Hugelkultur For Beginners

[@nicolehowell6064]

This is the best raised bed ever . thank you 😊

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks! What was it that you liked the most about our video? We hope that you subscribed so that way you can see future video's and live shows!

[@neonathomahill4460]

This method of gardening is AWESOME! I have been using Hugelkultur for 5 years now...Yes Jason I actually took your advice and It has 100% improved my Garden

[@bigbearhomestead]

Great to hear!

[@paperaxes4192]

I've been hauling composted manure from downhill to fill my wife's raised beds every spring, and I've got a lot of punky wood I didn't split. And you've got a great solution to both of my problems! I'm honestly already familiar with this concept, but mostly see it in mounded earth implementations that don't seem as practical to me. I'd never thought about it in a raised bed. Thanks for posting this!

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks for watching, hope you hit that subscribe button. We will have a new video out soon about a new type of raised bed and we will be using this method in it as well

[@besieg34]

Clearest I have seen hugelkultur demonstrated. Thanks.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@builtontherockhomestead9390]

I learned about hugelkulture 4 or 5 years ago. I got rocks, ssheets if rocks, with more rocks on top. I have very little soil. I have been building a hugelkulture hill on top of huge rocks, and in my raised beds. Love it.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Awesome

[@juliemcgugan1244]

I live abt 200m from the beach. My soil does my hold much nutrients or water. Raised beds are the best investment I ever made! Worms are flocking to my beds! They are essentially an all-you-can-eat buffet for them.

[@BreakAwayHomesteader]

I'll say for sure that I've never done hugleculture.. but after this video and how easy it is.. I'm going to try it. Plus it helps get rid of excess wood I have laying around my homestead. Thanks!

[@jakecolburn8946]

built Hügelkultur raised beds last winter, the result is incredible, produced amazing plants

[@bigbearhomestead]

That's awesome. What all did you grow?

[@matthewbrooker]

New to concept of Hugul Cultur...looks like a good way of avoiding using expensive and noisy chipping equipment and maximising use of what is often seen as a waste product. Great, clear video for the beginner. Keep up the garden work and greetings from Spain!

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks

[@juliemcgugan1244]

I like how, in this method, the wood is left whole and not chipped up and mixed with the soil, causing the tie-up of nitrogen that ends up starving the plants.

[@CristinaBeier]

I’ll be starting my hugelkultur very soon!

[@Mishmakau]

My gardening club is going to do our first Hugelkulture next month. Thanks for all the info & tips. I'll let you know how it goes 😊

[@bigbearhomestead]

Good luck! Please let us know how it goes. Can't wait to hear back from you! We hope you hit that subscribe button and rang the bell so you can be notified of future videos and Live shows!

[@sowingagainstthegrain]

You did a great job explaining this! I’m designating at least one bed to try this method. I love the experiment with different ideas, especially if they are water saving!

[@bigbearhomestead]

Sorry that it took us so long to respond. Thank you for your kind words and Thanks for watching. Hope that you subscribed so that you can catch future videos and live shows

[@karentetz4944]

Thanks for the great video! I'm moving to a dryer climate and I'm planning to try Hugelkultur in my raised beds for the first time.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Glad it was helpful!

[@puppupzera6435]

I just started to make one last week nearly finished very exciting process to go through can’t wait to put in some vegetables enjoy your clip

[@bigbearhomestead]

Wonderful! Let us know how it turns out. Hope you. hit that subscribe button and rang the bell so you can catch future videos

[@mymobilehomestead6242]

Wow this is so cool, thank you for sharing. I'm going to pull the soil that I amended and add the compostable material and this will help fill in the beds and expand my soil. I'm really hoping I can revive it. I always considered potting mix to be like plug and play, no amending needed. I'm learning so much, thank you, and here I though I was a knowledgeable gardener. I'm humbled.

[@theresa121075]

Perfect timing on this video. I'm getting ready to do a Hugelkultur raised bed in my back yard. Awesome video.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Nice

[@dianalynch2352]

Just today started my hugle raised bed...20' x 4' x 12" high. Put down cardboard first, then logs. Tomorrow will be mulch and then fall leaves when they come down.😀 Can't wait to add compost and top soil then plant in spring!

[@bigbearhomestead]

Sounds great! Keep us posted on how it is doing and if you have any questions please feel free to email us. Hope you hit that subscribe button so that you can see future videos and live shows

[@TheRealVsauce]

I've been doing Hugelkultur for years and didn't even know it! There's something to be said about the decomposing biomass!!!!

