Grant Provides New Hoop House for Clay County Master Gardeners

By Tyler Osborn

Clay County Agriculture Agent

The Clay County Master Gardener volunteers recently received a new hoop house through a grant from Chestatee Chattahoochee RC&D. The structure was built at the Downtown Discovery Garden in Hayesville, where it will support the volunteers’ gardening and educational efforts.

The new hoop house replaces a smaller structure that was damaged by heavy snow last winter. In addition to being larger, the replacement is designed to provide a more efficient growing space for the Master Gardeners.

A hoop house is an unheated, plastic-covered structure that protects plants from cold temperatures, wind, and heavy rain. It can help extend the growing season and provide a protected area for starting seeds, growing transplants, and caring for plants used throughout the garden.

The Downtown Discovery Garden is maintained by Clay County Master Gardener volunteers as an educational and community resource. The garden allows residents and visitors to see a variety of plants and gardening methods that can be used in the local area. The new hoop house will give volunteers additional space to grow plants while also demonstrating season-extension practices.

The construction crew included Jerry Hamilton, Scott Hamilton, AJ Hamilton, Ethan Hamilton, Ray Mashburn, and Russell Mashburn. This was the 79th hoop house the crew has constructed in the area.

The Clay County Master Gardeners appreciate Chestatee Chattahoochee RC&D for providing the funding and the construction crew for its work on the project. The new structure will help the volunteers continue improving the Downtown Discovery Garden and providing research-based gardening education to the community.

The Clay County Master Gardener program is part of North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s educational outreach in Clay County. Master Gardener volunteers receive training in horticulture and use that knowledge to help Extension provide gardening information and educational programs to local residents.