Try something new
The alternative heading for this post ought to be ‘Planning part 2’. This is the bit where the plan meets reality and new ideas. I think I’ve made my case for beds, raised or otherwise. I like working with defined manageable chunks, that way it is easier to see what I’ve achieved and it means I’m not always walking on soil. I can see the benefits of treating the whole plot as one bed, it’s just not for me.
Anyhow another WordPress blogger, Claire on Smallholding Dreams has posted about making hugelkultur beds and the amazing harvests from these beds. I’d not heard about hugelkultur before, so off I went to Google and discovered a hundred and one ways to build a really steep raised bed or a ‘hilly mound’. Like so many things that make sense, the principles of hugelkultur mimic nature, using rotting wood and other biomass to create a sustainable growing medium. Apologies to readers who are dedicated hugelers but this was a light bulb moment for me.
I’m not certain who ‘invented’ hugelkultur, although Sepp Holzer’s name is often mentioned but this extract from Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway describes the the way it works:
The decomposing organic matter in hugelkultur beds raises the temperature just enough to boost plant growth. Another advantage: As the woody brush rots, it releases nutrients slowly, and also holds quite a bit of water.
Slow release of nutrients, raised soil temperature and water retention as well as no-dig sold it to me as the way to manage the beds in the polytunnel. But I wanted something tidier and certainly not taller than me!
I modified the approach based on the material available and what I’m capable of lifting and shifting. I dug out the bed a spade’s depth, saving that material in a bulk bag, then added a thick layer of wood chip – a poplar had recently been taken down. Logs would be better as they take longer to break down than wood chip but the trunks were far to big for me to lift into the car. I then added a layer of straw and fresh manure, the idea being that the nitrogen released by the manure as it decomposes will be taken up by the wood chip as it breaks down. To be on the safe side, I added a generous sprinkle of chicken manure. This filled up the trench I had dug out. I’m using scaffold planks to make the bed sides – not essential but keeps everything in its place. Painting them purple is also optional! Once the bed frame was in place, I topped up with the soil removed from the trench and I’m hoping that will settle as there is half a bulk bag left over.
A lot of this approach is contrary to traditional gardening methods and I’ve certainly caused a few eyebrows to twitch as I’ve collected fresh wood chip and fresh manure to add directly to beds but I’ve also created quite a bit of curiosity and got people talking about a new to us permaculture approach.
The ingredients for a hugelkultur are varied and can be adapted to local conditions and what’s available, although I am now much more interested in saving rather than shredding the apple tree prunings. Apparently some wood is better than others; hardwood as it takes longer to decompose and avoid eucalyptus as it has anti-microbial properties, although I’m pretty certain I’ve had eucalyptus wood chip paths and they rotted down just as well as the rest, so fungi and microbes weren’t that inhibited.
Here’s a couple of websites to explain the detail:
Do you already use hugelkultur or any other method that might be regarded as ‘non-traditional’?
Allotment Life 
I am trying a Back to the garden of Eden method on some areas of my plot. Results differ though 😕
I had to Google that too! I have to say these approaches all seem ‘rooted’ in a layer-up and no-dig methodology. What problems have you experienced?
A fascinating , and informative, post. It’ll be interesting to see how yours does . xx
Thanks Flighty. There will be regular updates during 2017!
I use hugel culture – got seven beds so far. The non-woody material in the first I built 18 months ago has already completely disappeared into the soil and with just the wood left I’ve found it a little difficult to plant stuff. So, I might ‘exhume’ that bed and add a new load of more nitrogen-rich material when the make come out.
Another bed which seems to have created a challenge is where I planed my bay tree. I noticed the leaves turning yellow because of the lack of nitrogen (presumable due to the decomposition process under the soil) but nitrogen quickly applied on the top of the soil sorted that issue out.
Anyway, good luck with your endeavours.
Thanks Helen. Are you topping up the beds with compost or manure every year?
As the first one was only built 18 months ago, I haven’t so far. Also, as I would ideally like to do no-dig, I am hoping that I don’t need t keep pulling back the soil.
I’m also trying to operate a closed loop in the garden, whereby I avoid buying compost/manure and I don’t unfortunately have enough of my own compost. Still, it’s still early days, so I’ll keep assessing and act accordingly!
I know what you mean. Even with an allotment, I manage to make about a ton of compost and that covers less than a quarter of the beds😳
As wildlife photographer i love allotments. Great place for spider, butterfly and bird photography as well as being a tranquil place to be. Love your site. Regards
Thanks Peter. It is a great place for wildlife but they’re a bit camera shy! I’m working up the courage to get up close with the spiders!
A very interesting post and one I will be returning to. Many thanks.