My raised bed adventure - Hugelkultur inspired

[thegoatpen]

Hey Josh, absolutely love your build and probably gonna pinch your idea for the wooden tops.

PVC piping will break down over time when exposed to sunlight. Paint them in a water based exterior paint to protect them, otherwise they get very brittle stuck outside

 

[JoshW]

Hey Josh, absolutely love your build and probably gonna pinch your idea for the wooden tops.

PVC piping will break down over time when exposed to sunlight. Paint them in a water based exterior paint to protect them, otherwise they get very brittle stuck outside

Hi TGP, the PVC I've used is communication/data conduit and has been UV stabilised and suitable for outdoor (uncovered) use. Once the cloth goes on it will be extra layer of UV protection. If it starts to discolour, I'll rotate the pipe and give them a coat as you suggest. Thanks


Threw you a sub as well - my little boy loves goats!

 

[thegoatpen]

I'll rotate the pipe and give them a coat

I work in IT and in my experience the outdoor UV stabilised PVC doesn't work the way it should, I used to get a can of clear plastidip and give the PVC a light dusting in that, otherwise even the "UV protective" stuff only lasted 12-18 months. It's all junk these days unfortunately.

Threw you a sub as well - my little boy loves goats!

Oh, thank you. Hopefully you like the content.

 

[JoshW]

Zipped this puppy up with leftovers from the original beds I built and some second hand tin.



Will need to buy some edging to keep the kids fingers intact and 1 capping piece but bloody good value otherwise.

 

[JoshW]

Zipped this puppy up with leftovers from the original beds I built and some second hand tin.



Will need to buy some edging to keep the kids fingers intact and 1 capping piece but bloody good value otherwise.

Fully intended on filling the bottom half of this bed with mulch (mountain instead of bush this time, bigger chunks), but I had a slab that needed removing for a new 9 x 1 - 1.5m bed I'm planning. Cue purchase of a jackhammer. Not going to fit much mulch in here before soil now! Probably need to change the thread title now "How not to do Hügelkultur"

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Fully intended on filling the bottom half of this bed with mulch (mountain instead of bush this time, bigger chunks), but I had a slab that needed removing for a new 9 x 1 - 1.5m bed I'm planning. Cue purchase of a jackhammer. Not going to fit much mulch in here before soil now! Probably need to change the thread title now "How not to do Hügelkultur"

Oh gosh!

 

[JoshW]

Looking a bit more normal now some mulch fill has been added. You certainly wouldn't guess there was approximately 1600-1700kg of concrete stashed in the bottom that's for sure.

 

[JoshW]

Finished filling and starting sowing today.

Little stakes are where I've planted tongue of fire bush beans and then some radishes in between those. I will mulch tomorrow when we work out what's going up the other end.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Finished filling and starting sowing today.

Little stakes are where I've planted tongue of fire bush beans and then some radishes in between those. I will mulch tomorrow when we work out what's going up the other end.

Looks good!
I had to google the name of your beans - I've never seen any like that before! Once they grow, share what they taste like

 

[JoshW]

Looks good!
I had to google the name of your beans - I've never seen any like that before! Once they grow, share what they taste like

Funny story that. James Prigioni has been banging on how good his dragon tongue beans were so when I was ordering my spring seed I saw the colour of the pod and tongue and just assumed they were the ones haha. Whilst they are in same family not same bean. I look forward to trying them though.

 

[JoshW]

I never get sick of the versatility of these raised beds - Roma's currently going nuts. So much so I'm glad there's a high side to pick from if they keep going at this pace.

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

I never get sick of the versatility of these raised beds - Roma's currently going nuts. So much so I'm glad there's a high side to pick from if they keep going at this pace.

What do you think you're gonna be using those tomatoes for?
Your plants look amazing and healthy! I love that you are growing companion plants with it as well, get all the use out of the bed!

 

[JoshW]

What do you think you're gonna be using those tomatoes for?
Your plants look amazing and healthy! I love that you are growing companion plants with it as well, get all the use out of the bed!

The Roma's specifically will be primarily for sauce. The cherry tom's on the big trellis will be frozen whole (we go through a lot of them) and then the heirloom varieties will be slicers or dehydrated etc. I want to try canning as well

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

The Roma's specifically will be primarily for sauce. The cherry tom's on the big trellis will be frozen whole (we go through a lot of them) and then the heirloom varieties will be slicers or dehydrated etc. I want to try canning as well

Sounds amazing!

 

[Alpenrose]

Thank you so much for the story and the pictures, they have given me hope!
Question: What d'ya think about this--DH's brother died six years ago and left a wonderful large wood shed filled with cut logs--perfect size for our Birdie's which I hope to have up in April 2022. The logs are stacked behind a small cabin he built. His wife and son have not been back for six years and have said they will never return to use the place. I was just wondering. . . ;-)

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Thank you so much for the story and the pictures, they have given me hope!
Question: What d'ya think about this--DH's brother died six years ago and left a wonderful large wood shed filled with cut logs--perfect size for our Birdie's which I hope to have up in April 2022. The logs are stacked behind a small cabin he built. His wife and son have not been back for six years and have said they will never return to use the place. I was just wondering. . . ;-)

Sounds like a lovely way to repurpose to me!

 

[JoshW]

Over 100 tom's in this bed (stopped counting). Just seemingly exploded. Tons of flowers as well

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

That looks absolutely amazing! I am glad to see it really worked out for you!
I don't see the onions anymore though, did they not make it?

 

[JoshW]

That looks absolutely amazing! I am glad to see it really worked out for you!
I don't see the onions anymore though, did they not make it?

Very observant Mandy! Onions have all been harvested - you can see a few (and also my protein shake bottle haha) on the wood in the bottom left that I missed. They were small but they are very potent. Best we have done so some faith restored at least - bigger and better next season!

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

Very observant Mandy! Onions have all been harvested - you can see a few (and also my protein shake bottle haha) on the wood in the bottom left that I missed. They were small but they are very potent. Best we have done so some faith restored at least - bigger and better next season!

Sounds great! Would love to see the growth of the new seasons as well! Greatly enjoyed this one