[@tundrellaCat68]

I used it as way to get rid of waste wood instead of paying to have city haul away, lol.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Yes

[@eleanorkerby]

I read about this and shared with family and friends and will be doing it this year. I have just moved to thirteen acres and live on a ridge so trying this while terracing which is a bit different. I dug a trench 7 foot long and threw in some rotten logs around on the hillside from trees that fell on virtually virgin land. We are the first to live on it. Leaves are in abundance and ash from my wood stove and typical produce waste like banana peels and eggshells and coffee grounds and more layers of cardboard and branches go in. I am building these now in January for Spring planting. I am a senior so this is a bit at a time but excited to see it work. I know you can do straight up branches and logs without digging but I need to level out a place to prevent it all from rolling.

[@bigbearhomestead]

That sounds awesome, please keep us updated.

[@sleeplessinthecarolinas8118]

I'm going to try using hugelkultur for at least one of my beds this year. Thanks for your overview of the technique!

[@bigbearhomestead]

Good luck!

[@svetlanikolova7673]

i am doing it because i like the idea of organic slow release fertilizer . I am doing the same to fill a deep ditch I want to use in the future. The pay off is greater than the work put in. And you are definitely right about the mulch protecting the soil all fall and winter. However, you forgot to mention you never have to.use water because the mounds are super water absorbing sponges. Greetings from the Balkans

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks for watching

[@kathym7495]

We are zone 8b and have extremely poor sandy soil. We put in several hugelkultur beds this spring and have planted early spring greens and potatoes so far. We have plans for green beans, peppers, and tomatoes when it warms up some. BTW, we call our place Bear Run, for the large number of bears in the area. I have seen 7 in the past couple of years. The most recent was last weekend.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Embrace that sandy soil. Grow carrots and other root veggies! You can certainly amend the soil with rabbit or cow manure. We have used Black Cow or a humus compost in the past for our Georgia clay.

[@gingerbandy792]

Wonderful video! I just dug 2 hugalkultur beds with horse maure and fresh grass clippings on top of the wood, covered it all with the soil and finally covered it all with spent hay. I'm in CO a Simi-arid climate so I watered it in really well. Here's hoping! I love science experiments!

[@bigbearhomestead]

How did it do? Thanks for watching

[@gingerbandy792]

@@bigbearhomestead it was just ok the first year. The second year the asparagus continued to grow but weeds were a real problem.

[@SrSheepdawg]

Just recently getting savvy with Hugelkulture. I appreciate your channel. Working on my 20 acre Rancho with these procedures.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Awesome

[@vlvtopcat]

Blessing to you and the family.Last spring i had 8 moringa trees that made it threw winter.They were in 1 gal pots.The stems were about the size of a pencil.They needed a bigger pot.I also had a bunch od oak firewood i didnt cover that had started breaking down.So i took 8 old 10 gal pots.lined the bottom of each pot with old oak wood and covered with 3 in leaves.Then soil to the top.Now here in Nov.The stems are 1 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 dia.They did well.God Bless.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks for sharing

[@Pepper5655]

yes I learned a couple yrs ago about hugelkulture beds, and am going to build another one in the morning. I save all my kitchen scraps, coffee & tea grounds in my empty coffee containers. I have dozens of them collected out on my porch to add as I layer dead wood and wood chips and well-composted moopoo. I am excited to get r dun. I did build a small bed with logs and covered it with moopoo and it is composting well and things seem to grow bigger and stronger near it. I also was freaked out when a snake slithered out of it one day. Thnx for sharing.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Let us know how it works

[@strawberrysnapcake7045]

I'm so doing this on the weekend!😀

[@bigbearhomestead]

How did it turn out?

[@gregoryseager9191]

Just built raised beds out of breeze/cinder blocks and used this sort of method. Logs, branches and twigs, a layer of woodchip, then leaf mould, then compost and finally topsoil. Just copying nature. The heat generated by the breakdown of material will hopefully be retained by the blocks extending my growing season. All the best stay safe :)

[@bigbearhomestead]

Fantastic! Those sound like great beds How did they do?

[@holymolar2]

Just finished my bed, now will use your suggestions for growing, thanks.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Did it work?

