Backyard Farming Forum
Bringing food production home

G'day

Thinking bout a small raised vegie patch behind back shed. Was gonna do another AP but changed mind. What do you think of this idea?
Timber frame bed about 2500x570x400 deep and up at waist height
Plastic lined
Hole in bottom with AP style outlet
Bucket/s under
Converted 240L wheelie at side.
Use "no dig" type fill in the bed

Water in wheelie reticulated to bed (gravity feed). Drains into bucket. Bucket emptied back into wheelie. Wheelie topped up as water lost through evap or transpiration.

Can convert to AP later if desired.

Reason for dirt vs AP - got a couple of blue barrels and decided to try a compost bin and manure tea maker. Pics below.

Welcome, (name?)
You could make the bed like a wicking bed, have the water outlet higher so that there is water constantly in the bottom of the bed, still as you plan with retic on top and recycling the water that flows through the system. Then you could leave it for days/weeks at a time. Wicking beds are great but in the middle of a hot perth summer but extra water in the soil really helps.
I had a really small solar pump in the water reservoir of one of my wicking beds which pumped the water back onto the surface of the soil and let it drain back down and the plants loved it in the heat of summer. Using the barrels as you say, you could easily add nutrients, like compost tea.

Nice one BFB, good to see blue barrels being used for different things.. Do you get enough strength in the lid to hold it all in when it tumbles alright?

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Bringing Food Production Home

Hi Joel

The barrel compost tumbler is in one piece. I sprayed the end to cover the price but might spray the lot to help generate heat.

The manure tea maker worked well until I went out next morning to find the tap leaked and fertilised the concrete.

Will redo this weekend.

Cheers

Bruce

Great Idea for a compost tumbler Bruce

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I shall wait for the Meek......Then take it from them


http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... =18&t=8219

Next step worm farm

Now I have compost, sheep manure tea and worm tea/castings.

I am sure there was something else

Hang on! No vege garden. Next holiday job