Regarding the story “High tunnels here to stay” (Peninsula Clarion, Oct. 28): Sure they are. Everybody can get some free federal government money to build them and get paid, by the feds, for growing food each year. Subtract free money out of the equation and measure the success of the high tunnel program. And all those government paid employees justify their jobs by expressing great success of the free money program, they manage. I wonder what that costs?
Let me see. Two married nurses, I know, qualified for the federal program. Combined income about $150,000. They qualified for the free federal money. Another grower was excited because their adult grandchild qualified. When I asked where the money would come from she answered, “the federal government.”
I have a non-government sponsored high tunnel, designed by a friend, who I believe to be a construction genius. I built it at a fraction of the cost of commercially built high tunnels. Of course I do not receive any money, from government, for growing my own food.
I have compared my food production of high tunnels with my low tunnels. Not much discussion on low tunnels. They are inexpensive, non-government sponsored and my food production is greater in my low tunnels, for low-to-the-ground-growing plants.
If high tunnels are so successful, in growing food, why does the federal government need to put money into the idea? In a free market economy the best ideas are supported by the most successful processes without free government money.
Our children and grandchildren will look back at this time and wonder how we could have been so foolish and left them with such a national debt.