Tag Archives: Hugelkultur

farming

Southern slope terrace building

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The new view down SAFF’s south set back line without the bridge. This is most pleasing.
Yesterday during our work at SAFF we began building a new Hugelkultur terrace along the southern slope.
We took down 3 tulip poplars which were overcrowded, unhealthy and lanky scrunched in between the pines and oaks.
The tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifera is a fast growing tall hardwood tree native to eastern North America. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies while the seeds feed birds and squirrels. It is likely our most common tree in the disturbed areas of SAFF. When a forest is clear cut, these trees move in fast and establish their canopy. They are valuable to our forest ecosystem but not as tightly populated as they are currently. They are great for establishing the Hugelkultur terrace here along the southern slope. All of them will be useful for the development of terracing and the base structures at SAFF.

When building Hugelkultur terraces, tulip poplar is considered one of the best woods for the structural base for the terrace because it is soft and decomposes quickly which creates the nutrient rich water retaining base. We built the terraces we planted the Asimina triloba into out of tulip trees in the new seedling orchard at the bottom of North Trail for the past few years. We will cover these branches and logs with soil, our homemade compost and other organic material such as mulch, pine needles and forest floor leaves. We will plant into these beds. Plants and trees will benefit from the gradual nutrient release and increase in water retention.

Image depiction Hugelkultur principles in design by Rose Shelton.

We’re excited to begin planting on SAFF’s south slope as soon as we finish the terrace project and create a fence to protect our plants from becoming wildlife buffets.

Also to share with you our joyful news. We got engaged and have been making exciting plans for our future and celebrations with friends and family.