Growers Using High Tunnels
  
       
       
  Tom Circle, Circle's Pecans and Country Store, McCune, Kansas 
Photos courtesy of Tom Circle
   

 

 These pictures were taken during construction of, and production in, a PVC high tunnel built by Tom Circle and family.  The basic idea was taken from the PVC high tunnel design provided by Hail et al.  The Circles used t-posts as ground posts in order to create straight sidewalls. Some details are as follows:
  • The bow length is 34' long  with 1 1/2" SCD 40 Bell end PVC.
  • Hoop spacing is 4' .
     

 

 

  
  • Purlins are made of 1" PVC.

    There should be 3 purlins instead of just 2 since water during heavy rainstorms will pond between bows and the purlins. With one purlin on the peak and one purlin on each side, this problem is eliminated.
     

  • Length is 56'.
     

 

  
  • 5 1/2' t-posts driven 2' in the ground are used for ground posts.

    There are no other tie downs or anchors. The tension of the bows bent over and slipped down over the t-posts is all that is needed to keep the structure in place.
     

 
     

 

 

  

 

 

Granddaughter Abigail in the hoophouse
     
Tom Circle and family run Circle's Pecans and Country Store in McCune, Kansas. In 2003, they constructed their first high tunnel and are now planning to expand their operation.
 
   

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