Hügelkultur is a traditional gardening method from Central Europe, especially Germany and Austria. The term means “hill culture” or “mound culture” in English. It involves building raised garden beds filled with decaying wood, plant debris, and other compostable materials. In recent times, Hügelkultur has seen a resurgence in popularity within the permaculture movement. Advocates like Sepp Holzer and Bill Mollison have promoted it for its ability to improve soil fertility, reduce waste, and create more resilient ecosystems.
We’ve now constructed our third Hügelkultur bed. Our journey began when we needed a better environment for growing tomatoes, which struggled in the dry clay soil we had. With plenty of pruning material and other organic matter available, we decided to create a nutrient-rich bed for the tomatoes. Given the water scarcity issues in Spain, we also saw hügelkultur as an effective long-term solution.
