Earth only hugelkultur/log free alternatives

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience of an earth only hugelkultur/raised bed? Ideally I'd love to do a hugel with logs but unfortunately I have neither the money nor a vehicle to transport any logs. I do however have an abundance of compost and a decent amount of fresh cow manure. Would it be possible to create a tall bed using just earth? I'd be aiming for something around 1.2m high with an angle of around 60 degrees. There is a single mention of an earth only raised bed in Sepp Holzer's permaculture so I'm sure it must be possible but I'm struggling to find any more information. My main concern would be with the stability of the bed. If earth only isn't a feasible option does anyone have any other ideas? Hay bales would be easier and cheaper for me to acquire, could this be an option? What about using rocks as the foundation? Would a foundation of rocks act as a heat sink or would it not have any effect after being buried under the soil? Sorry for the multitude of questions, I'm very enthusiastic but also very new to this all. Thanks!

Welcome to Permies!

A Hugel's advantage that many are drawn to is that the utilized buried logs become an internal sponge as they break down in order to passively irrigate what you grow on the bed. Without them you are making essentially a berm that you intent to grow on. This isn't a bad thing, but perhaps we can get an idea of what might fit you best?

What is the environment like where you are growing? How much rain do you get on average? What would you like to grow and in how big of a space? What is your base soil made up up?

I have heard people having success haybale gardening before. That might be something to fiddle with?

I will also say Welcome to Permies!

I agree with Timothy that what you are describing would be more accurately called a raised bed or berm. As with most Permaculture techniques, Hügelkultur was designed to solve a problem. Instead of starting with the solution, can we step back and take a look at the problem? Are you looking for a way to conserve water? Help block road noise?  

Timothy Norton wrote:Welcome to Permies!

A Hugel's advantage that many are drawn to is that the utilized buried logs become an internal sponge as they break down in order to passively irrigate what you grow on the bed. Without them you are making essentially a berm that you intent to grow on. This isn't a bad thing, but perhaps we can get an idea of what might fit you best?

What is the environment like where you are growing? How much rain do you get on average? What would you like to grow and in how big of a space? What is your base soil made up up?

I have heard people having success haybale gardening before. That might be something to fiddle with?

Thanks Timothy!

The site gets lots of sun but is quite exposed to the wind. I'm in the South West of England so the climate is temperate and fairly wet. The rainfall averages between 1000-1500mm a year so water retention isn't particularly an issue for me. This bed/berm would be specifically for growing chillies, at least on the south facing side. They should all be in a polytunnel but it's been a bit of a chaotic year and I'm really behind so am trying to at least salvage some of my harvest by getting these planted outside. I'm hoping to use the hugel/berm to create a little microclimate zone to try and extend my season slightly and again salvage some of my harvest. I was planning to use a south facing semi circe to do this. I'm on an allotment so for a south facing semi circle I'd be constrained to 3m north to south and up to 8m east to west. Ideally I'd like it to be 3x3 but don't mind if it exceeds this. The base soil on the site is fairly clayey but not exceptionally heavy. I have access to lots of very loamy compost which is what I'd mainly be using for the hugel/berm

Matt McSpadden wrote:I will also say Welcome to Permies!

I agree with Timothy that what you are describing would be more accurately called a raised bed or berm. As with most Permaculture techniques, Hügelkultur was designed to solve a problem. Instead of starting with the solution, can we step back and take a look at the problem? Are you looking for a way to conserve water? Help block road noise?  

Thanks Matt! I'm mainly looking to try and create a sheltered sun trap that will allow me to eek out a bit more precious growing and ripening time

Since conserving water is not your issue but making a sun trap is ... make a sun trap. I see no reason not to use the compost & hay bales. In my opinion using whatever you have available to grow food on is a great idea.

I think if you could trap the heat and extend your season, it would help just as much as creating more space to grow in. I know in that area it seems to be common to have a lot of stone and brick walls. Putting one of these (or a couple spaced out) on the north side of the grow area would reflect the heat back on the plants. Also, a greenhouse of some sort would help trap the heat, and might allow you to extend your growing seasons by weeks if not months. This might offset a smaller growing area but allowing production for longer.

Would a compost only raised bed of more than 1m be stable enough? This is my main concern without wood as it seems like a lot of the stability in hugelkultur comes from the logs. I've not encountered raised beds of the same height as hugels so was wondering if this would be an issue?

Matt McSpadden wrote:I think if you could trap the heat and extend your season, it would help just as much as creating more space to grow in. I know in that area it seems to be common to have a lot of stone and brick walls. Putting one of these (or a couple spaced out) on the north side of the grow area would reflect the heat back on the plants. Also, a greenhouse of some sort would help trap the heat, and might allow you to extend your growing seasons by weeks if not months. This might offset a smaller growing area but allowing production for longer.

I have a polytunnel waiting to be assembled but feasibly won't be able to have this finished before the end of September. I'm looking for a more short term solution to minimise my losses for this growing season as well as trying to economise my effort by doing something I could use for further growing this year and next, without too much additional maintenance. As I'm without a car I wouldn't be able to get a large enough quantity of stones or bricks to build any walls to retain heat.

Ok, so no easy way to transport large heavy things. Greenhouse available, but not assembled for a while. You do have a lot of compost available. And you are trying to move some chili plants outside. Here are a couple thoughts in no particular order.

Could you pot them up to a bigger pot size and put up with them inside for a little longer? This would give you breathing room to get your greenhouse setup. Then you could put them in the greenhouse in the pots over winter, and plant them in the ground in the spring. Peppers are perennial if warm enough. It would give you a head start on next year.

I think building a mound 1m high and 1m wide would probably be stable enough. I think it could definitely help, but the smaller they are, the less effect I think they would have. Perhaps some sort of terrace? But then you have the problem of materials to hold it up.

Do you have any stores in your area that would sell row cover? The lightweight materials used by a lot of growers. It would hold in a little heat, and provide a little frost protection. It allows water through, and some sun. You would just need to provide some sort of supports for holding it up. They make "U" shaped wire frames that get stuck in the ground every few feet. But I would imagine a stiff wire, or even sticks could hold it up. How about straw bales with a rock on top to hold it in place?

Probably the plants are too big for any sort of reasonable cloche.

Kieran Paul wrote:Would a compost only raised bed of more than 1m be stable enough? This is my main concern without wood as it seems like a lot of the stability in hugelkultur comes from the logs. I've not encountered raised beds of the same height as hugels so was wondering if this would be an issue?

I would be inclined to use soil rather than compost for that reason. I have seen earth berms used to create microclimates in Devon at Sagara's forest garden Hridayabija

This is the shady side of one of his curved berms. I was interested in the miscanthus biomass he grows on top to increase shelter.
His soil is clay and he planted cool loving plants on the shady side (good for lettuce and rhubarb perhaps?) and on the sunny side plants more tender plants, including lemons, grapes, I forget what else!
Are your chillies not planted out yet? Hmm - extending the season then: Shelter - anything to shield from the wind and trap the sun. Can you get hold of large translucent water bottles - they can make good temporary mini greenhouses. For later in the season heat retention mass is good to ward off cooler night temperatures, rocks or stones, even bottles full of water can make a bit of difference. I would also put a couple in a big pot on a sunny windowsill if you have such a thing...