How to Build a Hugel Mound! One of The Cheapest and Most Sustainable Grow Methods, Grow Enough Food to Share!
Hugel mounds make incredible gardens!
- They can be enlarged at any time to expand production area.
- They are suitable to a variety of environments.
- They create richer and richer soil over time.
- They don't need fertilizer.
- They hold moisture well.
- They retain warmth.
As the inner material breaks down, top layers of mulch and dirt filter down into the newly created space--hugel mounds are self-composting AND self-tilling! Plants thrive on hugel mounds!
Ideally, your new hugel mound garden needs some time to settle in. Allow it to rest for some months before planting crops directly on it. Build a hugel mound in the fall for planting in the spring!
Here are 4 steps for HOW TO BUILD A HUGEL MOUND:
Your hugel mound is ready for planting after a few months of settling.
Happy Gardening!
www.intothegardenofeden.com
Does the type of wood matter... hrmmm... matter? In my post about growing mushrooms I mention not using evergreen as those species of fungi can't utilize it. I'm sure there are other species that can, but I'd be curious how the wood selected effects decay rates, nutrients or even taste. Surely a mound made using, let's say cedar, will impart a different taste than one using oak, or pine.
Yes, this is a VERY good question. Cedar and most high resin trees are going to decompose slower. So one one hand they would not be as ideal. It is also possible that using all cedar would not be as good for some plants.
However all in all we think that as long as you use some kind of leaves/compost/soil/grasses/etc mixed in with the trees it will be fine. Especially in the long run say a year or more if not the short term as well.
Probably a walk in the woods in your native area to see what grows on fallen logs and which ones seem to linger would be a good indicator.
If you've got a moment I'd love for you to check out my post about medicinal mushrooms and growing them and let me know what you think. I believe you would find it interesting if you're not familiar, and possibly incorporate it into your garden. There are other species you can use that while having no food value are excellent for enriching soil and speeding the breakdown of garbage/detritus/etc.
Very nice post @gardenofeden olso very nice garden!
I know that it take time and energy to take care of a beautifull garden.
Thank you!
Yes it takes a LOT of dedication to cultivate and maintain an abundantly producing garden.
Though that is part of why we love these hugel mounds SO much is that as far as gardeing goes they are about as easy as it gets and SUPER sustainable which is of prime importance to us!
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Good stuff. Thanks for posting this.
Note that these are not the best tool for particularly arid regions. It's really hard to maintain the moisture in them, without supplemental water.
Also, as you did (yours is absolutely beautiful), make sure to cover all the logs. An exposed log can have a desiccating effect, wicking moisture out of the mound. I have one I built as an experiment in spite of our arid climate, but I got carried away and my logs are too big to cover where it sits. So it sits and I look at it wondering what to do and dreading the idea of having to tear the outer layers apart.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Texas is pretty humid, and we've had success with our mounds. There are a few variations to consider across environments, and it makes sense to build on the wisdom of experienced gardeners.
Yeah, I've gone with a sort of inverted model, when feeling ambitious. I've called it the Sonoran planter, but there might be an "official" name for it. Basically it's a buried hugelculture/sheet-mulching idea with the surface at or below grade to keep it protected from wind and help maintain moisture. It seems to be working well (he says, staring out the window at the hugelmound and sighing...:P ).
I was in east Texas a couple months ago, for a Regrarians workshop. It was near Tyler. I have lots of family in the state, and we lived south of Lubbock for a little while. The culture there suits me, I think.
Texas is definitely a unique place! We're in the DFW metroplex area.
Lots of family there. Many of them used to live in Bonham. I like the area.
I visited Nick Burtner when driving through. He does permaculture stuff too.
Great job! @quinneaker knows! :) Keep growin! :)
Quinn truly is an inspiration and he comes up with more good ideas that we even have time to implement!
Thanks for the support. We will surly continue to grow sustainable healthy life! Hope you keep following and supporting us!
Hahaha yes I know life, growing, building, evolving....Sustainably, healthy, abundant LIFE!
Appreciate the support!
Cool I might have to try this. I just cut out a new vegetable garden bed in my backyard today and spent hours ripping up grass from an older bed. Looking forward to planting out some seeds soon.
Yes this is one of the most sustainable and low maintenance ways to grow!
Keep tuning in and we will keep sharing sustainable solutions for success!
This would be a great alternative to controlling erosion and rain runoff! I think I will have to implement this into our garden! Thank you for sharing!
AKA hugelkultur, nice work, never seen one in the flesh so to speak!
Yes!
You are correct.
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Blessings!
Oh yeah... I'll be making a lot of these. Great job getting this info out there first!
Thanks!
Yes these are one of the best ways to go! Start planning them now so you can prepare properly. They are a lot of work initially but free and VERY sustainable and low maintenance once working!
I love the hugel mounds!! We put them at the edge of our property to give height as a living fence, and also planted blackberries, peaches and other trees on the back side so at anytime our neighbors could also reap the rewards of our gardens without entering. What a great post. Thanks for putting it out there!
It's really cool to note that just tidying up one's yard for fall yields enough resources to build a nice garden for spring time planting.
Really great post! Super informative and SO useful. What could be more useful than growing your own food!?
Building on the bounty of food you can grow, it makes sense to know how to cook that food. And to cook it, you might like to know how to build a stove:
Quinn Builds a Rocket Stove: https://steemit.com/food/@quinneaker/how-to-build-a-rocket-stove-for-free-video-part-3-these-work-very-well-are-very-sustainable-and-we-use-these-every-day-to-feed