While I took a week's break during the book giveaway, I worked on my own book and we finished our African keyhole garden. I told you about our plan in my Spring Clean-Up post, and Dan got right to work on. What exactly is an African keyhole garden? It's a brilliant concept for raised bed gardening. It combines growing, composting, and watering into one manageable system. It's ideal for areas that have inadequate rainfall. The round bed is roughly 6-feet across with a compost container in the middle and a built-in path to easily add compostable materials and water. It can be any height one chooses. Resembles a keyhole overhead, hence the name. The keyhole wall can be constructed from anything: stone, logs, boards, sticks, wattle fencing, metal or fiberglass roofing panels, even sheets of plastic. Dan decided to use brick for ours because we still have a huge pile of bricks leftover from when we tore down the old fireplace and chimney ten years ago. Here's how he did it. The first step was to level the ground and calculate how many bricks would be needed for a 6-foot diameter keyhole garden. He leveled a base for the footer with gravel and sand. Brick footer filled in with clay subsoil. The brick wall goes on top of that. It took about three days to get to this point. Compost bin made with ½-inch hardware cloth. It's about 20" across. Keyhole gardens are typically filled lasagna garden style, but we did ours more hugelkultur style with chunks of wood on the bottom. Spaces between the wood chunks were filled with woodchips & topsoil. I tossed in old corn cobs and husks, and bones leftover from making broth. > Almost done. Topsoil, compost, and fine woodchips continue the fill. A cover could be added to the compost bin if desired. The beauty of this system is that the compost bin is built in specifically for the keyhole bed. Contents of the compost are higher than the soil, which is sloped from the edge of the compost to the keyhole wall. Because the bin is made of hardware cloth, moisture, nutrients, humus, and organic matter automatically leach into the soil. Planted with calendula, sweet basil, Jericho lettuce, borage, and Five Color Silver Beet Swiss chard. And there it is. Every day now, I'm out there inspecting for little seedlings! I'll keep you updated on how well it works. Parting shot: Dan got his blueberry bushes transplanted too. For more information, pictures, and ideas, check out this article, "Keyhole Garden" at insteading.com. African Keyhole Garden © May 2020 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com
While I took a week's break during the book giveaway, I worked on my own book and we finished our African keyhole garden. I told you about our plan in my Spring Clean-Up post, and Dan got right to work on. What exactly is an African keyhole garden? It's a brilliant concept for raised bed gardening. It combines growing, composting, and watering into one manageable system. It's ideal for areas that have inadequate rainfall. The round bed is roughly 6-feet across with a compost container in the middle and a built-in path to easily add compostable materials and water. It can be any height one chooses. Resembles a keyhole overhead, hence the name. The keyhole wall can be constructed from anything: stone, logs, boards, sticks, wattle fencing, metal or fiberglass roofing panels, even sheets of plastic. Dan decided to use brick for ours because we still have a huge pile of bricks leftover from when we tore down the old fireplace and chimney ten years ago. Here's how he did it. The first step was to level the ground and calculate how many bricks would be needed for a 6-foot diameter keyhole garden. He leveled a base for the footer with gravel and sand. Brick footer filled in with clay subsoil. The brick wall goes on top of that. It took about three days to get to this point. Compost bin made with ½-inch hardware cloth. It's about 20" across. Keyhole gardens are typically filled lasagna garden style, but we did ours more hugelkultur style with chunks of wood on the bottom. Spaces between the wood chunks were filled with woodchips & topsoil. I tossed in old corn cobs and husks, and bones leftover from making broth. > Almost done. Topsoil, compost, and fine woodchips continue the fill. A cover could be added to the compost bin if desired. The beauty of this system is that the compost bin is built in specifically for the keyhole bed. Contents of the compost are higher than the soil, which is sloped from the edge of the compost to the keyhole wall. Because the bin is made of hardware cloth, moisture, nutrients, humus, and organic matter automatically leach into the soil. Planted with calendula, sweet basil, Jericho lettuce, borage, and Five Color Silver Beet Swiss chard. And there it is. Every day now, I'm out there inspecting for little seedlings! I'll keep you updated on how well it works. Parting shot: Dan got his blueberry bushes transplanted too. For more information, pictures, and ideas, check out this article, "Keyhole Garden" at insteading.com. African Keyhole Garden © May 2020 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com
