Today in the orchard
A new Hugel planting bed, June 23, 2025
I prepared and planted two new beds of companion plants out in our one-acre BRC orchard. The orchard is modeled on a jungle of mixed species interspersed between the apple trees that are planted in concentric ovals around a small pond. Each year I create another place to tuck in a few more plants. I have to create these spots because this orchard is situated on ledge. FIrst I cut up brush and lay that down. Then I cover the brush with piles of fresh-cut vegetative debris—primarily comfrey but also nettles and ferns. I top that with several inches of soil that I scavenge from my coveted pile of rotting stumps. This is a mini-version of Hugelkultur. Today I dug “hills” as you would if you were planting squash, filled each hill with compost and planted the companions. These planting sites are typically only a hundred square feet or less and located a few yards from one of the younger apple trees. Eventually the apple tree roots will find this new source of nutrients. Meanwhile the companions themselves will attract pollinators, improve the soil and help to create a balanced ecosystem in the orchard.
