If you are planting things in the open in a place like Kansas, wind is an issue. A strong gust of wind can break all of your plants in moments. While you could put up mechanical systems, it's better to grow your own. A hoop house will protect everything inside of it, but there are situations where you need to protect more than can fit inside of a hoop house.Paul Wray from the Iowa State University Extension service notes:
Some general rules to follow for farmstead windbreaks include: Plant at least two rows of conifers on the north and west side of the farmstead; to reduce snow drift problems, leave 50 to 100 feet between the windbreak and critical farmstead areas; plant at least two different species of conifers; choose species which are best adapted to your site. For some sites consider a strip of prairie or warm season grasses for both snow capture and wildlife habitat. (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2006/jan/070202.htm)Windbreaks can provide natural fencing and privacy as well. I'm also wondering if they might be used to concentrate wind energy by funneling it towards your wind generator--it may be possible to take a 3 mph light wind and focus it to a 10 mph breeze.
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