Location: Oregon, in the Columbia Gorge, just as the wet Cascade mountains fade into high desert. 7b I believe.
So this is my first try at a hugelbed, and I tried to go big.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=MsG5EqVMQRQ[/youtube]
I'm currently renting this property and have the good fortune of a landlord who don't mind no diggin. I'll continue to update this thread as the season progresses with before and after photos! I feel like it's hard to actually find many before and after pics, but I WILL POST THEM. Meanwhile, here's a video tour, as well as photos. I really don't have any experience doing this, so any tips are appreciated. We also plan on covering this bed over the winter. I am in Oregon, and I think it will fare well. Also, if anyone knows of any really really fast ways to grow shade, let me know cuz I got a south facing window that's going to need it this year.
I will also be posting pics and extra videos on Instagram @ "HouseofEscobar". Again, any tips or tricks appreciated as well as questions or requests.
We dug 18in down, in a serpentine pattern. Had to use coniferous, pine that had been sitting out for over a year, and some rotted 3 to 5 year old stumps. Just couldn't find hardwood in our area very easily. Also, some fresh cut poplar. I tried to put the newer stuff way down low. I can't find all the photos, but there are much more rotted material added than all of these photos show, so keep that in mind.
We put spent coffee chaff from a local roaster in between the cracks before topping with dirt.
Various layers, each one saturated with water, and covered with dirt. Stomping as we went. We put in tons of water.
Tried our best to layer sod on the fill dirt. We did a really bad job of keeping turf separated, and we also got dirt everywhere, so we actually forgot where we put some of the wood!
Compoooost
Next goes fine wood shavings from local woodworker. Probably pine, idk. Need to get more mulch.
Some final pictures of the grade. I forgot to take a picture, but we flattened the top and dug a long trench down the spine of the bed, and we later filled it in with
compost. The bed has 4 arms and is oriented North to South. We are planting with everything, peas, beans, squash tomatoes, herbs, greens, roots. We'll probably be starting to harvest urine to compensate for all the stuff we have going on under the soil. We decided to do more of a plateau than a steep bed. The bed is about 9 ft wide (at the base) by 20 ft. About 2 1/2 ft high.
We started tomatoes/peppers late, and only grey them to about 2 in high in flats before transplanting them under milk jug cloches. We transplanted them in large clumps and will thin later. So far doing well.
Also, I had some leftover rotting train ties, and I threw together a secondary bed filled with beans. We're using as many yard clippings and pulled weeds as we can for mulching.
That's all for now folks. I've never gardened much, but I decided to go big and we'll see if what happens.
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