By Permacoach, Meg McGowan
Questions from followers:
“Hey Meg, how come you mound up the cup cake beds like that, and where do you buy your soil?” (James)
Hi James, there’s more than one reason for mounding up:
- In spring, when I’m starting lots of seed, I layer in compostable ingredients and cover them with soil. This creates a natural heat pad. As the raw materials decompose they generate heat. They will also shrink with decomposition so mounding up prevents the soil level dropping too far below the top of the bed.
- Raised beds naturally shrink over time and mounding up keeps the level higher. Even if you don’t have a composting layer it’s a good idea to mound up.
- Raised beds can have root intrusion at lower levels. Far from being a problem, this actually provides great conditions for beneficial soil life. Think of how fertile a forest floor can be, but just like a forest floor we need to keep replenishing the top layer. I’m working as part of nature.
- A curved shape gives me greater surface area so I can plant more seedlings. As the seedlings are thinned and harvested the bed starts flattening out and the reduced surface area minimises weed intrusion.
- In spring, the sun is at a lower angle than summer. The curve provides the maximum sun exposure on one side of the bed, improving growth. The other side can be used for succession planting or varieties that need less sun, like leafy greens. The curve gives me diverse microclimates.
As for soil, I don’t buy it. I grow it. All of my pathways are composting systems. I dig them up when I need soil, refine the path with green plant material and mulch over the top of it. The path also becomes an earthworm rave party, with all of the various benefits that brings to the garden.