Pile of dirt

My first Hugel.
This is a technique for growing veggies that was developed by central Europeans and now forms part of the permaculture bible. The bed is prepared like a compost heap, but starting with trunks of old wood covered with branches. Over this lies the manure and compost, the whole covered by earth. Finally the pundits recommend protecting the mound with inverted sods of grass.
The way it works I gather, is that the wood breaks down releasing nutrients but also 'tilling' the soil as it crumbles. The bugs and fungi also help condition the earth. So no work on the bed is required: just stick your plant in and wait. They say Hugel raised tomatoes are particularly tasty, but I alas will not be here to sample any crop.
It was so much fun I built a second one.
When that was finished I made a stone path. Do you like my stone pig in the background?Read more