[@alphawolf379]

Ours contains logs, sticks, chicken manure and the wasted hay from our goats with goat droppings. We didn't get around to putting soil on top but the louffa seeds we got from y'all are doing great in it

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks

[@doncook3584]

Made mound fall of 2018 had best sugar peas ever in a cold wet nasty spring in eastern Nebraska followed by best radishes and best tomatoes ever. Very few weeds which were easy to pull. Used almost no water that Mother Nature didn’t provide. Rate Hugelculure A+. Going to add to existing bed and convert other beds.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks for sharing your experience, love it. Thanks for watching

[@ForageGardener]

Ill be uploading videos of how my hugelkultur works this year. Thank you for the video!

[@bigbearhomestead]

Did you make those videos

[@juliegogola4647]

I will have to go and get most of the stuff to build my raised Hugelculture bed. I only have small branches to add, BUT, I know where to get some logs at. It's all free, BUT, I will have to put them in my car and bring them home. All my trees are NOT so big yet. Thank Goodness for the leaf dump, that's where I get my fall leaves, wood chips and some logs IF I can get them BEFORE they get chipped up. Sometimes I wish I had a truck.

[@bigbearhomestead]

How did it go?

[@myparallaxview]

I've heard about it, and since I live in a semi-desert area, plan to do it. ATM I don't have a place to do it, but should get a place in time and then will do it. I need to learn more about it.

[@bigbearhomestead]

If there is anything we can do to help you learn more just let us know. Ask any questions that you may have, in fact we are live every Saturday at 8 pm EST . You are more than welcome to come to the liveshow and ask your questions there and we will answer them on the spot. Thanks for watching we hope you stick around for future videos.

[@michaelsims4824]

Thanks for the information. Considering trying hugelkultur for the first time this year. The property has a lot of clay and holds water in many places. Wondering how much soil type affects the decision to use hugelkultur and if clay would be suitable soil. Needing to add organic material to the soil anyway and don't want to wait till next year to start gardening. Open to suggestions.

[@bigbearhomestead]

We have red Georgia clay here. So I know exactly what you are battling. When we did our hugelkultur beds, we added some of our soil in with compost and top soil. Over the years, not only did all of the leaves and wood break down, it also drained into the soil below the beds breaking the existing clay down as well.

[@MrsSoapPeddlersHomestead]

I have a raised bed I haven't filled yet....I am going to do this. Thanks!

[@bigbearhomestead]

awesome let us know how it worked out for you. In Fact why don't you do a response video and just tag us in it?

[@davidlillecrapp2960]

I have a spot down by the creek where I gather rotten wood for my hugulkulture beds. It’s better than new wood.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Awesome

[@Seabee644]

Good stuff Jason! First time here and I did subscribe!

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks

[@beforemodel1309]

trying it out logs down sticks and twigs down leaves and compost done adding dirt this week fingers crossed.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Let us know

[@MichellesCraftsandMore]

I hadn't heard of this before. I love the idea as I want to redo my raised beds for next year. I need to make them taller as my idiot dogs like to get into the low ones. I have been watching your videos, just not commenting. Now that it is summer maybe I can get back on with your live streams!

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks

[@joakadoris]

Thanks for this great video!! I am going to start this today!!

[@bigbearhomestead]

You got this! Did you give it a go? How did it turn out

[@Tray1949]

Liked your video. Learning about this method. Thanks

[@bigbearhomestead]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sarahbrown8574]

I have heard and wanted to try this. Well my husband just built me a strawberry bed but I realized it was gonna take way too much soil then I wanted to pay for. I just started cleaning up the yard from logs and sticks to fill up some space. I am kinda excited to see how my first strawberry patch turns out.

[@bigbearhomestead]

How did it do?

[@donniecarter3848]

Trying it for the first time this year

[@bigbearhomestead]

How did it do for you?

[@dougmac8904]

Nice, I'm going to try this. Thanks

[@bigbearhomestead]

Let us know how it works

[@carolparrish194]

I put in a hugelkultur bed last fall and planted potatoes this spring. It was a total failure. It may have had something to do with the weather or the fact that it was a new bed and had to get established. Just wondering what to try in it next spring. I added more compost and leaves this fall. Any ideas? I am a new subscriber. Thanks.

