Farmers Friend Caterpillar Tunnel - What It's Like To Build One

[@zolacrofoot4944]

Good to see you at home. Our tunnel arrived last week. I'm in MI and will be building in spring. Good to watch you first. Thanks for all the education.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

You're welcome. It feels good to be working at home. Thanks for watching and good luck with your tunnel!

[@cpnotill9264]

@@JoshSattinFarming I bet and not much travel time to and from work! Great work Josh!

[@cpnotill9264]

Zola Crofoot How are you liking your tunnel? Mine is coming tomorrow.

[@richstone2627]

Farmers Friend is the best. I like when the truck showed up, the excitement showed in your eyes and face, like a child on Christmas morning. Thanks for sharing.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Oh yeah, I was super excited. Tunnels are the best!

[@HomesteadForALiving]

Farmers Friend happens to be based out in my neck of the woods in Middle Tn. Great company run by a great family.

[@philplasterer1547]

Pretty awesome!!!! Well done and thanks for showing bloopers, that shows humility. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🇺🇸

[@JoshSattinFarming]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@kishonne]

Very thankful for the information that you share. I am in the caribbean island of St. Lucia and have been learning so much from you.

[@Beecozz7]

I appreciate your no-nonsense reviews of the products, strait forward, TY Josh, very nice.

[@fedderfarms]

Pre-bent tubes from a proper hydraulic bender is so much better than manually bending, and so much easier on the back!

[@jeshurunfarm]

Thanks Josh. That looks so exciting. Can't wait to see the beds fully in production! Respect for Africa 🇿🇦

[@brucedumler2712]

I have put up 2 of these tunnels. I did find it easier to put the hoops together in order of assembly with cross braces the side hooks and lift kit. When we went to assemble we just lifted the next hoop and put in place. We did a 2 person plastic install and found that if we folded the plastic in half as it comes off the roll it was easy to put in place and the unfold and drop in place.

[@jackiekitchennowordsneeded587]

Can’t wait to see what you will grow! Great looking tunnel!

[@EarlybirdFarmSC]

Turned out really nice. Looks like the instructions are great and looks good once put up.

[@FarmersFriend]

Great video, Josh! Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Thank you! It was fun to put together and I really look forward to growing in it this season. Thanks for all your help!

[@FarmerQ]

Super helpful, insightful, and inspiring video. Your videos account for a large part of the fragments that create the dream I work towards every day! Can't wait for more!

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Thanks for watching!

[@aziendagraciadreamlife9834]

Thank you for all your wonderful videos. Always an inspiration to watch it.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@christiensgarden3325]

So excited for you and even more so to watch this step-by-step so congratulations can’t wait to see more

[@dolanlehen1917]

great video Josh! I agree that moving 3 at once is best :) I put rebar caps on the rebar to make it a bit safer as the bows are manoeuvred into place and the other thing was marking out 5 feet along the purlin in sections as it's put up so there's no measuring up on the ladder

[@michaelknauer9260]

You can mark the purlins with a marker before you lift them up is what I do otherwise screwing them together in the air is a pain.

[@debkincaid2891]

Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing what you grow in there. 🙂

[@RehoKevin]

Great video Josh, thanks. I know you're excited to grow in a more controlled environment. Fingers crossed you dont have any high wind activity before the end walls are complete. Thanks again for sharing your experience.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

You're welcome. I'll get the scissor doors up soon. Wind isn't usually a huge concern for me since I'm nestled in among the trees.

[@2ndSprings]

I thought I was watching an Assassin's Creed trailer at the very beginning. haha. Great content.

[@robbiepetty4283]

Another great vlog as always. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@andrewstacey4868]

Looking forward to the irrigation set up!!

[@amankubuy]

good job ,, nice idea ,, building the Caterpillar Tunnel .. good luck what you are doing ..

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Thank you!

[@jlrbhj]

Congrats! Thanks for sharing the tips.

[@HippieHillHomestead]

Looking good Josh. I can't wait to build my hoop house this spring. Very good video. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

You're welcome. Good luck with the build and thanks for watching!

[@RosySideFarm]

Can't wait to get one! I need to extend my growing season.

[@BalticHomesteaders]

I thought for a moment that was Obi Wan doing some seed trays at the start :)

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Haha. I should definitely try to incorporate some Star Wars into the vlogs. This is the way.

[@zelrikruger6420]

This is the way

[@spoolsandbobbins]

Can’t wait to see how you use it Josh! I’m in Canada, so pretty cold right now but will be moving to a farm soon with an old mink barn we’d like to convert to greenhouse! Need some ideas...

