I've got some Hugelkultur mounds I've built over the years and feel pretty comfortable with the concept, now. I've been a fan at their ability to produce and survive through droughts without supplemental watering. Plus, the ability to contain gardens in circular plots I can mow around simplifies the maintenance and allows for control of more aggressive plants like jerusalem artichoke and raspberry suckers. Now, I want to take all that I've learned and make a series of mounds including a larger central mound and include as many varied crops and their guilds that I can reasonably expect to grow in my zone (4b). Part experiment, partly to show the locals what can be done, and mostly for food for my family and nutritious fodder for my livestock.
My plan at the moment is for one central mound (~18 feet across and 5-6 feet tall) surrounded by 6 smaller mounds (~8 feet across and 3-4 foot tall) spaced evenly around the larger mound I'm calling satellite mounds. I'm less concerned about these at the moment, as I will add them as I have time, and will start with the large central mound. The mounds would each be specialized for guilds/livestock forage/specialized needs/etc. with the central mound being my most productive, cooperative, and desired plants.
I attached a hand drawn image of my initial thoughts for the central mound and quick drawing of the 7 total mounds for visual representation.
I'm worried the sunchokes will overtake the rest of the mound done this way, anybody have advice? Want to use them for the groundnut support. Clover and wild strawberry will be a lot of the soil coverage with astilbe adding more nitrogen fixing on this mound. I'm also surrounding all mounds with chives and other alliums due to rabbits, deer, and voles. I'm not a master gardener, just a guy with dirty hands and some time on his hands.
Thank you for any advice you may have!
PXL_20260611_192748158.jpg
Hand drawn representation of mound
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Mound layout
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