First post on this forum at all... I started a late garden this year and decided I'd read up on some sustainability to start making my rural Tennessee property help take care of us as I take care of it. It has a lot of work, as it was neglected for a while.
It didnt take me long to stumble on to Hugelkultur; I read the famous Mr. Holzer's book and have started to read up on Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton. But after reading about these natural raised beds, I had to get started! Its rude and crude, but it's my first earthwork and it has been... a lot of work so far!
It is about 5 feet tall and still needs much more to cover it; I dug about a spade deep and flipped the sod back on to a plum tree that was cut down two months ago. Its then been getting covered with the muck from my brother and his wife's goat barn; tons of composted manure, fresh manure, and plenty of straw. It took a pick to break it apart! It was initially stuck together like plywood!
I have more work to do, and enough wood to build a couple more... I'll be a busy bee this fall and winter! I may dig out in front of the slopes, not sure yet... I'm 6'4 and am still able to reach the top as of now with no issues yet. Looking forward to finishing and building another!
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The thick foundation logs... some were starting to sponge a bit already. Some were quite heavy and seasoned (wheelbarrow went out of commission the day prior)
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The sod flipped back over
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Six trailer loads of goat muck later... and probably another six to go
Hi Will, that's an awesome pile! Welcome to permies! As long as you're building a hugel, you may want to check the requirements to get certified as a "sand level" hugel builder. You're probably doing all the work anyway so a couple extra pictures or details may get you there. If you want. No pressure. Build a Hugelkultur BB as part of the PEP program
With a lot of summer still left, there's time to plant a nice cover crop all over that bad boy and get the microbial life in the soil cranking.
Please update the thread as that bed continues to mature. I'd be curious to see how dark that soil becomes as the hugel ages.
"The rule of no realm is mine. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, these are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail in my task if anything that passes through this night can still grow fairer or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I too am a steward. Did you not know?" Gandolf
I certainly will; I'll hopefully be finishing this bad boy this weekend and then starting another one soon - probably September. I'm fortunate to have a job with a schedule that allows plenty of time off to get some work done.
Also preparing to start a small forest garden in a small fenced in area! Get the work done this winter so I can keep myself seriously busy in spring...
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![[Thumbnail for 20190801_095814.jpg]](/t/119803/a/85026/20190801_095814.jpg "Filename: 20190801_095814.jpg
Description: The thick foundation logs... some were starting to sponge a bit already. Some were quite heavy and seasoned (wheelbarrow went out of commission the day prior)")
![[Thumbnail for 20190801_140559.jpg]](/t/119803/a/85027/20190801_140559.jpg "Filename: 20190801_140559.jpg
Description: The sod flipped back over")
![[Thumbnail for 20190805_190946.jpg]](/t/119803/a/85028/20190805_190946.jpg "Filename: 20190805_190946.jpg
Description: Six trailer loads of goat muck later... and probably another six to go")
