Modified Raised Bed System Recycles Green Waste

Modified raised bed gardening is a form of gardening in which the soil is formed in wide beds (3 to 6 feet across), which can be of any length. The soil in the beds is about a foot or more above the surrounding soil or pathway. The top soil in the pathway is dug out (one shovel head deep or 1 foot) and the soil is tossed onto the garden bed. Once the pathway is cleared of topsoil, it is covered at least 1 to 2 feet deep in mulch (usually chipped tree mulch brought in by tree trimming companies. Once the beds are planted, the beds are covered in mulch as well—up to 6” deep, tapering down around the crowns or central stems of the plants. The plants are planted in such a manner as to maximize the benefit of a continuous canopy…allowing the outer perimeter of each plant canopy meet up with other plant’s canopies, optimizing the amount of soil surface in the shade. The spacing of plants is such that when the plants are fully grown, the plant’s leaves just barely touch each other, creating a microclimate in which moisture is conserved and weed growth suppressed. The beds are disturbed as little as possible, allowing the natural soil system to establish itself. The gardener avoids walking on the raised beds as much as possible, and thusly the soil is not compacted and the roots have an easier time growing. The close plant spacing and the extensive use of mulch generally results in significantly higher yields, enabling intensive crop production to be sustained over time, and for plants to grow at optimal rates, generally uninhibited by weeds. This style is referred to as the “modified raised bed” system. The approach lends itself to the creation of a rich layer of hummus and to establishing a complex and healthy soil system that builds upon many of the principles and methods of organic agriculture and Permaculture. The method can be used effectively to control erosion and recycle and conserve water and nutrients by capturing the maximum level of moisture, irrigation water and precipitation. The method works in small or large areas and can be accomplished with hand tools or with the help of commonly available roto-tillers or tractor-drawn implements.