I’m planning out my garden projects for next year and after reading an article by Paul Wheaton, I’m convinced that Hugelkultur needs to be a part of my plans. Hugelkultur is basically burying rotting wood under raised beds. The wood composts under the ground, and helps to hold water in the ground, reducing the need for watering. Check out Paul Wheaton’s article, Raised Garden Beds ,for a much more in depth read.
So with all that being said, this my budding pile of wood for my Hugelkultur project. I’ve got a lonely side of my yard, that is on the other side of my fence away from a hose. My plan is to put in a raised bed using hugelkultur principles. I figure with access to water being a bit limited, it is the perfect spot to try this out. Once the weather warms up I’m going to be out there with my shovel.
Check out more of Paul Wheaton’s work and browse the forums over at Permies.com or catch up with him on Facebook.
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What a neat idea. You sure have sparked my interest. Let me know how it all goes…I might have to give this a try.
I’ll be up dating this as it progresses.
Will you be doing it as a comparison? The Hugelkultur bed next to a normal raised bed that you use. It would be cool to see how the same plants grow from one bed to the next.
That is a great idea. Why didn’t I think of it! Now I’ll have to collect more semi-rotted wood.
Eureka! I have some firewood that isn’t even good enough for the wood stove – I’m going to use it for this, TOMORROW!!! Thank you for the idea!
I’d be interested in an update if you have one. I have several small beds like you describe in my garden, but I have not had good luck the first year in them. Just curious on how it went.
I only got around to setting up the Hugel beds this Fall. Did you use we rotted wood? I’ve read that it needs to be really decayed for this to work well.
My first bed I set up, I did not. I’m sure that was part of it and I think I have figured out a couple other mistakes I made. This bed did better last summer on its second year, but still not great. My only saving grace, I believe, will be that most of what I have here is pine and that will start to rot pretty quickly. By my third bed I had some better ideas and I think will go better. I did one up late last summer I will plant in this spring. Hopefully the changes I made will give it a better start. I should do up a blog post on the beds.