How to Fill a Raised Bed for Vegetables using Huglekulture

Welcome back to Our Little Vegan Kitchen and Garden! Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just getting your hands dirty for the first, one of the rewarding aspects of gardening is growing your own vegetables. Today, we're going to talk about unique and sustainable gardening technique called #Huglekulture. This is exactly what we did with our new raised bed in The Yarden. 

Huglekulture is a centuries-old method originating from Eastern Europe and Germany. By incorporating organic materials such as logs, cardboard, leaf mould, grass clippings, vegetable peelings, and compost, you create a rich, self-sustaining ecosystem right in your garden bed.

Why Huglekulture is Better

1. **Improved Soil Fertility**: The decaying wood and organic materials break down slowly over time, providing continuous, natural fertilization for your soil.

2. **Water Retention**: The logs and organic layers act like sponges, holding moisture and reducing the need for frequent watering.

3. **Sustainable and Eco-Friendly**: By recycling yard debris and kitchen scraps, you reduce waste and create a healthy growing environment without synthetic chemicals.

4. **Soil Aeration**: The decomposition process creates air pockets that help improve soil structure and rooting. 

5. **Temperature Regulation**: The decomposing wood generates heat, which can extend your growing season, especially beneficial in cooler climates.

Let’s walk through the steps to fill your raised bed using the Huglekulture method.

 Materials You'll Need

• Logs or large branches

• Cardboard

• Leaf mould or fallen leaves

• Grass clippings

• Vegetable peelings

• Compost

 Building Your Huglekulture Raised Bed

Layer 1: Cardboard

  Add a layer of cardboard on top of the logs. This acts as a weed barrier and will eventually break down, adding organic matter to the soil. We had lots of cardboard from the raised bed packaging - make sure you remove any sellotape from the cardboard if you're using recycled packaging 

Layer 2: Logs and Branches

   We started by placing large rotting logs and branches on top of the cardboard of the raised bed. This creates a sturdy foundation that will slowly decompose over the years, enriching the soil.

Layer 3: Leaf Mould

Next we added a layer of leaf mould or fallen leaves. This will begin to fill in gaps and create a richer middle layer. The leaf mould will break down quickly, adding valuable nutrients to the bed. We are luck to live next to woods with lots of beech trees that make a lovely leaf mold. We collected lots in our wheel barrow to fill the bed.

Layer 4: Grass Clippings and Vegetable Peelings

 Grass clippings and vegetable peelings add nitrogen, which is crucial for plant growth. Spread these materials evenly across the bed. We only use grass cliping from our garden that were collected in winter as they had fewer weed seeds in them., avoid clipping if you have a lot of dandelions especially if they have seed heads.

 Layer 5: Compost

 Finish it off with a generous layer of compost. This will be the nutrient-rich top layer where you'll transplant your vegetables. The compost provides immediate nutrients for young plants to thrive. We used Peat Free Compost with added Seaweed designed for vegetable beds to give our Veggies a good organic and planet-friendly start

Time to Plant!

Now that your Huglekulture raised bed is set up, it’s time to plant your vegetable seedlings. The layered structure will promote healthy growth and provide long-term benefits to your garden. We have planted ours using Permaculture Methods which I will go into in more detail in my next post 

By adopting the #Huglekulture method, you're not only creating a rich, self-sustaining garden bed but also taking a significant step towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle. Happy gardening from Our Little Vegan Kitchen and Garden!

Feel free to share your own Huglekulture experience by tagging us in your garden photos on social media #TheVeganYarden

                                           You can find out more about our Yarden here - The Organic Yarden/Garden