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Thanks to @sproutboxgarden #sponsored I’ve added a raised bed to the front garden. To fill it, I’m using an adapted permaculture method called Hugelkultur. Not only do my plants benefit from the added organic matter, but it saves me a ton of money.
This is how I layered from the bottom up:
1. Layer of cardboard
2. Dried branches
3. Dried wood chips and leaves
4. Plant trimmings
5. Used potting soil
6. Sheep and chicken composted manure
7. Balanced All Purpose Fertilizer + Worm Castings
Since my raised bed is the shallower 17″ version, l’ve used old twigs and dried wood chips instead of logs at the bottom to ensure that there is at least 8 inches of growing medium as my top layer for planting, much deeper if you’re planning to grow deep roots plants like tomatoes. If you have the taller 32″ version you can use bigger logs.
The compost fertilizer and worm castings are mixed into the top six inches of potting mix.
Nitrogen is “robbed” from the soil to break down wood but once broken down, it’s released back again. The decomposition process can take months or years depending on how big your wood logs are.
As the carbon layer (cardboard, dried wood/ branches/twigs/leaves) is decomposing, it’s important to have a supply of nitrogen for bacteria to use to break down your bed. Nitrogen is supplied by green plant material. I only added a bit of greens but I think the nitrogen in the composted manure, fertilizer and worm castings will leach down to the level of the wood for the bacteria to utilize.
Water and let your bed settle for a few days, then plant away!
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