5. Good Organic Gardening - September-October 2016 AvxHome.in

Wicking bed design | THE SHED
13, 14. Phil adds more crusher dust to the
height of 30cm in total, covering the box, then
adds geo-fabric (not shown) to separate the
crusher dust from the soil, providing a barrier
against soil travelling down into the reservoir.
15. Carmel and Phil water their wicking beds
once a week through the delivery pipe. The
water contains worm juice obtained from their
worm farm to increase nutrient delivery to the
soil and plants. The beds are filled to capacity
when the water starts to overflow.
16. Phil has also constructed a frame with
a gate made of PVC pipes and attached
shadecloth to the frame to protect the plants
from the harsh summer sun. The shadecloth
can be easily manipulated to open the beds
up to the sun in the cooler months.
13
17. Good organic soil is a must in all
wicking bed designs. Creating a healthy soil
ecosystem is necessary for healthy plant
growth, and this depends on an abundance of
soil micro-organisms and other soil creatures.
The couple are delighted with their
wicking beds and say their vegies have
never tasted better.
15 16
14
17
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