[@bigbearhomestead]

IDK if I would have tried potatoes right off the bat with this setup. I would try some leafy greens or beans. Thanks for joining the Big Bear Family let me know if there is anything else we can help with

[@yeshuaisthewaythetruthandt515]

Thanku. Yes it works. I also cardboards with mine

[@unorubbertoe]

Appreciate the video with a simplistic overview. We're in southeast GA and going to give a try this season with some 3' deep roof tin beds. I am hoping it will help with the watering because it can get hot during the summer. Does the soil and nutrients under the beds leech up into the beds?

[@bigbearhomestead]

No it doesn't leach up, what happens is the logs, sticks and leaves that you put into the bed break down and that is where the nutrients come from. Plus if you mulch the top around your plants with stuff like hay, straw, dried grass clippings that will also break down and feed the soil from above.

[@rubyewiggins4926]

Saves a lot of money on getting soil

[@bigbearhomestead]

And create healthy soil

[@thomasschmitthomesteadproj6025]

....Great video and informational. Our garden soil is 95 percent composted cow manure and chicken manure. This is the second year with it it was as ll dug up last year because we filled over the garden. Thanks for sharing. ..

[@bigbearhomestead]

Awesome

[@traceyrozwalka865]

Today I learned about hugleculture. This will be my 1st try! I have an area that filters down making an almost unusable spot. My thought is to build that low area up using this system. Suggestions? Thank you :)

[@bigbearhomestead]

You can do it!

[@halfheartedhomestead1909]

Those colorful frames are beautiful. Great demonstration! I live in northeast Georgia where the topography is mountainous. I have steep banks. Do you know if this method could be used at the base of a steep bank? I don't need to build a retaining wall but a raised bed that is retained on just one side. Hopefully that description makes sense. Your opinion would be appreciated.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Now this is cool we are in NE GA also, I think it would work the only issue I would worry about is how much water hits that area during one of our heavier rain storms? If you have a lot of runoff hit that area, I would be worried about erosion, but if you dug a swell that could help and you get to save some water.

[@wvoyles]

just learning about it,been watching several videos

[@bigbearhomestead]

Rock on! Hope you hit that subscribe button and rang the bell

[@philiptybor4794]

Thanks big Bear for the info, I am going to try a huge culture type garden.

[@bigbearhomestead]

How did it do?

[@shawnsargent2000]

This is year 4, for my Hugelkulture bed.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Awesome

[@DerekWhittington]

Started mine today. Do you recommend freshly cut tree branches along with older?

[@bigbearhomestead]

I would only use the older mostly rotated wood. Thanks for watching

[@sandycastro4922]

Great video starting the process now. So excited

[@bigbearhomestead]

How did it do for you?

[@PaulRitter-rq2mf]

Can I use mesquite tree trimmings, as long as I remove the seed pods? Thank you

[@bigbearhomestead]

It looks like mesquite is a nitrogen fixer. So I would say use some in each bed, but not all mesquite. Just for good measure. Thanks for watching!

[@texassportzman]

I'm starting my first experience with hugelculture via raised beds and LG pots. Pretty excited. One question tho, I'm planning on creating these beds over a LG concrete slab. Any feedback is welcome

[@bigbearhomestead]

You should be fine. Plus you have the added benefit of in five years or so if you want to move the bed you can use all of that great healthy soil

[@RR-vg5hg]

I’m going to try this right away, cheers

[@bigbearhomestead]

Awesome

[@GLRDesignsdotcom]

NICE!! Gonna try this year! Thank you!! :)

[@bigbearhomestead]

Awesome, Let us know how it works for you! Thanks for watching and we hope you hit that subscribe button and you stick around for future videos and live shows

[@GLRDesignsdotcom]

@@bigbearhomestead I sure will! :) Yes, subscribed... Yay!! :) Have a blessed evening! :)

[@bigbearhomestead]

Awesome Thanks, I hope that you will join us on Saturday for our Live show 8 pm est

[@GLRDesignsdotcom]

@@bigbearhomestead I sure will try! :)

[@bulkmail9]

Hi, great video! You covered a lot of details that I hadn't found yet. We live in northern California and are planting a Hugelkultur garden in stainless steel tubs with holes drilled in the bottom. We have so far put a layer of gravel in the bottom for drainage with wire over it, and now on to the logs and such. One question-Since the logs will be obsorbing the water and it also rains a lot here, should we adjust our garden watering accordingly? Or if the soil looks dry in the summer, do you water less since the logs will now be releasing the water? Thanks again !

