Hi fellow Permies,
I'm only just embarking on this project, with so much to learn...
This community will doubtless offer invaluable resources for guidance and inspiration.
I'm excited about the potential my .25 acre parcel has, and have been prepping carefully. Swales, stakes,
compost, some PVC, not much more at this time.
I'm very interested in the Hugelkulture premise...So far I've not seen any deliberate-looking installations of Hugelkultures, other than circular ones, (African Keyhole Video)
Attached two drawings I did of a possible Hugelkulture plan. Nothing I have seen or read keeps me from thinking this is technically unfeasible. I am looking for technical advise
The idea is to accumulate significant amount of cut wood, ideally cut to size, so that one could construct a large, partially above-ground plateau of wood of various heights, allowing for "shelves" at various heights. Set up in a repeating keyhole pattern, butted up against the hillside. With large tree cross sections creating the foundation, gaps would be filled with compost and dry matter, smaller size limbs, trunks, etc, with layers of that stuff on top as well as steer or horse manure for N, finally covered with soil. instead of a simple mound, The objective is to make a sculptural hugel, a Hugelskulpture if you will, a formation that has a deliberate aesthetic approach to burying wood to create a raised bed. This could all be set up on top of gopher wire, laid down below and and against the hillside with sides that rise up allowing for enclosure. I can imagine that this much wood as a base would also go a long way to protecting crops from burrowing animals attacking from below.
Please share insights.