raised beds & spiral beds
There are so many different ways of making raised beds. Some of them known by many people such as spiral herb beds, some of them are used by farmers in large scale and some of the raised beds are popular for organic gardeners such as box raised beds. I'm experienced in all these types and can help you build your own beds. I will give couple of examples below for your taste.
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HUGELKULTUR: This is a multi functional practice and also a raised bed application. It is about creating a raised bed with storing wood logs under earth. The benefits of this application are water retention, warming soil, increasing the yield, up to 10 years time of its effectiveness. During this period, the wood logs holds the water and in many cases irrigation becomes not necessary. Burried wood gives heat while breaking for several years, which helps in the temparate climates.
Hugelkultur is mostly used in bigger scale farmlands but simpler versions can also be practised in small gardens. If the bed is created flater than it's original heap shape, it can be used as box bed or spiral beds as well. The important thing is to know the material to put in the bed. |
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Left photo is taken in Tamera Eco-Village and the idea of creating this heap type of raised bed comes from Sepp Holzer. He suggested to make use of waste organic material on a heap with wrapping it and created this beautiful structure to grow food.
Right photos are the raised beds I created with my sons in my garden. It was such a good time together and we all enjoyed it.
A RAISED BED CAN TAKE ANY SHAPE:
Important thing is to know how to build it. If you understand the structure of a raised bed, anyone can make use of different places as raised bed. Mixing up organic material can create beautiful structures. On the left picture the idea of building this tower shape raised bed is coming from Sepp Holzer and the principle is similar as Hugelkultur but added material is imagination.
In the regular raised bed process, digging the earth for the required shape is done one time and at the beginning and it is not digged after that. Process consists of making layers upwards with woodlogs, tree branches and twigs, grass cuttings and turf, then covering it back with earth again. Also top of earth can be covered with straw. This is general guidelines but there are many different ways of preparing them depending on the available material, climate, shape and size, etc.
Important thing is to know how to build it. If you understand the structure of a raised bed, anyone can make use of different places as raised bed. Mixing up organic material can create beautiful structures. On the left picture the idea of building this tower shape raised bed is coming from Sepp Holzer and the principle is similar as Hugelkultur but added material is imagination.
In the regular raised bed process, digging the earth for the required shape is done one time and at the beginning and it is not digged after that. Process consists of making layers upwards with woodlogs, tree branches and twigs, grass cuttings and turf, then covering it back with earth again. Also top of earth can be covered with straw. This is general guidelines but there are many different ways of preparing them depending on the available material, climate, shape and size, etc.
SPIRAL RAISED BEDS(HERB SPIRALS):
It is mostly known as Herb Spirals because such a nice herb spiral designs are attracting many people for gardening. How it looks and smells with many flavours of the herbs and flowers, makes the person breath deep and feel very alive. The attraction is not only for the people but also for the insects, bees, butterflies...
The methedology is the same as Hugelkultur and the spiral design is also inspired from nature. If a small pond is attached to the spiral bed, it can be a value add and creates harmony and well prepared home for many beneficial insects.
The food production in the spiral bed is limitted but as it gains more space upwards, it can be used in small gardens to use the vertical dimension. If it is used as herb spiral with adding mix flowers, it reaches it's best with providing you a beautiful and peaceful place to rest and just watch the insect life on it and enjoy the smell of flowers and herbs.
It is mostly known as Herb Spirals because such a nice herb spiral designs are attracting many people for gardening. How it looks and smells with many flavours of the herbs and flowers, makes the person breath deep and feel very alive. The attraction is not only for the people but also for the insects, bees, butterflies...
The methedology is the same as Hugelkultur and the spiral design is also inspired from nature. If a small pond is attached to the spiral bed, it can be a value add and creates harmony and well prepared home for many beneficial insects.
The food production in the spiral bed is limitted but as it gains more space upwards, it can be used in small gardens to use the vertical dimension. If it is used as herb spiral with adding mix flowers, it reaches it's best with providing you a beautiful and peaceful place to rest and just watch the insect life on it and enjoy the smell of flowers and herbs.