While I took a week's break during the book giveaway, I worked on my own book and we finished our African keyhole garden. I told you about our plan in my Spring Clean-Up post, and Dan got right to work on. What exactly is an African keyhole garden? It's a brilliant concept for raised bed gardening. It combines growing, composting, and watering into one manageable system. It's ideal for areas that have inadequate rainfall. The round bed is roughly 6-feet across with a compost container in the middle and a built-in path to easily add compostable materials and water. It can be any height one chooses. Resembles a keyhole overhead, hence the name. The keyhole wall can be constructed from anything: stone, logs, boards, sticks, wattle fencing, metal or fiberglass roofing panels, even sheets of plastic. Dan decided to use brick for ours because we still have a huge pile of bricks leftover from when we tore down the old fireplace and chimney ten years ago. Here's how he did it. The first step was to level the ground and calculate how many bricks would be needed for a 6-foot diameter keyhole garden. He leveled a base for the footer with gravel and sand. Brick footer filled in with clay subsoil. The brick wall goes on top of that. It took about three days to get to this point. Compost bin made with ½-inch hardware cloth. It's about 20" across. Keyhole gardens are typically filled lasagna garden style, but we did ours more hugelkultur style with chunks of wood on the bottom. Spaces between the wood chunks were filled with woodchips & topsoil. I tossed in old corn cobs and husks, and bones leftover from making broth. > Almost done. Topsoil, compost, and fine woodchips continue the fill. A cover could be added to the compost bin if desired. The beauty of this system is that the compost bin is built in specifically for the keyhole bed. Contents of the compost are higher than the soil, which is sloped from the edge of the compost to the keyhole wall. Because the bin is made of hardware cloth, moisture, nutrients, humus, and organic matter automatically leach into the soil. Planted with calendula, sweet basil, Jericho lettuce, borage, and Five Color Silver Beet Swiss chard. And there it is. Every day now, I'm out there inspecting for little seedlings! I'll keep you updated on how well it works. Parting shot: Dan got his blueberry bushes transplanted too. For more information, pictures, and ideas, check out this article, "Keyhole Garden" at insteading.com. African Keyhole Garden © May 2020 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com
A keyhole garden, a sustainable gardening technique used in areas as dry as sub-saharan Africa, can be used to grow food year round.
homesteading, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, natural livestock keeping, gardening, food preservation, cheesemaking, alternative energy,
homesteading, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, natural livestock keeping, gardening, food preservation, cheesemaking, alternative energy,
Keyhole Garden is an African Secret to Bumper Vegetable Crops! Ships directly from supplier This super-productive elevated garden feeds itself! Recycle kitchen scraps and fertilize plants at the same time Rot-resistant wood sides and rustproof corners Made by us in Vermont We’re thrilled to introduce this growing technique to home gardeners! Our U-shaped, elevated Keyhole Garden has an integrated composter that transforms kitchen scraps into rich fertilizer and delivers it to plants. Pioneered in Africa, self-sustaining keyhole gardens are a traditional way to grow food in regions with poor soil and limited rainfall because they require less water and fertilizer to produce a big harvest. Keyhole gardens are traditionally filled half-way with alternating layers of "brown" and "green” materials, similar to building a compost pile. As these materials decompose, they build rich, fertile soil, and they act as a sponge to hold moisture so it's available to plants during dry times. You can fill the rest of the bed with a mixture of potting mix, topsoil and compost. You're ready to plant! (If you prefer, you can fill the entire bed with a blend of potting mix, topsoil and compost.)
