My front yard is on a very steep slope that's difficult to mow. I want to replace the lawn with a low-care garden and was thinking of using a hybrid technique. I'd dig holes about 2 feet apart, like zai pits. Fill them with vertical sticks/wood. Fill gaps with manure and use soil from the hole to create a berm on the low side of the pit. Once everything's planted I'll lay down cardboard between the plants and mulch with wood chips.
Thoughts on this approach? Anyone tried anything similiar? Is there something I'm not considering?
I am thinking of doing something similar, like hugelholes, but I am not on a slope. I think it depends on what purpose you are desiring. I am primarily doing it to introduce organic matter pretty deep (i'm burying upright logs using an auger in some test sites), but I think it works in practice in dry climates to prevent runoff, but you need a ton of them for that purpose.
Standing on the shoulders of giants. Giants with dirt under their nails
Yep, that should work. Basically you're talking about microcatchment with a mulch pit. Just be careful to mix the manure with dirt. Or better yet, compost the manure first.
-Nathanael
I knew I would regret that burrito. But this tiny ad has never caused regrets:
Rolling Shelter: Vehicles We Have Called Home by Kelly Hart (a Green Home Building Book)