[@clintjohnston2578]

Awesome thanks I’m waiting for my tunnel now be February when it gets here

[@PhilKJames]

Such a great setup. FF seems like the way to go for tunnels

[@andreajones7023]

We don't have this design in the UK, I put one up this year and this method of securing the plastic seems much, much easier.

[@alanhardisty3665]

Looking good brother I love the grind!!

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Thanks! So much to do!

[@jtimwest]

I put one of these up by myself in Oklahoma. Make sure you put everything on the bows before you put them up. IE, support wire for the tomato kits, etc. It is MUCH harder to drill on these hoops when they are put up than on the ground. In Oklahoma wind can blow up to 80 mph. We concreted most of the ground posts to keep the tunnel grounded. No issues whatsover in the two years we have used. I put in scissor doors and they have worked well. I used Johnnies plans. Some states don't allow FF tunnels for NRCS. Ours did and it has met my needs and budget as I was not approved for anything more than $4,000.

[@andrewstacey4868]

Thanks josh

[@lauramarkum3907]

thanks for making this video

[@JoshSattinFarming]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@KansasGardenGuy]

I like the tunnels but we went with a Bootstrap Farmer DIY kit this fall and love it. I only worry about the wind with the farmers friend tunnel not being bolted to a pole in the ground....but alot of people buy them. Good luck and can't wait to see more!

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Yes, I am curious about that too, but we are pretty nestled in the trees here so I am not super concerned about wind. I will be sure to keep everyone posted about my experience with them.

[@carolkepley6432]

I bought the ground post kit and pounded them in 2ft. Then I bought extra cross bracing so every bow had it. Then I purchased hip board and additional wiggle wire/track. The hip board attached with pipe clamps and carriage bolts made for a very sturdy structure.

[@brianking6671]

i've got 2 50ft gothic pros. i recommend anchoring the corners in concrete. we lost half of one due to 40 mph winds. rebuilt it and used concrete. other than that i love them! building a regular 30 x 60 greenhouse now to add to the farm. ;)

[@TheAlignedGardener]

I have been looking at their tunnels on line and some competitors. Its my goal to have one of these beauties one day. Please keep us informed on what you find with this tunnel over time.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

That's the plan!

[@davebezo5134]

Love the videos man

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Thank you!

[@hittingtheamericanroad1730]

Great video!

[@jamesd6920]

Looking good

[@jarod466]

Contact your local Dept. of Ag and fill out the form for a government rebate for building high tunnels like that. They’ll inspect it once it is complete and you’ll eventually get some money back. That is assuming that program is still active.

[@annietriesthings]

Yep, It's called the High Tunnel System within the EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program) program. Might be best to contact you local FSA agent first, though.

[@prairieriverhomestead1535]

I got the exact one, just about a week ago delivered, however I won’t be putting mine up YET here in MN 🥶 can’t wait for April/may

[@chantallachance4905]

In a greenhouse Plant seed on freeze soil cover with soil when in march or april the soil going to be more and more warm and the seed will grow right a way that what the do in sweded

[@jamesalanstephensmith7930]

Good job!

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

I just checked their website. Nice prices. Buy 2 and get free shipping!

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Yup!

[@jeffkolp3526]

Probably purchase paste fall 2021 once settled in on our new farm. Looking forward to your end wall design.......don’t you love the expectations?!

[@conorbenham4808]

Hey there! I've been working with these tunnels for a few years now. A few concerns id have with your set up is how close those two are... lots of water comes off these especially in heavy rains. I'm not sure how well those ditches are pitched but water can end up saturating through your beds if you're not careful. Lost my entire spring spinach crop from root rot because my outer ditches were holding too much water. Also you gotta have a sand bag system for if and when high winds come. Sand bags of 40-70lbs are sufficient. Throw several on each side. I also think you should have forgone the original till. My tunnels sank because of the BCS tiller.. I could see a precision depth roller or power Harrow but the tiller just destroys the integrity of the soil and causes sinking. At least it does in my soil. I also recommend a more robust design than a scissor door. The Dutch kit is so expensive but will never rot and is always going to be true and not warp, which I think is important to the mobility of these structures. I'd say if you are more DIY to make a wooden framed door. That way you can hang windows or louvered vents for ventilation. Helps to keep them cool on a hot morning if you can't get to them to open before sunrise. If you spread your tunnels apart, and had one on each edge of your entire plot, then the alley way in between becomes a really nice microclimate for growing.

