The trees along Franklin Hill are now barren of leaves, unveiling stunning views of the Flats and downtown Cleveland in its entire industrial splendor. Yet in the high-tunnel hoop houses that now dot the Ohio City Farm, the green shoots are just coming up.

The six new hoop houses at the farm, located on six acres behind the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority’s Riverview Tower at West 25th and Franklin will facilitate the growth of crops such as lettuce, carrots and beets all winter long.

“It’s really nice to harvest fresh, leafy greens when there’s snow on the ground,” says Kelly Powers with Cleveland Crops, a partnership between the Cuyahoga Board of Developmental Disabilities and SAW Inc. that maintains one acre at the farm.

The sturdy structures, which were fabricated by the Shaker Heights startup Tunnel Vision Hoops, have become a popular choice for urban farmers in Cleveland. Not only do they extend the growing season into the winter months, they also allow farmers to start planting earlier in the year and shelter shade-loving crops on hot summer days.

Perhaps most importantly, hoop houses offer an opportunity for farmers to sell produce through the traditionally slow winter months – a game-changer for growers working part-time. “If you walk up to the door of a restaurant with a box of delicious, mixed greens, the chefs are like ‘wow,’” Powers explains. “They’ll almost give you anything for it.”

Several hoop houses at the farm have double layers of plastic for added protection. On a recent November day with temps near freezing, the inside of the hoop houses were a balmy 75 degrees. Beyond the warmth, hoop houses add a level of stability to farming, as well – crops are sheltered from wind and watering can be regulated more evenly.

Crops grown in hoop houses in the winter can be even more succulent. “Some plants are actually happier in colder weather,” Powers says. “They produce sugars to keep from freezing, and when they’re not full of water, they can actually taste better, too.”

Inside the hoop house, the workers prepping the soil for winter crops have the doors propped open. At 12:30 p.m., they take a break for lunch outside in the dazzling sun.

One imagines that the inside of the hoop house might be an enviable spot on a cold January day – Ohio City’s sunroom, perhaps. “Don’t tell them that,” Powers quips, nodding to the workers that she is trying to keep on task on a beautiful fall day.

Todd Alexander of Tunnel Vision Hoops and Central Roots Farm is working nearby. Because of his hoop house, he’s been able to keep his Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program going right up until the Christmas holidays.

“We may be the longest-running CSA in Cleveland,” says Alexander, who has planted six foot rows of blue scotch curling kale, snow peas, spinach and more. “We added seven weeks to this year’s season. It’ll be cool to deliver greens in December.”