As a follow on from Niall’s post, here is a simple guide to building your own permaculture vegetable garden. It is supereasy and rewarding – here is an update on the food garden 2.0 just 11 days after Niall’s pic:
Anyhoo, now to the steps…
STEP 1: Brick Layout
Lay out an area for your bed using some bricks.
STEP 2: Paper Layer
Put down a layer of old cardboard and/or paper and moisten it.
STEP 3: Dead Matter Layer
Create a layer of dead matter. We used leaves collected from the garden.
STEP 4: Green Matter Layer
Put down a layer of green matter. We used leaves from unwanted trees in the garden.
STEP 5: Activator
Create a layer using an activator. We used kraal manure. Wet this layer.
STEP 6: Top Soil
Put down a layer of top soil and plant some seeds / seedlings.
is that monkey wearing a cap near the monkey pile?
children should not be allowed to comment on the blog.
good work mol-d! this shows just how easy it is to build a permaculture bed 🙂
we left out all the underthings! going to dig up the bed at once. bring cardboard, wife!
@ gareth, try it out for the next one do a comparison.. could be interesting..
What abou the grass from underneath growing though to the seedlings?
hi colleen, do you mean from the lawn? the layer of cardboard generally stops anything from growing up from underneath…
hi colleen – yes, the cardboard keeps the weeds and grass from growing through as well as keeping moisture in.
We are starting a vege garden and have many moles – do you know if they are likely to burrow up through the layers??
hi marilyn,
i’m not 100% sure but i would say the bottom cardboard layer would be enough of a deterrent for moles to cause them to reroute.. let us know!
I wrote a report some years ago on the use of household greywater for yard agriculture purposes. If you like an email copy suggest you contact me.
Hi Dr. Alcock,
Perhaps you would like to share a copy on the website? If so, please email it as an attachment to post@sprig.co.za and we will make it available to anyone who would like it…
hi guys
tomorrow i make beds
and i have knee high weeds that need cutting can they be used as the live layer or will they grow through the rest????
Hey Niall, Awesome post! on next bed try make the layers thicker. also suggest using comfrey, cannas,chives to edge the bed on the outside. it will stop the outside grass from penetrating. Would love to see progress as it develops.
Audrey Rose
chop the weeds down and use them as part of the mulch process.
see comment i made to Niall.
share this link and enter https://www.sprig.co.za/2012/09/spring-has-sprung-competition/
Hi Colleen see my blog post about moles, if they do come up flatten them, but the mulch should deter them. https://companionplanting.blogspot.com/2012/07/green-finger-tips-mountain-out-of.html
tjeers
jeannine
Colleen i meant flatten the mole hills not the moles : )