When we first started the foundation of our cabin, we realized we needed to address the lay of the land. The front of the house was going to be significantly high off the ground and right on the edge of a big drop off. We needed a way to extend the land itself without having to bring in more fill dirt. It just so happened that I was reading a farm forum that week that mentioned huglekultur. I started researching it because I was intrigued in general and then I shared it with Roy. He immediately realized it would be a perfect solution to our land extension problem. We were able to bring our “front yard” out about 7 more feet. You can actually walk on it and it is solid ground.

We first took short logs from some trees we had cut down and stood them up in a line against the front of the existing terrace, right up against the edge of the drop-off. We then decided how far to bring it out, and what shape it would be and then started hauling in logs in various states of decay. The newest logs were used to define and provide a sturdy border for the whole thing, while the older ones were used to fill up the interior. We used short, long, thin, and thick logs and fit them together like a puzzle to reach the desired height and shape (It really wasn’t as complicated as it may sound). We then filled it in with all the branches and twigs we had laying around and had the added benefit of cleaning up the yard.

After adding mulch, grass clipping, and chicken manure from cleaning out the coop, we covered the top with dirt out of the compost pile and let it sit for a while (mostly because we were too busy to plant anything). We now have a very healthy rosemary and 8 tomatoes.

I was a bit skeptical when I first planted that rootbound rosemary, because everywhere I tried to dig, I just hit logs. I thought there was no way this would work, because I couldn’t even dig as deep a whole as I needed. Everything I read said it would, though, so I planted it as deep as I could and added a bit of dirt to the top to make sure it was in the ground substantially. I watered it in and to my surprise, it took off and started putting out new growth. It is greener than it ever was and I have not watered it since I planted it about two months ago.