We bought a Quik Shade canopy for farmers’ market. I made the mistake of not ordering an E-Z Up. I was sure I could pick one up at a big box in Bangor. I was mistaken. We decided the Quik Shade would be ok because it was a commercial grade canopy. We were mistaken. I’d like to drag the damned thing across the road, down the bank and into the river to let it disappear in tidal water. Of course I won’t do that but on Tuesday mornings it sounds like a good idea. Steve offered to help me put it up today. After 10 minutes I suggested applying dynamite. He said it wasn’t quite that bad. It’s going to two more markets before it become a permanent fixture in front of the outdoor fireplace. We’ll put the picnic table and propage grill under and get some use out of it. unfortunately the box was destroyed so it can’t be returned. The new E-Z Up will be here around July 14. I’ll be dancing in the road if it arrives on the 13th so that I can use it on the 14th. They’re on sale at Cabela’s. $110 for a 12′ x 12′, $15 shipping and $6 sales tax. The 10′ x 10′ is only $7o.
It’s worth noting that it’s not raining today. It’s cool, windy and cloudy but it’s not raining.
I clipped new growth to the plants’ strings and pruned tomato and cucumber plants after I took this picture. It’s tidier in there now. These are Ida Gold tomatoes. We’ve been eating them since June 30. These aren’t their ripe orange color yet.
Filed under: Daily Farm Life, Garden, Greenhouse, high tunnel, hoop house, Growing Vegetables, Small Farming, agriculture, high tunnel, hoop house
Veges look great Robin. So for those of us who aren’t familiar, what’s the difference between the two canopies? They look the same to the uninitiated.
Have a good week!
So the EZ-Up is a misnomer? Maybe it’s easy up for engineers and small children with Lego experience. I hate stuff like that!! I’m sorry you’ve had such an awful time with the product.. Can you cancel the order for the one on the 14th?
Your tomatoes look great. We’ve been eating “Taxi” toms from my only heirloom plant to produce fruit. Won’t be planting heirlooms next year. I’m not patient enough or learned enough to make it work.
The Quik Shade is horrible. I’ll be dancing in the road if the E-Z Up comes earlier than the 14th so that I can use it at market on the 14th. I love E-Z Up, they really are easy. Steve’s going to meet me at market tomorrow morning to help me put up the Quik Shade. He’s 6′ 3″, 250 lbs and can barely get it to the point of snapping into place.
Sorry, misread.
I also took another look at what my own garden is doing and discovered that I have 3 kinds of heirlooms that are hanging in there.
So much wonderful stuff coming from my CSA volunteer gig, that I lose track of what’s mine and what’s theirs.
I will be getting a canopy to use at art fairs and my research shows that the EZ-Up may not make you very happy either. While they are relatively easy to set up and break down, they are worthless in bad weather, according to what I have read in many forums. The roof will fill with water if it is not windy. If it is windy, the canopy will blow away. My friend has several and the cross pieces like to break.
I’ve used E-Z Ups for seven years. The first was damaged when the wind picked it up and threw it across the lawn. If I’d had it staked down properly it wouldn’t have happened. Other than that, they’ve held up very well. I gave the last one away thinking I wouldn’t go back to farmers’ market. I’ve now been through two Quik Shades in two years. I emailed Quik Shade’s customer service through their website two and a half days ago and have not yet received a reply. If/when I hear from them I need to add that on the third day of use a rivet broke and a customer almost walked into the hanging metal arm before I could get to it. Even if I get only a year out of the new E-Z up it’s way ahead of Quik Shade. It would be nice if we had more suitable options.
Sounds like this getting a shade/canopy sort of deal is tough going! Hope your E-Z Up comes quickly! Not a good way to have to start your day, struggling with a recalcitrant canopy.
Hi there
i saw your coments about the Quik Shade you purchased. Its a shame you couldnt have bought the original Quikshade branded Australian made unit from us in Australia.
Thanks Jeff. You’re the only person from Quik Shade I’ve heard from. Customer service n the US ignored my request for help.