Take a Walk on the High Tunnel Side 🌿

When it comes to rosemary, you can’t just toss it in the Tennessee dirt and hope for the best. Tuscan Blue may be bold and oil-rich, but in Zone 7a winters, she won’t survive on her own. That’s why we knew from the start: if rosemary were going to thrive here at Homestead Lavender Farm, we’d need a different approach.

With support from the USDA NRCS program, we set out to build a 30×100 long tunnel — a sheltered growing space that would protect rosemary year-round and give it a fighting chance in Tennessee’s climate.

Finding the Perfect Spot

Before a single post went in, we spent a couple of days just walking the land. A 30×100 tunnel isn’t a dainty little thing — it needed flat, tillable ground, a location that wouldn’t cast shadows on future lavender fields, and a space that wouldn’t crowd out areas already in production. After a lot of pacing, measuring, and squinting at the horizon, we finally staked out its home.

To bring the tunnel to life, we worked with a company recommended through the NRCS program. They, in turn, partnered with skilled Amish builders, whose craftsmanship turned a pile of parts into the 30×100 ft home our Rosemary needed. In just a few hours, arches rose, steel gleamed, and suddenly the idea was no longer just on paper — it was standing tall in our field.

Building Momentum

Excitement was building by the hour — and dang it, don’t I wish I’d snapped a picture of those rosemary plugs waiting for their new home. As the tunnel wrapped up, Jason and I were already sketching out our following task list.

We’d planted a cover crop in that field for this very purpose, so first came the disc harrow to work it back into the soil. But the ground was stubborn, packed tight from seasons past. We quickly realized we’d need to till, too — especially since we had a brand-new implement ready to pull double duty: forming raised mounds while tucking drip tape neatly underground in one smooth pass.

By the end of the day, the field had transformed. The ground softened, the raised mounds took shape, and fresh lines of drip tape peeked out like veins ready to carry life into the rows. It wasn’t glamorous — dirt under nails, sweat on brows — but it was the kind of progress that makes you stop and breathe it in: this was Rosemary’s new beginning.

Weed Mat Day

With the drip tape in place and the mounds formed, we called it a day. The field was ready, but so were we — ready for some much-needed rest. Because tomorrow’s job was no small feat, laying the weed mat would be its own kind of challenge, one that tested both patience and teamwork.

Oh, glory days— without much fighting amongst ourselves (or fighting the wind), we won. The weed mat was down, stapled, and holding steady. We tested the drip lines, ensured every row was hydrated, and took a moment to stand back and breathe—victory, for now. The following sunrise would bring the big moment: planting rosemary in its new Tennessee home.

 

And just in time—our rosemary plugs arrived! Tiny, bright, and full of promise, these little plants were the stars of the show. After all the groundwork (literally), seeing them fresh out of the trays felt like unwrapping a long-awaited gift. Every row of weed mat suddenly looked less like a chore and more like a blank canvas, waiting for green to take root.

Looking back now, it’s hard to believe those tiny plugs have transformed into the thriving rosemary field we see today. What started as a patch of bare soil and a lot of back-breaking work has become a living tunnel of green — thanks to the guidance and support of the NRCS, and a whole lot of determination (and maybe a few stubborn arguments with the wind). Each plant is more than just a crop; it’s a reminder that with grit, partnership, and patience, a dream can take root and flourish. Here at Homestead Lavender Farm, we’re proud to share that journey — from plug trays to powerful, fragrant rows of Tuscan Blue rosemary.