Lazy hugelkultur

Crazy idea.  I live in N. California, our weather is mostly dry and hot. Winters are mild, we get some rain, but not nearly enough. Because of this it takes quite a while for a large pile of wood chips to break down. I have one now that is around 2 1/2 years old.  I was looking at it the other day and I just started wondering what would happen if I just started planting in that?  I wouldn't think it would hold water like a hugelkultur, then again one of the purposes of mulch is to help keep the soil moist.  You may be saying Jen you can't grow plants in wood chips.  You totally can.  I spread wood chips I got at the same time in my garden paths, under the wood chips is weed cloth ( I know permies people hate weed cloth, but I like using a quality weed cloth in my walkways, it lasts way longer than cardboard)   I have a few volunteers growing in the path, and it's not even very deep.  I don't need any more garden space, but now I'm curious.  Would it work?  I'm totally tempted to find a space, pile them up, and see what happens.  The laziest hugel ever.  What do you think?

I've seen at least 2 places (think natural nurseries) out there in youtubeland that are built entirely on just such wood chips. Incredible gardens supporting an incredible variety of plant, food bearing and otherwise. Justin Rhodes did the interview on the one in a more tropical, southern location than where I'm at currently. ( southern California) The other one I can't recall the name of is in NY.

They certainly convinced me of the value of growing in deep wood chips. I think it is a crash course style hugelkultur.

What I find such a joy is the experimentation in the garden. You can try it and see if it works and if not, there is always next year! I have had many volunteers sprout and thrive in my old wood chip pile before I spread it all out. We have Oak predominantly and while it is a strong milled wood, it breaks down extremely fast in natural conditions.

It does work. I have piles a couple years old with all kinds of junk growing in em. Oak trees, grass clumps, flowers, vetch... The pile I am think of was about a foot deep of mostly pine chips, some needles in there too. It was gonna be a mushroom bed, maybe someday it still will.

Oh and hey, almost forgot... 4-ish" of chips with 2-ish" of horse manure on top has been a game changer for me. Literally the best soil I have on my property in 9 months (which included our "rainy season").  No watering or anything other than waiting after piling up. Just wanting to keep spreading the word...