What is Hügelkultur and How to Install a Hügelkultur Garden Bed

What is Hügelkultur and How to Install a Hügelkultur Garden Bed

Author: Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness June 2, 2026 Duration: 48:32
Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care
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Have you ever heard of the hügelkultur gardening method? I first heard the word ‘hügelkultur’ a couple of years ago while visiting The Lodge at Woodloch's organic farm. They had this beautiful setup where they grew the food that the spa guests would eat. And in the middle of it all was this raised bed that looked like it was mid-construction. It was a hügelkultur bed. Since then, I kept hearing that word, especially among organic growers! So for this episode, I sat down with Sarah Wagstaff of SUOT Farm (Small Units of Time). Sarah is a full-time flower farmer, and her entire farm is built on hügelkultur! Come learn with me!

 

In this episode, we learn:

  • [03:09] Meet flower farmer Sarah Wagstaff from SUOT Farm!
  • [03:45] How Sarah's childhood and family inspired her love for growing plants
  • [05:55] Why Sarah decided to build her entire flower farm using hügelkultur
  • [07:27] What is hügelkultur and where did it originate?
  • [09:30] How long does it take for woody debris to break down before you can plant?
  • [12:49] Can you plant into a new hügelkultur mound immediately?
  • [14:53] Build a healthy soil foundation for your garden with Espoma Organic!
  • [17:00] How to properly layer greens and browns to create compost in place
  • [19:23] How to use the 180-degree topography of a mound to maximize growing space
  • [21:43] How tall should you actually build a hügelkultur bed?
  • [24:20] Till vs. no-till: Which protects soil decomposers for long-term soil fertility?
  • [27:35] How spent mushroom blocks can add extra nutrients and mycorrhizae
  • [28:53] Scaling hügelkultur down for small containers and porch gardening
  • [29:41] Common mistakes when building your first hügelkultur bed
  • [32:49] Adapting hügelkultur to your specific climate
  • [33:43] Why Sarah doesn't use additional fertilizers on her hügelkultur beds
  • [35:28] Why hügelkultur is a perfect solution for gardeners stuck with sandy/poor soil
  • [37:31] How Sarah grows flowers year-round in Zone 7B
  • [39:24] How to continually add scraps/compost while your hügelkultur beds are growing
  • [41:41] How SUOT Farm has evolved over the last 10 years
  • [44:10] Where to find Sarah, her CSA, and her hügelkultur PDF!

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

 

For Sarah's guide on hügelkultur for small gardens,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

 

Follow Sarah:
Website
Instagram
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Shop
Bouquet Subscription

 

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Espoma Organic

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

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There’s a quiet, accessible kind of wellness waiting for you on a windowsill or in a patch of soil. Growing Joy with Plants explores that very idea, moving beyond basic tips to examine how our relationship with the natural world directly nurtures our mental and emotional health. Hosted by Maria Failla, a self-proclaimed Happy Plant Lady and author of "Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness," this podcast feels like a warm conversation with a knowledgeable friend. Maria guides you through the practicalities of keeping your houseplants alive and thriving, but the discussion always circles back to the deeper connection-how the simple acts of watering, repotting, or simply observing growth can become anchors of calm in a hectic day. Each episode digs into how gardening and engaging with nature, even in small urban spaces, offer tangible tools to manage feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. This isn't about achieving a perfect indoor jungle; it's about finding moments of peace and genuine happiness through the process of care. The underlying message throughout the podcast is a powerful and gentle reminder: tending to your plants is fundamentally an act of tending to yourself. You’ll come away with not just better plant care knowledge, but a refreshed perspective on cultivating joy in your daily routine, learning that the serenity you might seek on vacation can be rooted right in your own home.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care
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