A look at design for Market Garden....

I'm working on this tomorrow through the weekend.
I had 20,000 lbs of compost dumped at my property
yesterday (nearly free of charge).

For food production, would you do straight-rasised-rows
with raised hay beds, or circular fashion for a market garden?







Here's a quick mock-up, and the area itself. I was thinking of
making use of the 'horseshoe bed' I tossed together. Raised-bed config
would be best...similar to..


How about Mandala here?

So,just give me the short and skinny. For this area, how would you approach it? (consider slope/grade)
and really maximizing space for optimal output of vegetables...

What type of soil is it? Do you think you'll have to irrigate on a regular basis? Those factors would weigh heavily on my decision to choose contoured beds or mandala style.

Also, how the hell did you get that much compost delivered for nearly free?!?! Nice score!

It's composted hardwood bark, chicken and horse manure, with sand
and salt for minerals. I have drip irri in the area, I'll certainly re-direct
when when I get it situated as we routinely get 100+F in the summer here.
I just know a few good people ;- )

I haven't used chicken tractors or mandala beds, but it works well here: http://www.purplepear.net.au/

Leila Rich wrote:I haven't used chicken tractors or mandala beds, but it works well here: http://www.purplepear.net.au/

Thanks leila..
looking for a quick observation on direction to take..it's more or
less in my hands,just need to gather mass amounts of raw material
and move forward..
just looking for simple inputs on potential designs.. very off-the-cuff
remarks are good --

Ah I should've been more specific. I was asking about the indigenous soil, not the stuff you've amended with.

I've got experience with both mandala and straight row gardens. I will say that I feel like mandala's have a much more pleasant feel about them. If you have to keep moving your drip irrigation to different areas, placing them accurately in mandala's can be a real pain in the ass but if you can leave the drip irrigation in place for the season, it wouldn't be a problem of course.

I hear ya,Trav.
I'll have some xtra tubing and mini spigot fittings in the
next few days as well.. I can place 'T' fittings where I
like and really keep it clean and effective at water delivery.
I'm really going to try to get 16" between growing space to
channel excess water out and onto some plants that are a bit
more water loving...