Climate Change-Mitigating Shade Structures

Tucson Village Farm (TVF) is a small education-focused urban farm teaching youth ranging from pre-k to high school about agriculture and nutrition. TVF creates a myriad of opportunities for youth to flourish in a nurturing, safe space in which they can be equipped with the tools that they need to thrive. Instrumental to all of these efforts is the successful cultivation of vegetables on TVF’s two farms. The vegetables grown at TVF are utilized in their commercial teaching kitchen and educational efforts, and are distributed to the Tucson community through programming and marketing.  

This project will install three shade structures on TVF's field rows and greenhouse that will facilitate more efficient cultivation of vegetables. TVF grows a wide range of vegetables and varieties with different needs, and these structures will allow TVF to continue to grow them in an increasingly unpredictable climate. TVF has found that well-managed shade can give them greater control over the effects of extreme heat on their food crops. It is estimated that these shade structures will allow TVF to produce 15% more consumable food and reduce water usage by 10%. 

Though this project will be led by the Farm Manager and Instructional Specialist over at TVF, the installation of the structures will involve a student leadership team who will help see the project through to completion. During the construction of the shades, interns and student workers will also have the opportunity to learn real-world skills related to the sustainable cultivation of food crops in arid regions.