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Re: keyhole beds?
- To: "permaculture" <permaculture@franklin.oit.unc.edu>
- Subject: Re: keyhole beds?
- From: Scott Pittman <pci@permaculture-inst.org>
- Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 10:17:21 -0600
- In-reply-to: <LYR101940-62016-2000.06.17-14.11.54--pci#permaculture-inst.org@franklin.oit.unc.edu>
- Newsgroups: permaculture
- References: <LYR86724-62000-2000.06.17-11.02.55--hemenway#jeffnet.org@franklin.oit.unc.edu>
At 11:02 AM 6/17/00 -0600, you wrote:
>Mikal wrote:
>
> > Anybody have opinions on keyhole beds?
We had the key holes for a year, and because of wrong sizing did not enjoy
it very much. I see it often, that people try to save space for the
walkways, and oversize the beds, which in combination compromises the whole
idea. Now I have a garden that has free style bed layout according to
grade, existing perennial vegetation, pollination requirements, aspect,
irrigation method and aesthetics. (We could not grow corn happily in a key
hole, but like it grown in a "butterfly" bed - two key holes attached on
the exterior edge. )
The principle of "increase edge" is still met, the layout in not super
imposed, but rather adopted for my needs.
I also raise beds by excavating the top soil from the paths, and then sheet
mulch and add 2-3' of shredded wood to raise the level of the walkway, as
we live in desert, and a true raised bed is not a good idea.
I have not done it yet, but I am sure it is possible to make a good
"increased edge" garden in conditions of flood irrigation, as the water
also benefits from moving in not-so-straight lines, as it aerates, and
deposits its silt load more evenly. The walk way then will serve the
function of water channel as well, and I heard of some amazing gardens,
that had small bridges and decks so one can walk over the moving water, and
keep the weed at bay, and the irrigation going.
>Keyholes are a bit like the other whiz-bang garden idea in Pc books: herb
>spirals. On a tour of about 20 Pc sites, I saw 5-10 abandoned or overgrown
>herb spirals for every one I saw in use (I just tore my own out a few days
>ago). Anyone else found this?
Why is that? The only reason my first herb spiral is abandoned, is that we
moved to a new place. I also have seen this idea adopted to different
environments, like half spirals attached to a wall, or free shape multiple
level beds around fixed objects (trees, poles, etc)
I think the problem is that we take some things as directions and the only
solutions, when they are only examples. I feel less and less comfortable
to give our students any plant lists, or examples of lay out of forest
gardens, or gardens, as I see how some people tend to receive it as the
prescribed way of doing it, rather then "a possible way".
What is your experience with it?
Arina Pittman