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While I took a week's break during the book giveaway, I worked on my own book and we finished our African keyhole garden. I told you about our plan in my Spring Clean-Up post, and Dan got right to work on. What exactly is an African keyhole garden? It's a brilliant concept for raised bed gardening. It combines growing, composting, and watering into one manageable system. It's ideal for areas that have inadequate rainfall. The round bed is roughly 6-feet across with a compost container in the middle and a built-in path to easily add compostable materials and water. It can be any height one chooses. Resembles a keyhole overhead, hence the name. The keyhole wall can be constructed from anything: stone, logs, boards, sticks, wattle fencing, metal or fiberglass roofing panels, even sheets of plastic. Dan decided to use brick for ours because we still have a huge pile of bricks leftover from when we tore down the old fireplace and chimney ten years ago. Here's how he did it. The first step was to level the ground and calculate how many bricks would be needed for a 6-foot diameter keyhole garden. He leveled a base for the footer with gravel and sand. Brick footer filled in with clay subsoil. The brick wall goes on top of that. It took about three days to get to this point. Compost bin made with ½-inch hardware cloth. It's about 20" across. Keyhole gardens are typically filled lasagna garden style, but we did ours more hugelkultur style with chunks of wood on the bottom. Spaces between the wood chunks were filled with woodchips & topsoil. I tossed in old corn cobs and husks, and bones leftover from making broth. > Almost done. Topsoil, compost, and fine woodchips continue the fill. A cover could be added to the compost bin if desired. The beauty of this system is that the compost bin is built in specifically for the keyhole bed. Contents of the compost are higher than the soil, which is sloped from the edge of the compost to the keyhole wall. Because the bin is made of hardware cloth, moisture, nutrients, humus, and organic matter automatically leach into the soil. Planted with calendula, sweet basil, Jericho lettuce, borage, and Five Color Silver Beet Swiss chard. And there it is. Every day now, I'm out there inspecting for little seedlings! I'll keep you updated on how well it works. Parting shot: Dan got his blueberry bushes transplanted too. For more information, pictures, and ideas, check out this article, "Keyhole Garden" at insteading.com. African Keyhole Garden © May 2020 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com
homesteading, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, natural livestock keeping, gardening, food preservation, cheesemaking, alternative energy,
Créez votre keyhole garden, ou jardin en trou de serrure, et découvrez tous ses avantages grâce à notre article sur le sujet !
The Mezza 6x6 Keyhole Composting Garden is crafted from beautiful, sustainably sourced FSC cedar and inspired by the African keyhole gardening technique. It’s an ingenious system that lets you compost household waste and grow fresh, organic vegetables in the same garden. A central compost basket is used in the Keyhole Garden to conveniently place your daily kitchen scraps. This household waste is then organically transformed into nutrient rich soil that nourishes your vegetables. Compost fed soil better holds moisture and nutrients, while using up to 70% less water. Mezza cedar boards are treated with a warm, distinctive water-based stain that make it safe for the environment and ensure healthy, safe food production. Cedar contains natural preservatives that help it resist insects and decay. Boards slide into posts easily and conveniently, with no need for tools or screws. Our innovative posts make for perfectly modular beds, allowing you to design and configure your own unique garden layout and size. Mezza embraces the timelessness of wood with modern minimalist design. Inspired to Give Back We stumbled upon the Keyhole garden concept while researching organic gardening methods. This inspired us to create our own series of garden beds using this African gardening technique. This idea was gifted to us by the African people and so we felt compelled to give back. Thrive is a charity determined to end malnutrition in our lifetime. They empower communities with the training and simple tools needed to sustainably grow an abundance of healthy, organic, disease-fighting foods for life. Vita partners with Thrive by financially supporting programs in Africa and around the world. Learn more about how Vita gives back: www.wearevita.com/pages/giving-back Learn more about Thrive: www.thriveforgood.org
This old dog is learning new tricks. I've been introduced to the idea of an African keyhole garden. When it was first suggested that I c...
