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Summary
Paul, Katie, Mark, Opalyn, and Kyle return to talking about
Sepp Holzer’s
Desert or Paradise, this time actually getting to the book in question.
Hugelkultur:
“Hugelkultur, otherwise known as the German mound or Hugelbeet, is an essential part in Holzer’s
permaculture. The advantages are convincing – it enlarges the area to be cultivated, it creates microclimates and allows easy access because of its height, it improves the soil because of the added organic matter at its core. In wet areas it often is the best, if not only way to grow various plants because it dries quicker than the ground. It can also serve as a windbreak. The
hugelkultur is built up loosely and therefore is well aired and
roots grow easily in it. This accelerates the composting of the organic matter that in return makes nutrients available to the plants. Soil life is activated by these processes. The bed will sag over the course of several years – how quickly depends on the
wood used at its center. Soft wood, like poplar, will decay in 3-5 years, hardwood, like oak, takes 15 years to rot down. The hugelkultur could be rebuilt then, or the valuable humus could be used elsewhere in the garden. A hugelkultur is ideally about 1.5 meters (~5 feet) high, with a gradient of about 65 – 80 degrees narrowing towards the top. Plants preferring dry soil
should be planted towards the top, water-loving plants like melons and cucumbers at the bottom where it is wettest. A hugelkultur needs to be watered during dry spells, ideally at the base of the plants with a watering can or
drip (hoses?).
Paul says the beds should be higher – 7 feet (~2.1 meters) tall, and is glad that Sepp is finally admitting that the beds will sag over time as previously he’s denied that they do.
Relevant Threads
Earthworks forum
Hugelkultur forum
the permaculture superpower in berms
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This podcast was made possible thanks to:
Dr. Hugh Gill Kultur
Eivind W. Bjørkavåg
Suleiman, Karrie, and Sasquatch
Kyle Neath
Bill Crim
anonymous
Kerry JustTooLazy
Jocelyn Campbell
Chris Sugg
Sasquatch
Bill Erickson
G Cooper
Dominic Crolius
havokeachday
Penny McLoughlin
Mehron Kugler
Julia Winter, world's slowest mosaic artist
Pasquale DeAngelis
Greg Martin
Mark
Sean Benedict
Rita Bliden
Dana Martin
Candace Dahlk
Keith Kuhnsman
Eric Tolbert
Matthew Stone
Nuno Marta
Polly Jayne Smyth
Opalyn Brenger
ellen fisher
Eliot Mason
Katie Young
Ivar Vasara
JMBlackwater226R
Nathan Hale
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