Inherited Hugel - need Advice

I am taking over a growing space in Kansas where it’s hot and windy. The prior farmer started a hugel. It’s outlined with tree stumps placed vertically. Interior was filled with base of logs, sticks on top and then wood mulch. So far there is no soil.

It’s only 2’ tall and it’s 40’x60’.

My experience with building hugel is to make them long, skinny and tall plus topping with soil. Not using wood chip mulch under the soil layer.

I was told to finish this one by adding compost followed by top soil essentially sandwiching the wood mulch between logs and soil.

Is this what I should do?! Due to the sheer size of this I’m unable to dismantle it and start over without renting equipment. It’s huge. It’s got areas where no wood chips were added.

I considered digging pockets into the wood mulch and filling those with compost/soil and planting into them.

Please advise!!

Any chance you can add a picture?

It sounds like you have a 40x60x2 pile of dumped wood bits. I'm concerned it might turn into a rodent and wasp laden disaster if you just throw dirt or compost on it.

Do you have more growing space around it? What's the water situation like? Does it have a wind break, or was it intended to be the windbreak? Are you planning on growing with it this year, or do you have time to build up the soil?

I’ll get a photo next time I’m there. It’s a huge eyesore when you first enter my growing space which is a total of 1/2 acre. Water is an issue. The well is very slow and the placement of this hugel is in the low spot where run off from the sheep pasture has been an issue. I’m not worried about rodents as we have seen a few black snakes. Wasps would be a problem which I hadn’t considered.

To me, you have been given good advice.  

Mel said,  I was told to finish this one by adding compost followed by top soil essentially sandwiching the wood mulch between logs and soil.

Do you have compost and top soil to follow this advice?

In general, I'd rather have a series of rows rather than a big pad, just for more edge, but there might be a local reason what the guy before you was doing makes sense. Two feet tall seems like a weird way to line things up too. But I garden on 'hugel-beds' with less wood than that and it works, so my guess is that if you can get soil down, this will be fine, if not perfect.

I've also found that yellow jackets like that kind of environment, so do use caution.

In order to get the soil down between the logs, try
- sprinkling it over the heap in loose layers
- beat the heap, shaking the soil deeper into the pile
- further flush soil down with water
(repeat)
Good luck!

I am thinking this problem will solve itself in a few years, as the wood and chips break down. Adding a cap of soil and watering regularly will speed the process. What to do about the inconvenient shape? You may have to break down and rent a tractor.