While I'm sure that would work, it seems like more work than necessary
(except in arid climates). Here in NC I just artfully organize the carbon
logs, limbs, branches, leaves, weeds, and whatever, into bed shapes on top
of the ground (I often use cardboard, newspaper, and/or junk mail on the
bottom). Then, just as in straw mulch, a few scoops of better soil in the
spaces between, a little mineral, and in go the plants. I've grown LOTS of
things quite well under these conditions (I'm thinking of offering a class
in the art of carbon arrangement, but what would I call it?)
The Echonett folks confirm my approach by saying further that:
"The systems we are trying are quite similar. We make layers of whatever material we have available. By being able to plant immediately we not only get that "instant gratification" but also are able to make better use of scarce land by continuing to use the area for planting. Because it is in use, there is no hurry for the whole pile to decompose so there is no need for turning or chopping up the coarse material. You also have all the advantages of a raised bed. We are using fertilizer at least this first season because our top compost layer is thin and the decay inside may cause nutrient deficiencies at first. If we had manure tea we would water with it frequently. Instead we often use a soluble fertilizer, pouring it right over the leaves. Since we never seem to have enough compost, I will tear up some of these "hills" after a year or so rather than following the German scheme exactly.
Heat from decomposition may not be too serious a problem on a smaller scale. We have very nice carrots right now in a 12-inch (30 cm) tall 2 x 4 foot (60 x 120 cm) bottomless box that we placed on a cement slab and filled to the top with grass clippings and a bit of fertilizer. We then placed about 3 inches (7 cm) of potting mix on top and planted the seeds. By the time the roots reached the grass it had apparently cooled down.
Those of you with large amounts of rainfall are often discouraged to see the bit of fertilizer you were able to procure leached away by rains. Hill culture might help because the microorganisms that decay the organic matter in the interior of the hill use the same nutrients that plants use. As nutrients are leached into the pile they are "recycled" by these microorganisms and turned into compost.Apparently your not worried about the woodchips tying up the nitrogen?Ramial chips are not sawdust; there's lots besides carbon there. And lots of spaces- which have air, and thus atmospheric nitrogen that can be fixed and used by the microflora as needed. Once I put wood planer shavings on a grassy path; what came up was not grass but clover. After a year of clover domination, the grass came back. These goddam polycultures! Always pulling tricks on ya! But now I'm thinking of a cartoon of woodchips tying up nitrogen. Could get kinky. -Rick
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