Referring to the attached image, you've got your regular, awesome, sub-irrigated wicking bed.
They're cool because they regulate their own watering, etc.
But, what if you then add some large-diameter pipes going past the
water reservoir from the soil in the bed to the soil in the actual ground below?
I'm thinking this would be an advantage because:
1) Allows nutrients/ions to exchange
2) Soil microorganisms can travel back and forth
3) Worm tunnel!
Could have problems though. For instance:
Even if the pipe were well-sealed, I'm wondering if the ground were dry if it could still wick the water up and out of the reservoir(?)
Thoughts?