Hunger Initiative: High Tunnel at Mother Earth Farm

By: Cristiana Ventura, Resource Development and Marketing Intern

Hunger initiative update from the Hunger-Free Pierce County Collaborative:  Investing $8,157.63 for 1 high tunnel growing space at Emergency Food Network’s Mother Earth Farm.

Emergency Food Network’s Mother Earth Farm is an 8-acre organic farm that produces over 150,000 pounds of fresh produce and honey each year. All of the food produced at Mother Earth Farm goes directly to food banks where food-insecure families in Pierce County have access to fresh, healthy, organic, and locally-grown produce.

To expand MEF’s ability to produce food every month of the year, UWPC invested $8,157.63 to help them purchase their second high tunnel.

When Mother Earth Farm started, it was only able to distribute fresh produce 5 months of the year following a normal growing season. In 2015 with their first high tunnel in use, they had already distributed 24,000 pounds of food by that time. This more than tripled production during summer months, and helped Mother Earth Farm grow sensitive crops like tomatoes that are in high demand at food banks. 

"Last year when we didn’t have the hoop house that we have we had, by July we had distributed 7000 pounds of food. This July, because we had the hoop house, we distributed 24,000 pounds of food." Helen McGovern-Pilant (Emergency Food Network)

However, the greatest benefit of the high tunnel will come when it is able to produce food year round—even during winter months. During winter months, it can be very difficult for a low-income family to acquire fresh and healthy food. Mother Earth Farm’s season extension will allow them to access healthy, local produce year around.

Helping MEF purchase their second high tunnel has had such a huge impact on the farm, it has also allowed them to bring their seasonal assistant on full-time and acquire another grant to purchase two additional hoop houses to expand their indoor growing spaces.

"... it allowed us to go out and get a grant for two more growing spaces. So now we will have two high tunnels and two low tunnels. Big changes." -Helen McGovern-Pilant (Emergency Food Network)