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Hard clay soil into Hugelkultur...ish
Paulo Silva
Posts: 30
Location: Country: Portugal. City: Tomar
posted 4 years ago
So my soil is all hard clay, almost no top soil and it's all turning into desert because of the lack of rain.
I start to dig like crazy last year, forgive me for not following the real Hugelkultur from Sepp , here's one example, it was dug in 5 of January 2012
I start to dig like crazy last year, forgive me for not following the real Hugelkultur from Sepp , here's one example, it was dug in 5 of January 2012
408802_3053853344802_668634368_n.jpg
![[Thumbnail for 408802_3053853344802_668634368_n.jpg]](/t/16778/a/5740/408802_3053853344802_668634368_n.jpg "Filename: 408802_3053853344802_668634368_n.jpg
Description: Clay removed and some wood put inside")
Clay removed and some wood put inside
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![[Thumbnail for 396514_3098871710233_1461837153_n.jpg]](/t/16778/a/5741/396514_3098871710233_1461837153_n.jpg "Filename: 396514_3098871710233_1461837153_n.jpg
Description: Covered with layers of straw, manure and compost, some of the original clay was put on top later")
Covered with layers of straw, manure and compost, some of the original clay was put on top later
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![[Thumbnail for 534166_4141446853960_728392514_n.jpg]](/t/16778/a/5742/534166_4141446853960_728392514_n.jpg "Filename: 534166_4141446853960_728392514_n.jpg
Description: Around it I put old bricks and planted physalis")
Around it I put old bricks and planted physalis
Paulo Silva
Posts: 30
Location: Country: Portugal. City: Tomar
posted 4 years ago
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I already have more like that one, the place is sort of a food forest, there are physalis, grapes, apples, cherry, plums, peaches, olives, gojis, quince, aromatic plants, loquats, Jerusalem artichokes, pomegrantes, apricot, mulberry, oranges ...
There's also a lake I made with 6 frogs and at least 1 tree frog near by, planted Watercress on it and aquatic plants (they keep the water from going bad and without algae), the frogs keep some of the pest controlled, it also has some dragonflies and their nymphs on the water controlling the mosquito larvae.
There's also a lake I made with 6 frogs and at least 1 tree frog near by, planted Watercress on it and aquatic plants (they keep the water from going bad and without algae), the frogs keep some of the pest controlled, it also has some dragonflies and their nymphs on the water controlling the mosquito larvae.
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![[Thumbnail for 394492_4516593432390_1000656516_n.jpg]](/t/16778/a/5743/394492_4516593432390_1000656516_n.jpg "Filename: 394492_4516593432390_1000656516_n.jpg
Description: 6 physalis full of fruit")
6 physalis full of fruit
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![[Thumbnail for 544828_4141449134017_1316954691_n.jpg]](/t/16778/a/5744/544828_4141449134017_1316954691_n.jpg "Filename: 544828_4141449134017_1316954691_n.jpg
Description: The aspect of it all weeks ago, also got a herb spiral")
The aspect of it all weeks ago, also got a herb spiral
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![[Thumbnail for 255543_4141445413924_1987510425_n.jpg]](/t/16778/a/5745/255543_4141445413924_1987510425_n.jpg "Filename: 255543_4141445413924_1987510425_n.jpg
Description: herb spiral")
herb spiral
Tyler Ludens
pollinator
Posts: 8854
Location: Central Texas USA Latitude 30 Zone 8
114
posted 4 years ago
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Looks good to me! I also have buried wood throughout my garden and it's made a tremendous improvement. 
Idle dreamer
Mike Underhill
Posts: 53
Location: N. Sac. Valley
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posted 4 years ago
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That looks great, Paulo! It's tough workin' that red clay. Our physalis ground cherries are just about ready, so I'm guessing that the fruits or your labor are too.
I like this sort of thing.
Paulo Silva
Posts: 30
Location: Country: Portugal. City: Tomar
posted 4 years ago
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Mike Sawley wrote:That looks great, Paulo! It's tough workin' that red clay. Our physalis ground cherries are just about ready, so I'm guessing that the fruits or your labor are too.
Yes it's hard to dig, I do it alone only with my hands and some tools, my trick is working and listening to Paul Wheaton podcast and others similar
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![[Thumbnail for 486405_4516591312337_736733993_n.jpg]](/t/16778/a/5758/486405_4516591312337_736733993_n.jpg "Filename: 486405_4516591312337_736733993_n.jpg
Description: physalis fruit")
physalis fruit
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![[Thumbnail for 546589_4516590472316_688056487_n.jpg]](/t/16778/a/5759/546589_4516590472316_688056487_n.jpg "Filename: 546589_4516590472316_688056487_n.jpg
Description: physalis fruit after the first bite")
physalis fruit after the first bite
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![[Thumbnail for 304861_4516595152433_636472358_n.jpg]](/t/16778/a/5760/304861_4516595152433_636472358_n.jpg "Filename: 304861_4516595152433_636472358_n.jpg
Description: One of my goji with fruit and flowers")
One of my goji with fruit and flowers
Eric Markov
Posts: 100
Location: Bay Area CA zone 9
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posted 4 years ago
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Nice photos. Your soil looks similar to mine. Also in a dry climate and only a shovel to work with. The sunken hugel beds have worked very well for me also.
