Once you catch the gardening bug, there’s no going back – and that’s exactly what Erin Worrall discovered as her homestead-scale garden just kept on growing. She officially launched The Cedar Chest Farm in in Blacksburg, Virginia in the fall of 2021, with this year marking her third successful season of growing as a market gardener.
After first hearing about Rimol Greenhouses on the No Till Growers Market Garden podcast, Erin had the chance to meet Rimol’s mid-Atlantic sales representative Harry Edwards at a sustainable agriculture conference. She also spoke with friends and neighbors who had previous experience with Rimol high tunnels.
“Several farmers in my region were using their NRCS EQIP grant funds to buy a Rimol, and I had the chance to visit some in person,” she shared. “One local farming friend had just completed building three new tunnels on his farm and had offered to help me with the construction since he was familiar with the design. I was sold!”
Erin purchased and built a 30’ x 80’ Nor’Easter high tunnel in the spring of 2024. She began growing a variety of crops, including cherry and slicing tomatoes, sweet peppers, and fairy tale eggplant.
"I am growing for market, and the tunnel plays a critical role in sheltering my most valuable crops," she explained. "Before this tunnel was built, I lacked a place to start seeds for my own transplants and had to buy in thousands of dollars of seedlings each season. So, I reserved the back 20 feet of the tunnel for a prop-house style setup, building greenhouse benches along the back wall and installing shelving to hold all my seedling trays.”
The high tunnel has quickly provided a strong return on investment, helping The Cedar Chest to grow profits and increase efficiency. Erin shared: “The most obvious way my Rimol tunnel has benefitted my farm is the financial impact – this year, 23% of my gross revenue came from crops grown in that single tunnel! And that doesn't account for the thousands of dollars of savings I'm experiencing now that I can start all my own transplants from seed.”
“On top of that, I could sing the praises of the tunnel's impact on my labor quality, weather resilience, and aesthetic appearance. I also have huge peace of mind about the safety of my crops because of the durability of Rimol's design, and the smart integrations we chose like automated roll up sides,” Erin added.
As The Cedar Chest continues to grow, Erin is working towards opening a roadside farm stand for her neighbors and community to have easier access to produce. She is also hoping to integrate more hands-on learning in her farm by hosting workshops and events throughout the growing season. “I have really enjoyed using social media as a means of connecting with other growers and encouraging beginners to make the leap in scaling up for market production,” said Erin.
Overall, Erin shared that her experience working with Rimol was “overwhelmingly positive."
“My sales rep worked closely with me to make sure that I was getting the features I needed and still fitting into my budget. The construction was shockingly straightforward – everything came off the truck with clear instructions and user-friendly assembly. And of course, the finished product is incredible!”
You can follow along with Erin and The Cedar Chest Farm on Instagram at @thecedarchestfarm.