Inspired by the African keyhole gardening technique, the Classic 3x5 Keyhole Composting Garden lets you compost household waste and grow vegetables in the same garden. A central compost basket is used in the Keyhole Garden to conveniently place your daily kitchen scraps. This household waste is then organically transformed into nutrient rich soil that nourishes your vegetables. Compost fed soil better holds moisture and nutrients, while using up to 70% less water. Crafted from a durable food grade BPA/phthalate-free vinyl that ensures healthy, safe food production and a long product lifespan. Boards slide into posts easily and conveniently, with no need for tools or screws. Our innovative posts make for perfectly modular garden beds, allowing you to design and configure your own unique layout and size. It’s smart, sustainable and beautifully designed. Inspired to Give Back We stumbled upon the Keyhole garden concept while researching organic gardening methods. This inspired us to create our own series of garden beds using this African gardening technique. This idea was gifted to us by the African people and so we felt compelled to give back. Thrive is a charity determined to end malnutrition in our lifetime. They empower communities with the training and simple tools needed to sustainably grow an abundance of healthy, organic, disease-fighting foods for life. Vita partners with Thrive by financially supporting programs in Africa and around the world. Learn more about how Vita gives back: www.wearevita.com/pages/giving-back Learn more about Thrive: www.thriveforgood.org
homesteading, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, natural livestock keeping, gardening, food preservation, cheesemaking, alternative energy,
homesteading, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, natural livestock keeping, gardening, food preservation, cheesemaking, alternative energy,
homesteading, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, natural livestock keeping, gardening, food preservation, cheesemaking, alternative energy,
homesteading, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, natural livestock keeping, gardening, food preservation, cheesemaking, alternative energy,
Highlights Unique blend of high-grade embossed vinyl that is BPA and phthalate free so you can grow food safely and with confidence. Compost household waste and grow fresh, organic vegetables in the same garden Recycles own box, requires minimal watering, no soil turnover. Product has no bottom floor Dual-aesthetic boards allow you to choose between wood grain or a brushed finish Dimensions: 72” L x 72” W x 22” H Soil Capacity: 60.5 cubic feet (1713 liters) Planting Area: 33 sq. ft. (3.1 sq. m) 10-year limited warranty against material defects Description Inspired by the African keyhole gardening technique, the Urbana 6x6 Keyhole Composting Garden lets you compost household waste and grow vegetables in the same garden. A central compost basket is used in the Keyhole Garden to conveniently place your daily kitchen scraps. This household waste is then organically transformed into nutrient rich soil that nourishes your vegetables. Compost fed soil better holds moisture and nutrients, while using up to 70% less water. The Urbana collection is crafted from an embossed PVC material that offers the natural look of wood, but with the lightweight durability of vinyl. Dual aesthetic boards can be reversed to allow for either a natural wood grain look or brushed finish and are BPA/phthalate-free ensuring healthy, safe food production and a long product lifespan. Boards slide into posts easily and conveniently, with no need for tools or screws. Our innovative posts make for perfectly modular garden beds, allowing you to design and configure your own unique layout and size It’s smart, sustainable and beautifully designed. Inspired to Give Back We stumbled upon the Keyhole Garden concept while researching organic gardening methods. This inspired us to create our own series of garden beds using this African gardening technique. This idea was gifted to us by the African people and so we felt compelled to give back. Thrive is a charity determined to end malnutrition in our lifetime. They empower communities with the training and simple tools needed to sustainably grow an abundance of healthy, organic, disease-fighting foods for life. Vita partners with Thrive by financially supporting programs in Africa and around the world. Learn more about Thrive: www.thriveforgood.org Dimensions: 72” L x 72” W x 22” H Compost Basket: 24.4” L x10.9” W x 22” H Assembled Weight: 82 lbs Planting Area: 33 sq. ft. (3.1 sq. m) Soil Capacity: 60.5 cubic feet (1713 liters) Tools Required: No Product has no bottom floor Approx. Time Commitment: 2 people, 1.5 hours (additional time required for filling garden) Number of Boxes: 2 10-year limited warranty against material defects
Compost and Grow in One Location Ships directly from supplier Compost household waste and grow vegetables in the same garden Material: Unique blend of high-grade polymers (Vinyl) that are BPA and phthalate free so you can grow food safely and with confidence Maintenance free: Easy to maintain and clean Inspired by the African keyhole gardening technique, the Urbana Keyhole Composting Garden lets you compost household waste and grow vegetables in the same garden. A central compost basket is used to conveniently place your daily kitchen scraps. This household waste is then organically transformed into nutrient rich soil that nourishes your vegetables. Compost-fed soil better holds moisture and nutrients, while using up to 70% less water. The Urbana Keyhole Composting Garden is crafted from a never before seen material that offers the natural look of wood, but with the lightweight durability of polymer. Dual aesthetic boards can be reversed to allow for either a natural wood grain look or brushed finish and are BPA/phthalate-free ensuring healthy, safe food production and a long product lifespan. Boards slide into posts easily and conveniently, with no need for tools or screws. The innovative posts make for perfectly modular garden beds, allowing you to design and configure your own unique layout and size. It’s smart, sustainable and beautifully designed. Vita distributes a portion of their Keyhole profits to build Keyhole Gardens in Rwanda and educate communities in sustainable, healthy food production.