Made in WV. West Virginia Permaculture. Redneck Permaculture
You don't NEED an excavator. I am not a professional.
This is my newest method of hugel swale construction. The trench was dug on-contour 2ft wide, 2ft deep. This one is over 100ft in length. The wood is oak, poplar and other hardwoods cut to lengths 4-5 ft and about 6-12 inches in diameter. Large diameter wood is good to put in the bottom of the ditch. Biggest first then smaller pieces on top. Play Tetris. Key the wood in tightly so that it is secure. When the trench is dug, pile the dirt onto the immediate downhill side. this gives the wood a "step" to sit on and makes the whole structure more stable. Do not build a hugel too long with too much catchment . I use two gravely walk-behind (two-wheel) tractors . one a 1968 with cultivator, the other is an 80s professional model with a grader blade. I was using hand rakes before. This is better. You don;t NEED an excavator.
The trees and shrubs are being planted on the downhill side of the mounds, near where the bottom of the mound meets the grade/sod, ..../not on the mound.... not in the swale.... at the base of the mound on the downhill side. pawpaws, chestnuts, siberian pea shrub, persimmon, black locust, mulberry etc.
the mounds are planted with radishes, clover, pasture grasses.
