Nothing like a bit of work experience with a respected organic farmer like Jim Cronin near Killaloe, Co. Clare, to acquire new horticultural skills. Jim depends on polytunnels to ensure he can grow some fruit and veg all year round, especially in winter when field crops are not so plentiful.
Around this time each year, the plastic on the tunnels needs to be cleaned of all algae and general light blocking dirt. After snow fall over night, the algae was damp and a little easier to brush off. Once the brush w0rk was done with buckets of water to help soften up stubborn dirt, a mop and bucket od water
Jim and organic farming student Ali taking a break from scrubbing the polytunnel plastic clean after overnight snow in Co. Clare.
was used to clean down the scrubbed plastic.
This annual cleaning job would warm you up on a cold day! There is a certain satisfaction seeing a tunnel with clean plastic, knowing the crops will grow better with more light and heat in their sheltered growing environment.
