What is Hügelkultur?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac "Hügelkultur is a centuries-old, traditional way of building a garden bed from rotten logs and plant debris. These mound shapes are created by marking out an area for a raised bed, clearing the land, and then heaping up woody material (that’s ideally already partially rotted) topped with compost and soil."

Here at Alderbrook, we have been incorporating Hügelkultur practices into our Chef's Garden troughs. As we expand the garden and add more troughs, we’ve been hitting the trails to collect rotting logs, debris, and leaves to create the perfect base. Once we put these layers down, we also harvested some fresh stinging nettles (with thick gloves) to add to the top. We chose stinging nettles this time because they are packed with essential nutrients, including nitrogen, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and trace minerals.

Here are our basics for building the layers:

1. Ground Layer:
   The first layer is often the existing ground or soil. If you're building on a grassy or weeded area, some people recommend mowing and covering it with a layer of cardboard or newspaper to prevent weeds from growing through.
2. Large Logs or Branches:
   The bottom layer typically consists of rotting large logs or thick branches. These help to create structure and provide a long-lasting source of nutrients as they break down slowly over time. The decay of this wood improves soil structure and retains moisture.
3. Smaller Branches, Twigs, and Sticks:
   The next layer is made up of smaller branches, twigs, and sticks. These materials also break down slowly, adding nutrients and improving the aeration of the soil.
4. Organic Matter (Leaves, Grass Clippings, Straw, OR NETTLES):
   On top of the twigs and branches, you’ll add a layer of organic matter such as leaves, grass clippings, straw, or other plant material. This helps to build up the soil and contributes to the nutrient-rich decomposition process.
5. Compost or Well-Rotted Manure:
   A nutrient-dense layer of compost or well-rotted manure goes on top of the organic matter. This layer provides a quick source of nutrients for plants and accelerates the decomposition of the materials beneath it.
6. Topsoil or Garden Soil:
   Finally, the top layer consists of garden soil or topsoil. This is where your plants will grow, as this layer provides the right medium for plant roots to thrive.

Each layer of a Hügelkultur bed serves a unique function. Over time, the materials decompose, enriching the bed's fertility and reducing the need for frequent watering or fertilizing.

Happy spring!
Amy, Mike and Nitz