hugel hugel hugel!!

My neighbor has a giant pit full of elm tree slash and logs.  He was going to burn it (no no no) but we just had a bosque fire that almost took our homes so there is a moratorium on burning now.  I have suggested a huglekultur type operation for him since he is planning on farming his land.  He has every excuse in the book.  "The elm logs keep sprouting so we can't put water in the hole with them.  It's too dry, they'll never rot.  We can't burn them so we're stuck with them."  Etc.  He also has a giant pile of dirt to throw onto them and we have ditch irrigation at our fingertips.  What can I tell this guy to convince him to do the hugelkultur?  It's not imperative that I be right, but am I missing something?  I have a certification in permaculture and know how great it works...

I have my own small pile going with elm and cottonwood that's doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing and I have planted potatoes in it. 

Any feedback is appreciated!  Thank you in advance.

I have nothing in form of advice. A question; what would he say if you simply asked him to make a leap of faith, and trust you? If he is "stuck" with them anyhow, might as well give it a try? I'd go for that!

show him some books and digrams?

Tell him to google "nurse log"...

  Yes to all of you.  And the nurse log photos - gasp!  Beautiful!

Be sure to look for Morel mushrooms around your dead Elm trees and stumps. (Assuming  you haven't already looked...) I've heard of people finding bumper crops of Morels in dying Elm woodlands in the eastern US.

Oh yes the shrooms - I'm in the southwest though.  I have to go up higher on a wet year to find Chanterelles in the forest. 

well the logs could sprout if it was the right kind of wood while WET or FRESH, if the wood was dry there is absolutely no way it can resprout.

as far as making him do hugelbeds, just give him the facts, and if he doesnt want to so be it. if so ask him if you can take the logs off his hands as it seems he doesnt want them. And make some hugelkultur beds for yourself. when the time comes that your harvesting all kinds of food i would give him some food back as proof. it might not give him hugelbeds but it will change his mindset for the future.

I do have a hugel bed going!  I guess showing by example is the best way. 

it does when you break just about every rule as far as conventional farming goes