Larry Bruce

Hi,
NW Indiana farm on land that was originally wetlands until Army COE dredged the Kankakee River in the 1800's.
Mostly corn and beans but we have a 7-acre woods that was left, probably for firewood back in the day.
Not swampy, as there are drainage ditches, but stays pretty wet.  Mix of muck, clay, and sand, as befits a former swamp.
No trees producing anything edible.  Mostly cottonwood, ash, scrub oak, maple (not sugar), sassafras, willow and who knows what else.
Lots of understory weeds and low bushes.

Considering taking down some of the largest trees for hugelkultur, mowing the understory and transitioning from
the edges in.  Goal is 2 acres of edible within a 20-year timeframe.

Anyone with suggestions or experience would love to hear from you.
Larry

Droughts and floods:

I am concerned about hugelkultur mounds (not swales) in years with very high rainfall.
Midwest gardener, and we've been alternating drought years with flood years.
I understand the value in times of drought. What are the hk mounds advantages and disadvantages in heavy rains?
Larry

I'm a midwest gardener planning my transition to h/k.
Critical question.

I understand the value of h/k in reducing the need for irrigation.
What happens in years like 2015, when we have extended heavy
rains? (7 weeks this early summer) Does the raised h/k bed shed the excess water?
Or does the bed retain water longer?

With recent weather history, I'm expecting drought years...h/k ;~)!!
alternating with years of heavy rain...h/k???
Larry