Based in Bruthen, Bare Regenesis specialises in regenerative soil and micronutrient production and in building sustainable permaculture bases, systems and structures.
Here are some of their tips on building your very own garden bed:
The height of the garden bed should be around 70cm to 100cm, as no one likes stooping down or crouching all the time.
Soil contact with the ground through shade cloth or weed mat is preferred. This contact allows earthworms and other beneficial creatures to come and go as they please and allows for the Earth’s energy to do the same.
If you can’t manage building one that’s full height, then building smaller beds on stilts can be just as effective at saving your back.
It’s worth stating here that ease of access across the bed should also be considered.
Between 100cm to 150cm across is about right, so you can access all of the bed easily without stretching.
Wooden beds should be lined on the sides with heavy duty plastic to aid in their longevity.
As far as materials goes, the best things in life are free, up-cycle whenever possible.
Bare Regenesis has two types of vegetable bed that will also save you money on soil:
The Wicking Bed – This resembles a rock filled paddling pool for your plants.
The bottom 50 per cent is replaced with scoria or 20mil ag rocks.
Top with hessian or other weed suppressant and finish off with soil.
This allows for a lot less watering, just ensure an overflow pipe is installed below the level of the soil.
The Hügelkultur Bed – Place branches or old wood pieces of varying sizes in the bottom 50 per cent of the bed and top with soil.
It too requires less watering, as the wood holds moisture, and as it breaks down it increases the fungal content of the soil.
Most plants prefer a one-to-one fungal to bacterial ratio.
Grass prefers a higher bacterial ratio, so if you don’t want a kikuyu filled garden bed, increase the fungal content of your soil by adding wood below ground, and leaves, or heavier woody mulch above, once the seedlings are established.
To find out how to improve your soil organically at home and more, visit the Bare Regenesis website.