[@jennifersimmons1552]

At RCF they had gutters between the tunnels. Perhaps he intends to harvest rainwater.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

I have consulted with several very successful growers that are in similar climates and they space them this way with similar ditches. As mentioned, I will be constructing simple scissor doors. To see more about my drainage, please watch this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zpypkmqend12l7c

[@mike253549]

Great job. Yeah my 8x12 DIY is taking me forever. lol

[@JoshSattinFarming]

I hear you. My DIY tunnel took forever too. Never again for me.

[@alveygardens]

The zipper end walls from farmers friend but $500 for end walls is a bit more of an investment. But the Eliott Coleman scissor doors is what I plan on doing for the farmers friend tunnel I just bought too.

[@lelandchalmers1658]

I am working with farmers friend now on my order of custom size Golic Pro tunnel 14x20.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Nice!

[@fiendeng]

Sick build Josh ! i think the folks @HoneyTreeFarm tuck in their end walls . they have a boat load of tunnels

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Casey and Tori are friends of mine. I did talk with Casey about his endwall design.

[@VastCNC]

I finished mine recently, concreted in for an NRCS Grant. On paper it looks like the standard caterpillar would fit inside the gothic pro for double cover korean style greenhouse. I'm thinking of trying that for next winter, then having the inner tunnel available for shade or rain cover after winter.

[@dylanmedlin1846]

Like a 14' inside a 16'? That's a nice idea

[@seanbalch7563]

Cool.

[@michaelknauer9260]

Josh there is one thing I was wondering about. The rebar is it the only thing holding your Greenhouse to the ground ?? With my Greenhouse I dug 2 feet hole for every hoop on which was 18 holes plus 2 on each end wall which was a lot of work and set my first straight 4 foot pipes 2 ft in concrete 2ft exposed for connecting and built off that. I have heard many story's of the Greenhouse being lifted up and flown away and destroyed. I live in the Sierra's in California so we get some very big storms. I have watched many of your video's and they are always interesting and you are a great host Thank You

[@tackmupstables]

Update on your Tunnel Did you get the doors What would you change ? Would you do the 100 or 50 again Thanks

[@mgb00031]

Josh, love your channel so much good info your hard work has helped me on my farm so much. I have some questions on low vs high tunnels how can I send you a message??

[@Waskuyawin]

Question, should or can the tubes be cemented into the ground for stabilization (especially for winter growers)??

[@amycawley2516]

I helped assemble and put up 4 50' Farmers Friends high tunnels about a month ago here in MD. The wind destroyed 4 of the end hoops with the plastic on. Also do not yet have end walls of any type. How are your tunnels holding up 6 weeks or so being up? I think we may need to secure ours further somehow because of the winds! Keeping my fingers crossed we do not incur any more damage. Oh, and the plastic at the top of the high tunnels was ripping apart where the rope hits last I checked. So that is a concern of mine too. Nothing planted in them yet.

[@whitneyparchman6339]

Hi Josh! Loved the video opening. It had a little bit of a Mr. Rogers vibe. :) The video you did on Ten Mother's Farm was the first time I'd seen Farmers Friend gothic tunnels. Now it's my dream tunnel. I think there might be subsidy programs for farmers looking to expand/invest in tunnels. Have you heard anything about that?

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Thanks. I am excited about the tunnels. Check out NRCS, they have grants for tunnels.

[@whitneyparchman6339]

@@JoshSattinFarming Thanks. I'll do that. Cheers!

[@rashitadanov4731]

Thanks, does those ropes somehow cut the plastic?

[@pleasanthill924]

I just got my tunnel deliver it’s the gothic pro 100 ft long wonder if a can do 2 50’ tunnels instead of the long one? Thanks

[@sarahmiranda7130]

With this type is it possible to order a 50 ft and split it to make 2 25ft tunnels?

[@Whattheheck1]

Hi Josh, just wondering why you went with Farmers Friend as opposed to some of the other companies for your tunnel? Thanks

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Cost, availability and quick time to set up. I will get more into these details in future videos.

[@Whattheheck1]

@@JoshSattinFarming thank you 😃

[@MaDFQ]

looking at buying and just wondering if there is a difference between the 4ft and 5ft bow spacing? in zone 5B iowa

[@chrispfenning5871]

Great point about the end walls, I have asked FF why they haven't released a sliding door end wall kit yet. Wood rots and is going up in price and with winds, swing out doors make zero sense to me especially on a slope. I ordered some parts from Tunnel Vision and going try to perfect a sliding design on one tunnel then replicate it on others. How do you like that workwear jacket? Mine didn't fit so well and moved on from it. Cheers mate.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

I would definitely like to see more inexpensive endwall options for sure. Most of the year here it is super hot so I want maximum ventilation. So, my scissor doors will be locked open for a lot of the year. I really like the Patagonia work gear, it is made super well. The jacket fits a little bit large for me, but I have some of their pants and they are incredible too. I generally am a big fan of Patagonia.

