High Tunnels (2025 version)

High Tunnel Services & Organic Growing Supplies

High Tunnel Services

We offer the following services related to high tunnel systems: repairs, replacing plastic, upgrading end walls on 15′ wide gothic tunnels, adding new components, consultation, and education. We no longer offer high tunnel kits.

Submit a High Tunnel Service Request

high tunnel water catchment grow appalachia social enterprise

Water Catchment & Drip Irrigation Installations

We sell a variety of high tunnel water catchment & irrigation materials, design functional systems, and provide installation services. All of our installations and materials meet NRCS standards. We can also consult on and install small-scale field irrigation systems.

Submit a High Tunnel Service Request

Growing Supplies Catalog

Our Growing Supplies Catalog offers a wide range of high-quality and organic growing supplies, including materials for pest & weed management, seed starting, irrigation, trellising, fertilizing, season extension, and more.

Order Online Now!

Our History

The Social Enterprise emerged in 2014 after determining the need for smaller high tunnel designs and organic growing supplies. From 2014 to 2025, Grow Appalachia’s Social Enterprise manufactured and installed 182 high tunnels in the region, primarily in Kentucky.
Starting in fall 2025, after carefully assessing needs of farmers and services provided by regional high tunnel builders, the Social Enterprise decided to stop offering high tunnel kits and pivot to focusing on high tunnel services, including consultation, repair, maintenance, irrigation, and water catchment systems. We continue to sell high quality, organic growing supplies, and you can still place an order through our online Growing Supplies catalog.

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Tons of Organic Chicken Litter Fertilizer Distributed

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High Tunnels Installed in the Region

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High Tunnel Water Catchment Systems Installed

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Drip Irrigation Systems Installed

End Wall Upgrade Options

Your needs as a grower may have evolved since you first purchased your high tunnel. For small (15-16′ wide) gothic high tunnels, we can replace and upgrade end walls to meet your current needs. Options include our basic wooden end walls, an equipment door end wall, and a more robust galvanized steel end wall.

End Wall Option #1

4’x7′ Sliding Wooden & Polycarbonate Door
Submit a high tunnel service request (below) for pricing

End Wall Option #2

‘x7’ Sliding Galvanized Steel & Polycarbonate Door
A more durable end wall option
Submit a high tunnel service request (below) for pricing

equipment door end wall gothic high tunnel

End Wall Option #3

7’x7′ Wooden Equipment Door
Designed to allow farm equipment into and through your high tunnel
Submit a high tunnel service request (below) for pricing

Additional High Tunnel Components

30% Shade Cloth

Protects crops from summertime heat & sun exposure, which can negatively impact fruit production on crops like tomatoes and lead to early bolting
30% shade cloth (which allows 70% light transmission) is the most common shade cloth percentage for vegetable production
Can be attached with wiggle wire along the hip boards OR using shade cloth clip-its and rope attached to eye bolts along the baseboards (see our Growing Supplies catalog)

Submit a High Tunnel Service Request

Inflation Blower / Second Layer of Plastic

Operation of the inflation blower requires electricity
The inflation blower adds an insulative layer by creating a layer of air in between two layers of greenhouse plastic
Requires the installation of a second layer of greenhouse plastic

Submit a High Tunnel Service Request

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of a high tunnel?

A high tunnel is a season extension tool that facilitates year-round crop production. High tunnels allow producers to manage their growing environment (temperature, irrigation, and light), mitigate weather extremes, and grow high-quality produce more consistently.

What is the importance of drip irrigation & water catchment for my high tunnel?

A covered high tunnel creates a dry environment requiring irrigation. Water can be collected from your high tunnel ‘roof’, stored in catchment tanks and used for drip irrigation.

What are the benefits of drip irrigation?

Reduces diseases caused from moisture residue on crops
Reduces erosion by slowly delivering water directly to the root zone
Efficiently irrigates your crops
Improves your time management
Reusable, durable materials can be used over several seasons

What are the benefits of a water catchment system?

Soft water reduces salt build up
Reduces soil erosion around as well as inside the high tunnel
Decreases reliance on outside water sources that can lead to nutrient build up
Saves on water supply expenses on the farm
Reduces carbon footprint
For example, our 15’ x 48’ gothic high tunnel can collect 500 gallons from a single 1/2″ rain

What does a standard high tunnel drip irrigation kit include?

Underground (24”) trench and attachment to water catchment tanks
2″ PVC line from tanks to the sand pump and filter inside the high tunnel
Intexx Sandfilter pump (2.4amp), silicone sand, ¾”pressure reducer (15psi), 3/4” in-line check valve
- Replacement parts can be purchased here
2”Mainline layflat (header line) with end cap, gaskets and hose clamps
½” AQ-15mil Premium drip tape with 12″ emitter spacing (enough for 12 rows*)
12 Tapeloc swing valves
12 Tapeloc end plugs
Extra Tapeloc couplings for repairs
Goof plugs to repair or plug holes in layflat
8″ sod staples to hold drip irrigation lines in place

*you may select a different number of rows of drip irrigation

What does a high tunnel water catchment system include?

Vinyl gutters with connectors, hanger brackets, and end caps
6”-12” poly plastic patch tape for flow from plastic to gutter (UV stable)
Overflow runoff materials and installation (10’ away from tunnel off of 2 tanks)
Gutter to tank connection with down spouts and removable mesh basket
(3) 550 gal. black water catchment tanks with 3 ball valves