Low-Cost Raised Garden Circles
When Ryan Hunt and his family decided to get into gardening a few years ago, raised beds were a top priority. They wanted to work at a comfortable height, but Hunt didn’t like the cost of most raised bed designs. So he made his own out of inexpensive materials. They worked so well he started selling “Garden Circles” through a website from his Pine River, Minn., home.
“We started with the idea that round is nature’s most efficient shape,” Hunt says. To also be economical he built his first circles out of chicken wire lined with inexpensive landscape fabric. His original Garden Circles are still functional after seven years. Commercial units are made from higher quality materials that should last at least 10 years. He started selling them in 2016.
“We use a 1 by 2-in. welded mesh wire and the heaviest landscape fabric available,” Hunt explains. Garden Circles sell for $53 to $69 for 3, 4 and 5-ft. dia. units that are 2 ft. tall.
Garden Circles come in rolls that open and set up easily. Form the roll into a circle, clasp the folded ends together and secure with zip-ties. The largest circle (5-ft.) holds about 2 cu. yards of soil.
As a way to reduce the amount of soil needed and to hold moisture, Hunt suggests placing wood chunks and brush in the bottom half.
“It slowly breaks down and acts like a sponge,” he says.
Once set up, Garden Circles can be set up with drip or other types of irrigation systems. Because they are raised beds, frequent watering is necessary – especially around the perimeter.
The Hunts’ garden expanded from 10 circles to 40 circles to 80 circles over the years, including Garden Circle Extensions that fit up against the circles and are less expensive. Hunt also has a 1-ft. tall version ideal for perennials such as asparagus, and rectangular setups that hold straw bales for that popular type of gardening. The versatile fabric walls make it easy to set up the garden in many configurations, such as the Foldout-U Shape garden that Hunt offers for $225.
In addition to raising the garden to a comfortable height, Garden Circles help prevent problems with gophers, sloped ground, poor soil, poor drainage and rabbits and chickens getting in the garden. Because the beds are raised, the soil warms sooner for a jumpstart on the season.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Garden Circles, Ryan Hunt, 2331 Dancing Wind Rd. SW, Pine River, Minn. 56474 (ph 218 851-7022; www.gardencircledesigns.com; info@gardencircledesigns.com).
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Low-Cost Raised Garden Circles FARM HOME Food When Ryan Hunt and his family decided to get into gardening a few years ago raised beds were a top priority They wanted to work at a comfortable height but Hunt didn’t like the cost of most raised bed designs So he made his own out of inexpensive materials They worked so well he started selling “Garden Circles” through a website from his Pine River Minn home “We started with the idea that round is nature’s most efficient shape ” Hunt says To also be economical he built his first circles out of chicken wire lined with inexpensive landscape fabric His original Garden Circles are still functional after seven years Commercial units are made from higher quality materials that should last at least 10 years He started selling them in 2016 “We use a 1 by 2-in welded mesh wire and the heaviest landscape fabric available ” Hunt explains Garden Circles sell for $53 to $69 for 3 4 and 5-ft dia units that are 2 ft tall Garden Circles come in rolls that open and set up easily Form the roll into a circle clasp the folded ends together and secure with zip-ties The largest circle 5-ft holds about 2 cu yards of soil As a way to reduce the amount of soil needed and to hold moisture Hunt suggests placing wood chunks and brush in the bottom half “It slowly breaks down and acts like a sponge ” he says Once set up Garden Circles can be set up with drip or other types of irrigation systems Because they are raised beds frequent watering is necessary – especially around the perimeter The Hunts’ garden expanded from 10 circles to 40 circles to 80 circles over the years including Garden Circle Extensions that fit up against the circles and are less expensive Hunt also has a 1-ft tall version ideal for perennials such as asparagus and rectangular setups that hold straw bales for that popular type of gardening The versatile fabric walls make it easy to set up the garden in many configurations such as the Foldout-U Shape garden that Hunt offers for $225 In addition to raising the garden to a comfortable height Garden Circles help prevent problems with gophers sloped ground poor soil poor drainage and rabbits and chickens getting in the garden Because the beds are raised the soil warms sooner for a jumpstart on the season Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Garden Circles Ryan Hunt 2331 Dancing Wind Rd SW Pine River Minn 56474 ph 218 851-7022; www gardencircledesigns com; info@gardencircledesigns com
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