This topic contains 18 replies, has 6 voices, and was last updated by Joe 8 years, 2 months ago.
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How steep?
Light or heavy soil?
Are you starting with a few beds or the whole acre in one go?Hi Joe,
That’s a very steep slope indeed.
I would go with terracing or try to level the site to reduce the slope to less than 5%.
I suspect the latter is probably not going to be possible in this instance given where your starting from.Don.
There was a documentary on the BBC recently about the Mayans and how they successfully grew crops on a steep hill. They terraced their beds, used stones in their beds so they could be heated up during the day and during the night the stones would release heat and so on. Have a look on I player it’s probably still available to see. Sounds like a really exciting project. I’d go with the contours of the land as much as possible. Beds can be contoured and fluid, use the stones to your advantage. Have a look at Hügelkultur from Sepp Holzer for ideas as well.
Correction: Incas (not Mayans)!
Joe it is indeed steep for growing. But the soil’s stones should reduce the risk of erosion if beds run up and down.
As you are growing for CSA and need to make money (different time-wise to veg for home consumption) I think horizontal beds with retaining sides along the bottom edge would take too long, being too expensive in time & also materials.
Tesi’s points are good for the Andes but in N Wales the relative lack of sun means stones warm less by day, and nights are relatively less cool. And they had cheap labour compared to us in the UK. While Sepp has many tree trunks he appears not to need for other uses.All in all, tricky, keep us posted and I think you need, somehow, to concentrate on high value veg.
Hi Joe,
I would suggest clearing the first 10-12 inches of any large rocks and then build your beds on top of that.
That would give you 16-18 inches of clear soil if you make your raised beds 6 inches high.
That’s more than adequate for most crops.
Don.I would leave the rocks in place, except for any monsters that are protruding above ground.
Hard to be sure without seeing their number, but its quicker and simpler to add fertility above. As a CSA you need to keep costs down.
And plants will root into soil between and below the rocks. Carrots and parsnips may be uneven.Hi Joe/Charles,
Just out of interest what is a CSA?
Don.
Don its Community Supported Agriculture – a market garden funded by anyone buying a share, which buys for example a weekly box of vegetables.
Thanks Charles. We don’t have such a thing here in Ireland.
What a great idea.Don.
Thanks Joe,
I’d never heard of this. I only buy UK Gardening Mags and I’m not a member of any gardening groups here so that’s probably why.
Would you believe one of the CSA’s is only 2 miles away from me!!!
Going over there this morning to have a look.
Don.
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