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Summary
part 3 of a 3 part podcast
Paul continues the list of dos and don'ts for hügelkulturs
There's been a question about wind turbulence around the hügelkultur. Old school, you had windbreaks. Hügelkulturs and berms are much better windbreaks than vegetation such as trees, although Paul mentions how well Holly works. By placing the hügelkulturs close enough together, the wind goes over the whole thing.
When building a hügelkultur on dirt, you need to add a layer of wood first, then dig on either side and stack the dirt on the logs, when you can't see the wood, add more. By digging along the side of the hügelkultur you gain height more easily. The trench you made alongside can be up to 3ft and becomes a path. It's a mistake to dig a trench and fill it in, you make much more work.
People say cottonwood is best but the best wood to use is what you have closest to hand. If you have pine, use that rather than wait to fetch cottonwood and never build anything.
Paul now talks about various hügelkultur projects which he and others have built. Among this he mentions when he made a hügelkultur in Seattle. In an urban setting you can start out with a couple of feet tall, and build it up a foot every year.
There were issues with vermin such as rats but since the cats arrived they're not a problem. Deer needed a fence, chickens are good if you have termites.
They finish by mentioning some things that didn't make it into this presentation, such as harvesting rain water. Also mentioned is the debate about green wood, old wood and bio char. Hügelkultur on swampy land is mentioned, which Paul says is magical. Paul's hierarchy of wood use: 1) Construction using it as a log. 2) Milling it for lumber. 3) Use it for projects like carving. 4) Make twig art and junkpole fences. 5) Burn it in an RMH. 6) Internal use in hügelkultur and lastly external use on hügelkultur.
Relevant Threads
Hugelkultur forum
Urban Gardening forum
junkpole fence: freaky cheap chicken/deer fence made from wood typically thrown away
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