[@cCrusadeRc]

I am curios if the tunnel is wind resistant? The rods don't seem to be long enough to provide firm grounding? Maybe I am just paranoid as I come from a really windy place, but that is also why I am curious. Thanks for the video.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

They have a few different options based on your needs. Their customer service is great and can help you pick out the right kit better than I can. imp.i209882.net/c/2555598/795788/11186

[@vikkistorey1911]

Looks Fabulous x .... I would love to know the purchasing details re this tunnel, where can i buy one? X

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Thank you. Link in description.

[@usmsci]

do any of their models not have the ability to roll up the sides?

[@kevinaldridge1080]

Do you mulch your falling leaves???

[@2Quacks5ClucksFarm]

Awesome video! I have the 14’x50’ Gothic Pro tunnel with 2 zipper door end kits to close off both ends so I can use it as a greenhouse for now. Still need to put it up. What were the trenches dug for? Thank you!

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Moving water away from the tunnels and down the hill. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zpypkmqend12l7c

[@markseymour940]

Will you have to do more trenching to accommodate your slope? If so, please show us

[@JoshSattinFarming]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zpypkmqend12l7c

[@Chips_not_fries]

Great video, just wondered if you could use 1ft extension poles on one side of the tunnel if you're on a slope?

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Maybe, I'm not sure. I would ask Farmers Friend about it.

[@carolkepley6432]

You can as long as you don’t go taller than width of plastic.

[@kathleenwhite241]

What is your orientation? The ends face east and west or north and south. Thanks for all the info you provide. Especially that I just bought land in Cedar Grove nc.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

They are sort of NE-SW (ish). It is the only way they fit in the space. I don't think orientation matters that much.

[@rendezvous_with]

I know you haven't used these through the summer, but I'm curious if there's any downside to having these during warmer months. After losing some winter crops to inclement weather and pests in 3 4x8' raised beds, I'm considering either individual raised bed tunnels just for the cold months, or something like this tunnel across all 3 beds that would stay up year round. Which would you do if you lived in the temperate SF bay area?

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Tunnels benefit growing vegetables during all seasons. Any time you can increase your control of the environment you will have better success growing vegetables. One of the main reasons that I am growing 100% under tunnels is the protection from the heavy rains we get. Plants get damaged and erosion occurs. In the summer I will add shade cloth on the tunnels too. The larger the tunnel the better.

[@rendezvous_with]

@@JoshSattinFarming thanks! Your comment that the large the tunnel the better is apropos. I lost some Napa cabbage seedlings in a mini green house when we had a warm day. I guess there wasn't enough thermal mass to buffer the heat.

[@joeschiavi9615]

Hi, thank you for the video, it is helpful to see you go through the process. I’ve ordered the same tunnel from FF and expect it any day now. I have a couple of questions: how much plastic is leftover after u add the 4 extra ft? U mentioned there being enough to tie it down so I’m guessing there’s a good bit? Also, about the ends, I’m glad you mention them bc I was wondering if it was just me feeling like there’s no good answer or it’s just left to my interpretation...do you think you could take a piece of plastic, cut for the end, so basically it would be cut in the shape of one of the hoops but bigger and put it in the channel when you put your wiggle wire in that holds the other plastic in place? Obviously getting in would be intersecting but as a way to initially be protected and later add a door of sorts... Thanks! Lauren

[@JoshSattinFarming]

I haven't unrolled the extra plastic yet, but I will when I build my scissor doors. I went off of their instructions and they say that there is plenty left over for endwalls. I'm sure you could use the extra plastic for a solid wall like you are describing since the plastic is the full width.

[@lawrencebeeles6338]

Hang your plastic early in morning less wind then hope this helps

[@dominiccarpin5651]

How vulnerable is your site to high winds? Do your kits have all the wind strength bells & whistles?

[@JoshSattinFarming]

It is fairly protected here. The Gothic Pro does come with the end wall wind bracing, cross braces and center perlin pipe.

[@dominiccarpin5651]

@@JoshSattinFarming sounds good. I'm a little concerned about wind at my location. You see all these pictorial horror stories on the various farming groups about wind damage. With any kind of structure, including high tunnels.

[@ATappin]

Is there a reason to get the 14ft vs the 16 foot?

[@NS-pf2zc]

That looks great! If you don’t mind me asking, what was the cost per tunnel? (Obviously the end walls more later) I checked out their website but couldn’t find prices.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

All of the costs are on their website. They shut down the website on the Sabbath. Maybe you checked Friday-Saturday.

