this little project has been merely an expansion from my previous attempts to grow more with less but not without first importing the materials necessary to jump start the system.
http://permies.com/t/51347/soil/Soil-horizons-sunken-garden-beds
This will be a new starter project for growing raspberries an making it thrive with the help of worms, fungi and micro organisms.

That looks good.

This year, in part because of our drought, I transformed some of my garden veggie area into sunken beds for water efficiency. Drainage is good here and there is never any standing water in them even after (infrequent) rain. I've also been directing any extra rain water into them to try to super saturate the soil to help in the long dry summer season.

More boxes for more growies.

boxen.

May I ask why the boxes?

Wouldn't it just be easier to dig the sunken bed and leave it there?

Mmm...coffee grounds, eggshells and worms oh my! : )

What does sinking it do that piling on top of existing ground doesn't do? Is it for aesthetic? I know some don't like mounds and piles, but I would be concerned that the spot would go anaerobic after a few days of hard rain, however I don't know the limitations you are working with. I'm also new to raspberries. Is that a concrete cylinder on the right side of the area?

Vera Stewart wrote:May I ask why the boxes?

Wouldn't it just be easier to dig the sunken bed and leave it there?

When it rains, the boxed walls will keep any dirt or sediment from washing back into the sunken garden, therefore, needing one less maintenance issue.

Janet Branson wrote:Mmm...coffee grounds, eggshells and worms oh my! : )

What does sinking it do that piling on top of existing ground doesn't do? Is it for aesthetic? I know some don't like mounds and piles, but I would be concerned that the spot would go anaerobic after a few days of hard rain, however I don't know the limitations you are working with. I'm also new to raspberries. Is that a concrete cylinder on the right side of the area?

The sunken garden keeps the water from washing away the top soil, its to retain water that is given it. also the concern of anaerobic decomposition is no worry as longs as the worms are tunneling and the mulch is coarse like straw or sun flower stalks.
Not a concrete cylinder, a wine barrel, because those were raised from the ground, I found it took to much water than what is was worth merely because it gets too hot in the summer.

So far the raspberries are doing quite nicely, another month and these should start producing.

Utilizing the first flush for my rugosa rose, with the mulch pit, it should live a happy productive life.