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#1
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
I was going through an old copy of one of Mollison's Permaculture books and
he mentions keyhole beds. Has anyone here tried them and would like to share their experiences, pros and cons, etc.? Thanks! Mike D. |
#2
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
Hi Pat,
Two of Mollison's reasons for suggesting them that come to mind include: 1. Much smaller surface area used for paths than a traditional row garden. 2. Easier and less wasteful to water with circular pattern sprinkler. I don't recall him mentioning aesthetics, but that could be a definite "selling point" for some folks. Mike D. "Pat Meadows" wrote in message ... On Tue, 2 Sep 2003 10:55:26 -0400, "Mike Davis" wrote: I was going through an old copy of one of Mollison's Permaculture books and he mentions keyhole beds. Has anyone here tried them and would like to share their experiences, pros and cons, etc.? I haven't used them, although I have seen them recommended in other places. I can't quite see the point though, unless you want your garden to surround an area of lawn and be decorative. I can see them being decorative, especially if flowers are interspersed with the veggies. Does he give any reasons for their use (other than purely decorative)? Pat |
#3
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
g'day mike,
we did a sheet mulch one as a projest when i attanded a pc course at a local tafe. they would have application in a confined or limited area, for me i stick to the straight raised beds system, a bit less work in setting up and the same results if you have the space. len snipped -- happy gardening 'it works for me it could work for you,' "in the end ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do" but consider others and the environment http://hub.dataline.net.au/~gardnlen/ |
#4
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
No but Thank you for reminding me to.
I'll soon be building a bed for potatoes & will try to remember !!!! thanks why don't you do it & take "Before & after " pictures, & tell us what works & what might not?? would love to hear thanks, jfrost "Mike Davis" wrote in message news:zb25b.93803$xf.48627@lakeread04... I was going through an old copy of one of Mollison's Permaculture books and he mentions keyhole beds. Has anyone here tried them and would like to share their experiences, pros and cons, etc.? Thanks! Mike D. |
#5
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
Heh, heh, heh...
Oh well, this lazy gardener was hoping to learn from someone else's sore back and calluses... It appears that it may not work this time, I'll just have to make the mistakes myself. But, as jfrost has suggested, before and after pics are definitely in order... I'll make a run to the store for Ben-gay ointment and aspirin when I pick up the film before starting to dig. ;-) "jfrost" wrote in message ... No but Thank you for reminding me to. I'll soon be building a bed for potatoes & will try to remember !!!! thanks why don't you do it & take "Before & after " pictures, & tell us what works & what might not?? would love to hear thanks, jfrost "Mike Davis" wrote in message news:zb25b.93803$xf.48627@lakeread04... I was going through an old copy of one of Mollison's Permaculture books and he mentions keyhole beds. Has anyone here tried them and would like to share their experiences, pros and cons, etc.? Thanks! Mike D. |
#6
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
Mike Davis wrote:
Heh, heh, heh... Oh well, this lazy gardener was hoping to learn from someone else's sore back and calluses... It appears that it may not work this time, I'll just have to make the mistakes myself. But, as jfrost has suggested, before and after pics are definitely in order... I'll make a run to the store for Ben-gay ointment and aspirin when I pick up the film before starting to dig. ;-) "jfrost" wrote in message ... No but Thank you for reminding me to. I'll soon be building a bed for potatoes & will try to remember !!!! thanks why don't you do it & take "Before & after " pictures, & tell us what works & what might not?? would love to hear thanks, jfrost "Mike Davis" wrote in message news:zb25b.93803$xf.48627@lakeread04... I was going through an old copy of one of Mollison's Permaculture books and he mentions keyhole beds. Has anyone here tried them and would like to share their experiences, pros and cons, etc.? Thanks! Mike D. What, pray tell, is a keyhole bed? -- Squire |
#7
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
Mike Davis wrote:
Heh, heh, heh... Oh well, this lazy gardener was hoping to learn from someone else's sore back and calluses... It appears that it may not work this time, I'll just have to make the mistakes myself. But, as jfrost has suggested, before and after pics are definitely in order... I'll make a run to the store for Ben-gay ointment and aspirin when I pick up the film before starting to dig. ;-) "jfrost" wrote in message ... No but Thank you for reminding me to. I'll soon be building a bed for potatoes & will try to remember !!!! thanks why don't you do it & take "Before & after " pictures, & tell us what works & what might not?? would love to hear thanks, jfrost "Mike Davis" wrote in message news:zb25b.93803$xf.48627@lakeread04... I was going through an old copy of one of Mollison's Permaculture books and he mentions keyhole beds. Has anyone here tried them and would like to share their experiences, pros and cons, etc.? Thanks! Mike D. What, pray tell, is a keyhole bed? -- Squire |
#8
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
whatza "Keyhole Bed", if I may ask ?