[@NS-pf2zc]

@@JoshSattinFarming Thank you! Yes I looked yesterday, but assumed the website would leave the prices up. I see them now.😊

[@gelwood99]

The HoneyTree Farm showed how he made end caps for his tunnels and he also has the tied down ends using the extra plastic on the ends but is in the process of finishing off with end caps. Also a market gardener. He has a great channel.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Casey is a friend of mine and we have discussed his endwalls. Please check out the video I did with him last year. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3bOmJ6eiMtprpI

[@keepingitsimpleandhealthyw8458]

How do you keep your tunnels warm at night? The inside of mine drops down to lower than the outside air temp. I am in the high desert of southern California.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Close the tunnels before the sun goes down and trap the heat. Use row cover in the tunnel for colder nights.

[@briantrout7051]

Awesome video! I'm considering doing something very similar with a plot almost exactly the same size. I am curious, though, with 100' tunnels, do you have a problem with heat buildup even with the sides open? I'm thinking of putting heirloom tomatoes in them and they would likely get fairly tall and higher into the space of the tunnel (hotter?). Would a 50' tunnel offer better ventilation? It would cost a little more to build four 50' tunnels than two 100' tunnels, I know. I also thought about ease of picking produce with the access at the 50' mark that wouldn't be there with 100' tunnels. Dunno, just thinkin'. Glad for thoughts if ya wanna share them. Thanks!

[@JoshSattinFarming]

I just put the tunnel up a few weeks ago. It's January and there isn't much heat. I do plan on adding shade cloth in the summer here though.

[@cherylmarkwardt1042]

What about ventilation when it gets warm? Are you going to have a way to roll up the sides?

[@JoshSattinFarming]

Sides come up and end walls will be able to be opened.

[@tfox32101]

any idea why the FF Cat tunnel plastic looks different? like more opaque or blurs the backgroundmore? if i compare it with bootstrap farmers kits the plastic looks a lot more see through on those. FF plastic seems more expensive on their site and it looks higher quality to me, but does the opacity filter some of the suns light?

[@tfox32101]

actually maybe the more clear bootstrap farmer one is more expensive?

[@fredrickson1414]

Hey Josh, thanks for the content. Did you explain why you went for gothic style instead of classic? Just curious. My context is NW Georgia

[@JoshSattinFarming]

They are taller inside. I want it to I feel as big as possible when I'm working in there.

[@toolmantrl]

So after this experience, would you say it took you, with 3 people, about 24 man hours to put this 100ft tunnel together?

[@JoshSattinFarming]

3x7 + 2x2.5 = 26

[@MichaelLeo]

if that is 1 continuous rope holding it down? 1 cut and you lose the entire thing. I'd highly suggest several independent lines for some redundancy against breakage.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

There are two lines.

[@mushethecowboycook9353]

It has more then 1 line

[@juliusmercado9291]

Great video, thanks Josh! How much did you spend on two tunnels and delivery?

[@JoshSattinFarming]

You can find all of the prices on their website. There are lots of options to chose from. imp.i209882.net/c/2555598/795788/11186

[@AbidAli-bv2gl]

Excellent video. how much cost per tunnel?

[@JoshSattinFarming]

imp.i209882.net/c/2555598/795788/11186

[@markluke8447]

What reason did you decide to go with the gothic pro design?

[@JoshSattinFarming]

They are taller inside. I want it to I feel as big as possible when I'm working in there.

[@jenniferapiary]

So how much did that 100-foot cost

[@JoshSattinFarming]

imp.i209882.net/c/2555598/795788/11186

[@SRW1955]

Price

[@ilanmagen]

Cool stuff, what's the tunnel width you got ?

[@JoshSattinFarming]

14'

[@jeshurunfarm]

Good for 4 beds x 100' 400' of beds x 2 tunnels. Total of 800' of beds under cover. NICE Respect from Africa 🇿🇦

[@johnrollins6698]

Love the tunnels can't wait to get one. I would like to ask a question? What type of grow light do you use for seed starting? Keep up the good work enjoy your videos.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5WYi5pne5KdpNU

[@jcforbis2804]

How long is that tunnel?

[@JoshSattinFarming]

100'

[@firecloud77]

Hope that's not construction grade plastic. It only lasts 12 months in the sun.

[@JoshSattinFarming]

The kit comes with the standard 4 year 6-mil greenhouse plastic. imp.i209882.net/c/2555598/795788/11186

[@firecloud77]

@@JoshSattinFarming Okay, cool.