WARREN - With new gardening sections and handicapped accessible gardening areas, the Victory Garden off York Avenue has another addition with a hoophouse, which will allow for gardening year-round.
The Tunnel Vision Greenhouse Company of Cleveland recently installed the hoophouse.
Mary Ann Frankin and Mel Milliron, who both worked to get the garden established, said the structure will help extend the growing season both earlier and later so they can raise items further into the growing season.
Charles Prince, who has a gardening area, said the addition is another needed part of the garden in addition to the handicapped accessible growing stands.
Todd Alexander, co-founder / owner of Tunnel Vision, said the high-tunnel hoophouse, an alternative to the traditional glass-covered greenhouse system, does not use heat or electricity.
Alexander said the structure's covering captures the heat and sun's energy during the winter and helps plants grow all season.
''You can grow everything from beets and spinach to radishes and kale during the winter,'' he said.
He said there is an advantage allowing gardeners to be ahead of others who wait for the traditional growing season each year.
"The key is planting before the really hard winter arrives. Since we are losing daylight, if you start planting over the next month before it gets really cold, the initial growth is strong enough to continue throughout the winter,'' Alexander said.
Milliron said the project cost $4,900, with mini grants the garden has received totaling $18,000 covering costs for this and other projects.
There is one entrance to the structure which is 20 feet wide, 48 feet long and 10 feet high.
Alexander, who is a part-time farmer, said he uses hoophouses for his own growing.
Carlton Jackson, co-owner of Tunnel Vision, said what many people like is the ability to harvest throughout the winter even with less sunlight and warmth.
Jackson said in recent years more and more farmers use such structures when dealing with the weather.
He said the structure provides climate similar to what would be expected 500 miles south of wherever it is located.
Milliron said David Ruffin wrote the grants which helped make so much in the garden possible.
Prince said he is very excited about the addition, knowing even if it's cold outside he can still garden.
"I like this. I look forward to getting to work in there," said Carolyn Richardson, who also gardens.