Oakland University’s Student Organic Farm program is finally getting the hoop house they’ve wanted since the club started. The steel hoop house is said to expand the growing season by four months.

The club will now have the opportunity to grow their fresh crops 10 months out of the year.

“Having a hoop house is really essential to having a fiscally sustainable farm because it allows for season extension,” said OU professor Dr. Fay Hansen. “Also, since we are an educational farm as well as a production farm, we wanted to give our students a four season experience in organic farming.”

Although this large new addition to the farm is not finished yet, plans for unveiling the final product are set for next month. The event will be a potluck and take place on Friday, Sept. 26.

“We will not be able to grow in December and January, but come February we will plant the seeds for the following months,” said Drake Mullett, e-board member of the Student Organic Farm program.

Although planting isn’t possible in December and January, crops are still in production through these harsh winter months. This way, when February rolls around they will begin growing again. The house’s passive solar heating helps the frozen crops revive.

The hoop house has taken around two months to build. It could have been completed in August, but slowing down the process has allowed more students to be involved. Two OU classes and over 20 volunteers have had hands on experience in the building process during phase I, which consisted of erecting the steel support system of the house.

For phase II, which begins the second week of the semester, at least four different OU classes have signed up to participate. During phase II of the building process, students and volunteers will be installing the non-metal parts, including the end walls, doors and vents. They will then cover the entire system with two huge pieces of plastic.

“Putting the final plastic sheets on is very festive because it involves a lot of people lined up on each side,” Hansen said.

The club hopes to have some of the hoop house crops available at the October farm stand and for their special Thanksgiving sale.