[@antoniobennett5330]

Rains a lot in California? Nice joke

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks

[@mrfind1]

We have mostly hard wood on our property which from your video, you use. However there is some pine which I would like to get rid of. Is the use of pine or oak or maple pretty much equal in this or is hardwood preferred?

[@bigbearhomestead]

If you want to get rid of the pine I say use it, the hardwoods may last a little longer but if you are looking to get rid of the pines then by all means use them up

[@boyofGod81]

I’ve been doing it for 20 years. Just didn’t know it’s name

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thats awesome

[@boyofGod81]

@@bigbearhomestead your vid is great for educating ang contributing to help restore the globe

[@lorishealinghomestead5047]

I’m not sure if you will see this but I’m gonna hope you guys do. I am starting a massive amount of raised beds this year and plan on doing hugelkulttur in them. I’m having a hard time finding out what I can and can not use. Is there a place I can find that information out? I don’t have leaves and I want to know if I can use my chicken bedding as my leaves. It’s not super concentrated. Hoping to find some help.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Hey Sorry that it has taken us a while to get to you, I would say yes you could use the chicken bedding for a substitute for the leaves. I would not add any other type of fertilizer that has Nitrogen in it though. I would also make sure that you had a good layer of compost between the bedding and the plants.

[@heatherreis7839]

So with doing this method should watering be limited? I live in south florida. During the rainy months i dont water much but during the heat of summer i water every day

[@bigbearhomestead]

Watering should be done 30 mins after the sun has gone down or before it comes up. I would suggest using micro irrigation so you can place blubbers at the base of each plant . This will help in many ways. But to answer your question I would still water everyday but just as I explained .

[@janknight4849]

I think there are better choice than Miracle Grow. The rest is good information. Thank you.

[@donniecarter3848]

Jan Knight I like mushroom compost mixed with some type of manure compost

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks for watching

[@elizabetha6265]

Great video

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks

[@neonathomahill4460]

very informative thank you

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks

[@jjlforge3468]

We unintentionally do it all along the property line.... killer red raspberry bushes as a consequence

[@bigbearhomestead]

Awesome

[@MrMAPOSUA]

Can you use freshly cut wood?

[@bigbearhomestead]

You could but it will take 10 times as long to get the benefit that you would get from using rotted wood

[@JennySimon206]

I live next to the beach so lots of sand. I am doing hugelkulture in my raised beds and possibly underneath as well to a small degree to hold the moisture & nutrients and aerate & attract worms plus creating soil where it's sand and clay. Just made a 4 bay compost bin and hugelkultured underneath shallowly because of utility lines there for the same purpose. I think it's gonna be great. Also got the Earthwise chipper shredder and mulcher. The lot next door sold and they cut down all the trees and scotchbroom. Endless supply of chips and rotted wood, logs, twigs and soil. I am stoked.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Sounds like you have a solid plan, let us know how your garden does this next summer.

[@theromanticgarden5997]

Just finished two hugel beds.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Nice, keep us posted on how you like them.

[@karlagarm1982]

Does anyone know if you can also use pine needles for the bottom?

[@bigbearhomestead]

You could just keep in mind that they (pine needles) will take longer to break down and they are extremely acidic ( great for blueberries )

[@sergeyb8]

Why would you empty out raised bed and start over if the soil settled???? Just add more to top it off

[@bigbearhomestead]

That is a good point, and for the most part that is what everyone does.

[@julsatmidnight]

During this fall's cleanup, we are creating a mound for the first time. We have always gardened in containers and I've added decaying wood to the bottoms because of the technique i learned growing up in Germany. We are excited about our first big 12 ft long mound.

[@bigbearhomestead]

Please let us know how it turns out

[@LZH13067]

👍🏼

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks for watching.

[@shawnsargent2000]

I love Hugel Kulture !

[@bigbearhomestead]

So do we how long have you been using this method

[@DailyDroneFPV]

I KNOWW WHAT HUGELKULTURR ISSSS!

[@bigbearhomestead]

Awesome, how long have you been using this method?

[@bradenmcdaniel9378]

It means hill culture

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks

[@teresadean1995]

Is that the country the terminator came from. lol

[@bigbearhomestead]

Lol

[@jeffwegman8877]

Mound garden

[@bigbearhomestead]

Basically yes

[@sandhollowhomestead6972]

:)

[@bigbearhomestead]

Thanks