Mel Schnieders

I’ll get a photo next time I’m there. It’s a huge eyesore when you first enter my growing space which is a total of 1/2 acre. Water is an issue. The well is very slow and the placement of this hugel is in the low spot where run off from the sheep pasture has been an issue. I’m not worried about rodents as we have seen a few black snakes. Wasps would be a problem which I hadn’t considered.

I am taking over a growing space in Kansas where it’s hot and windy. The prior farmer started a hugel. It’s outlined with tree stumps placed vertically. Interior was filled with base of logs, sticks on top and then wood mulch. So far there is no soil.

It’s only 2’ tall and it’s 40’x60’.

My experience with building hugel is to make them long, skinny and tall plus topping with soil. Not using wood chip mulch under the soil layer.

I was told to finish this one by adding compost followed by top soil essentially sandwiching the wood mulch between logs and soil.

Is this what I should do?! Due to the sheer size of this I’m unable to dismantle it and start over without renting equipment. It’s huge. It’s got areas where no wood chips were added.

I considered digging pockets into the wood mulch and filling those with compost/soil and planting into them.

Please advise!!