Trench Gardening without Hay Bales

My book, "Hay Bale Garden Habitat," lays out my technique for growing in trenches. Here is a sample:

The Solution

Deterioration is what we are seeking for when gardeners use hay or straw bales. Moist compost made from rotting hay bales is a good way of improving your soil. Compost contains valuable nutrients and rich humus. Humus is long lasting in the soil and can be beneficial in providing for improved physical, chemical, and biological conditions. Humus improves soil structure and increases water retention. Its nutritive qualities include trace elements and several important organic acids but do not include nitrogen or phosphorus.

My habitat uses the water that is absorbed from above and below the ground. Hay bales partially buried in the ground helps to absorb water.  From the bottom of a previously dug trench or pit, the hale bale habitat will slowly wick up the water and moisture that resides in the ground. The water that flows into the trench or ditch and the soil’s slow rate of absorption will determine how much hay bale wicking will occur.

My top soil is only about five or six inches deep.  When I dig through the top soil after a rain to make a pit, I find water is immediately filling my freshly dug hole. It is not unusual for dug holes to fill up with water. Ground water can rapidly fill holes by simply seeping into the freshly excavated hole. The seeping water along with earthworms and microbes in the ground will help to deteriorate my hay bales.

All we need to do in this system is to dig an area large enough to fit a hay bale in a depression or hole. We then proceed to bury the bottom part of the hay bale in the pit. Water is greatest at the bottom of the pit where water is slowly absorbing in the clay and rock layers. END OF SAMPLE

Another Solution

In this alternative, we are still going to use trenches but also our chipper (or lawnmower). Chipping leaves, wood, weeds, grass and old plants is a way to make finely cut mulch. We are also going to use a 6" PVC pipe in our trench. We will simply stick the PVC pipe (at least a few feet long) into the place where we will be growing a plant. The PVC pipe will be removed after filling the trench with mulch and adding soil medium to our PVC pipe. The PVC pipe is only used as a guide for our soil medium.

The next step is to fill the trench with your finely cut mulch and place it around the PVC pipe. For each section, cover the mulch in the trench with regular top soil or any ground soil. Pack the soil down on the mulch (1-2 inches). Now fill your PVC with your special soil medium as you slowly remove the pipe. Pack the soil medium and refill and plant. Keep doing the same thing until all your seeds or seedlings are planted.

Benefits 

Not only will weeds not grow in your debris or mulch trench but as time goes on it will become compost. The thing I like about trenches is watering is easy. Stick a slow running hose on one in and the trench will fill up with water.

This idea of mine is so revolutionary, I'm going to try a section this year. Not only will it benefit your plants this year, but wait til next year. You can scoop up the rich compost and make the best soil medium to re-use in your trench. Just add a little biochar and manure and you'll be set for another year with the garden of your dreams.