. When spring rolls around people are tired of eating processed foods, frozen or canned food and are HUNGRY for anything fresh. This is one of the reasons I have 6 high tunnels and why I work so hard to fill them with everything possible. I am looking at starting my carrots for next year around January 1st. Last year, it was February 1, they weren't quite big enough in May. Luckily I had two 18 gallon totes full of overwintered carrots to sell. My demand for carrots is always higher than I can produce. It is going to be an experiment for sure! Jay

I have hesitated to post here because I have been mid-remodel longer than most of you have been alive...(ok maybe a two year remodel isn't that long...) anyhoo, I finally feel, that since we're six weeks or so away from completition, may be I can post in the mid-remodel groups thread :oP Tile guy finished the shower and floor (this is an entire house remodel, from bottom to top, adding a bathroom and moving many walls and soffits). So my master actually looks somewhat like a bathroom and my evil plans are actually coming to fruition (I used crocodile tile and I both worried about it and loved it...now everyone loves it) :oP The deck of the soaking tub can't be finished until we get the circle cut in the tiles (since the last tile guy lost part of the circle we had cut earlier). There's on guy in the state who cuts these circles...it's a pain! So that room can't have cabinets or anything until the deck is finished since they butt up against the tub (which is 36" high). So tile guy is heading down to the family bathroom, which after THREE tubs that leaked, is finally plumbed with a new jacuzzi tub (I will never try to save money with american standard AGAIN!) I should have just dropped a couple grand in the first place instead of giving it to the plumbers. That room will likely be finished this week :) The powder room floor is done and the toilet set, but still waiting for parts to actually work. (The old plumbers didn't know how to install so they cut the expensive pipes down to shorter pipes and installed the "high tank" very low on the wall). But it's the only room that's actually plastered, so it looks to be "done" almost. I will finish the move out this week on Friday, but between then and today I will get the first couple of coats of venetian plaster on the hood wall in the kitchen (a bear to reach if I don't do it now...since there's less than 12" in the gap...once trimmed out...my butt won't fit) :oP Next week our finish carpenter is ours full time, so while I'm gone, he'll be laying down the layout, repairing the floor and finally setting cabinets! When I get back I might feel like I have a kitchen. ANd hopefully I will have new granite and marble by then. (The previous slabs I purchased in full were sold so I have to start over). All in all...we feel so good about seeing work actually happen. We can see that we'll actually get to live in our home again someday! Hopefully for a few months before we have to move out to a bigger home when we have child number two :oP But we'll cross that bridge later I guess!

Hey, Joseph, you've proved our point, haven't you? If they weren't all crooks and incompetents you wouldn't have work! Of course they are not all crooks and incompetents, but finding the good ones is very dicey. It has nothing to do with what they charge. I've paid a lot and I've paid a little over my many years. I've had bad work that cost a lot and good work that didn't. One of the most frustrating things is that it generally takes a couple of years, sometimes even more, for the bad work to reveal itself. I have a BIL who definitely undervalues himself, so he would be what you'd call "cheap". He does fantastic work, he's a perfectionist, and he stands behind his work. If any problems arise even years later that may be related to an error of his, he makes it right for free. I guess he can afford to do that because it's a very rare occurrence. Unfortunately he's 2000 miles away. I flew him and his brother out in 2009 to build a deck, do some light plumbing and electrical because I unexpectedly had to have my parents move in and urgently needed the work done. Everything was exceptional and I have such peace of mind knowing the deck supports are properly done, etc. I would have flown them in again for my kitchen but he is totally booked two years in advance. I think having a good work ethic, having skill of course, but also having a realistic self-knowledge of what one can and cannot do well separates the good from the bad. Too many contractors take on work that they really cannot do better than a competent DIY'er. Either they don't know they won't do it well (incompetent) or they know they can get a poor job past a witless homeowner but they want the money (greed). And PS - "3 bids" does not mean the HO will pick the cheapest. It's a way to get an idea of the person who would do the work (if that person is the hands-on one), what they would actually do (very hard to get apple-to-apples so it's up to the HO to try to compare) and to see how the prospect thinks and analyzes what the best way is to do the work (if the solution is not glaringly obvious).