"Mike Davis" wrote in message news:zb25b.93803$xf.48627@lakeread04... I was going through an old copy of one of Mollison's Permaculture books and he mentions keyhole beds. Has anyone here tried them and would like to share their experiences, pros and cons, etc.? Thanks! Mike D. |
#9
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
Take a look he http://www.permacult.com.au/noosa/keyhole_garden.html
It provides a very high-level overview. M.D. "Seamus Ma' Cleriec" wrote in message om... whatza "Keyhole Bed", if I may ask ? "Mike Davis" wrote in message news:zb25b.93803$xf.48627@lakeread04... I was going through an old copy of one of Mollison's Permaculture books and he mentions keyhole beds. Has anyone here tried them and would like to share their experiences, pros and cons, etc.? Thanks! Mike D. |
#10
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
"Mike Davis" wrote in message news:lp35b.93931$xf.47119@lakeread04... Hi Pat, Two of Mollison's reasons for suggesting them that come to mind include: 1. Much smaller surface area used for paths than a traditional row garden. This sounds good but I am yet to see any justification for it in Mollison's books or elsewhere. Many of his ideas on geometry are fine bt some like this one seem to have no proof. If I have missed this somewhere please advise where to look. 2. Easier and less wasteful to water with circular pattern sprinkler. Which may be so but if you want efficient watering you don't use sprinklers but soakers or droppers instead. I don't recall him mentioning aesthetics, but that could be a definite "selling point" for some folks. Mike D. |
#11
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
"Pat Meadows" wrote in message ... On Tue, 2 Sep 2003 12:18:24 -0400, in rec.gardens.edible "Mike Davis" wrote: Hi Pat, Two of Mollison's reasons for suggesting them that come to mind include: 1. Much smaller surface area used for paths than a traditional row garden. Ah. Well, almost *anything* has less surface area for paths than a traditional row garden! Do you have any justification for this, in particular that keyhole beds have less path area than rows? I am not trying to start an argument - I want to know. It does not seem to me that Mollison proves this point at all. David |
#12
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
On Wed, 3 Sep 2003 19:35:51 -0400, "Mike Davis"
wrote: Take a look he http://www.permacult.com.au/noosa/keyhole_garden.html It provides a very high-level overview. Very high-level, indeed. The expanded view of the 'diagram' shows circular shapes and blobs that could be trees, bushes, paths, plants -- who knows? I note "· Circular shape gives maximum internal area for least circumference." Say, what? "· Discourages straight row planting=reduction in pests." I guess I'm not keeping up with research. Had no idea that planting in rows attracted more pests than planting in circles or spirals or animal shapes. "· Increases edge effect. A natural accumulation point for mulch & nutrients." Another new fact(oid). I can certainly see how it could be *pretty*. If one has a circular space to grow in, there's no reason things couldn't be arranged to fit the area with a radial rather than parallel layout. Maybe *that's* the (unstated) basis of the plan -- if one has a confined area rather than a big rectangular plot in the middle of a field, a circular/radial layout may be a good idea. And many may not have considered the possibility. A circular arrangement in a square space, however, will exclude approx. 22% of the area available. |
#13
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
Yes, I guess I've been doing that for years w/o even knowing it -- works just great.
"Mike Davis" wrote in message news:rVu5b.97117$xf.38379@lakeread04... Take a look he http://www.permacult.com.au/noosa/keyhole_garden.html It provides a very high-level overview. M.D. "Seamus Ma' Cleriec" wrote in message om... whatza "Keyhole Bed", if I may ask ? "Mike Davis" wrote in message news:zb25b.93803$xf.48627@lakeread04... I was going through an old copy of one of Mollison's Permaculture books and he mentions keyhole beds. Has anyone here tried them and would like to share their experiences, pros and cons, etc.? Thanks! Mike D. |
#14
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
That's interesting, how did you end up going with that shape bed, rather
than the more traditional one? What do you grow in them, perennials or annuals, or a mix? Mike D. "Seamus Ma' Cleriec" wrote in message om... Yes, I guess I've been doing that for years w/o even knowing it -- works just great. "Mike Davis" wrote in message news:rVu5b.97117$xf.38379@lakeread04... Take a look he http://www.permacult.com.au/noosa/keyhole_garden.html It provides a very high-level overview. M.D. "Seamus Ma' Cleriec" wrote in message om... whatza "Keyhole Bed", if I may ask ? "Mike Davis" wrote in message news:zb25b.93803$xf.48627@lakeread04... I was going through an old copy of one of Mollison's Permaculture books and he mentions keyhole beds. Has anyone here tried them and would like to share their experiences, pros and cons, etc.? Thanks! Mike D. |
#15
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Has anyone used "keyhole" beds?
"Mike Davis" wrote in message news:xGK5b.109661$xf.108499@lakeread04...
That's interesting, how did you end up going with that shape bed, rather than the more traditional one? What do you grow in them, perennials or annuals, or a mix? Mike D. "Seamus Ma' Cleriec" wrote in message om... Yes, I guess I've been doing that for years w/o even knowing it -- works just great. "Mike Davis" wrote in message news:rVu5b.97117$xf.38379@lakeread04... Take a look he http://www.permacult.com.au/noosa/keyhole_garden.html It provides a very high-level overview. M.D. "Seamus Ma' Cleriec" wrote in message om... whatza "Keyhole Bed", if I may ask ? "Mike Davis" wrote in message news:zb25b.93803$xf.48627@lakeread04... I was going through an old copy of one of Mollison's Permaculture books and he mentions keyhole beds. Has anyone here tried them and would like to share their experiences, pros and cons, etc.? Thanks! Mike D. The bed was the result of removing an above ground pool with a sand bed. We have veryt clay soil here so I rotoilled the sand under with some leaves. The shape derives from it being a Italianate/knot herb garden which gradually eveolved into a veggy/herb/flower garden. Veggys and some herbs are annuals, flowers and some herbs are perrenial. I very lazy and don't like weeding - thus I keep a heavy straw/pine needle mulch on the whole thing, digging it under each spring. Works great. |
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