Translation: From the German: Hugel = mound or hill + Kultur = cultivation or culture

hugelkultur = mound cultivation or hill culture

Synonyms: Duotian (Chinese) = Pile Fields; Raised Beds; Raised Fields; Camellones (Spanish) = Ridges; Chinampas (Spanish) = Raised Fields; Monticulo (Spanish) = Mounds; Sukakollus (Aymara) = Raised Fields; Waru-Waru (Quechua) = Raised Fields.

Farm Technology: The basic principle is to pile up earth so water can drain and plants grow better. Chinampas, Sukakollus, and Waru-Waru are separated by shallow canals often the same width as the raised fields. Warm water protects crops from night frosts.

Agricultural Archeology: Raised field technology is at least 2,000 years old. Examples are found around the world: China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Africa, Mexico, Cuba, Central and South America. Ancient earthworks are often discovered by aerial photography, side-scan radar, and laser radar (LIDAR).

Historic versus Modern Hugelkultur: Historic hugelkultur has little in common with modern practice where logs and branches are covered with earth and deliberately left to rot. Ancient hugelultur is a technology used to farm swamps and marshes or any poorly drained ground:

“Where land is too wet to be plowed crops may still be grown. Cut logs and lay these upon the mire as in building a road. Hugel can be any length but it is convenient to measure them narrowly so that plants may be tended from both sides. Pile mud and peat upon the logs, one or two spades deep. The logs keep feet dry and help soil drain freely. Hugel are maintained by spreading mud and peat as need occasions. Peats are sour. Sprinkle ground charitably with ashes to sweeten the earth. Dress gardens in Autumn or after every crop. Cover earth with rushes and weeds or gather leaves from the forest. These rot and make vegetable manure as good as cow dung. Hugel are best used to grow root crops like beet, onion, radish, and turnip because these plants grow well in shallow soils. Up to six crops can be gathered if weather is favorable”. [Original document dated AD 1510 from the Codex Copernicus].

Historical Notes: In the 19th and earlier centuries country roads were “paved” with tree trunks = corduroy roads or thickly cut lumber = plank roads. These gave a rough ride but prevented horses and wagons from sinking into the mud. On well-maintained roads, sand or fine gravel was spread on top of the wood to make a smooth surface for less friction and more comfort. Many cities had streets paved with wood blocks as it was cheaper to cut trees than make bricks or quarry stone.

During the Renaissance and earlier ages, peasants had “customary rights” to gather anything they wanted from roadsides or forest floors. Live trees belonged to the landholders but anything on the ground was free for the taking. Cottagers and other “smallholders” cut weeds and raked leaves to fertilize their gardens. This was called “green manure”. Only wealthy farmers could afford to keep livestock and dung their fields.

Agronomy Notes: Planting in small hills or mounds is a closely related technology. Mounds warm earlier in Spring and cultivating widely spaced hills is much easier than digging and weeding entire fields. North American Indians used mounds to grow corn, beans, and squash. Corn stalks supported climbing bean vines. Beans fed nitrogen to corn and squash plants. Squash vines shaded the soil and helped control weeds.

Raised beds were common in middle age Europe, especially in areas with heavy clay soils that defied early wood plows. Much of northern Europe was glaciated so fields were often too rocky to plow. The solution was to plant on top of the ground. Root crops were sown in raised beds to avoid stones.

Related Articles: Hot versus Cold Composting; Upside Down Potatoes; Worm Farming.

Would You Like to Know More? For more information about Biological Agriculture and market gardening please visit: http://www.worldagriculturesolutions.com — or — send your questions to: Eric Koperek, Editor, World Agriculture Solutions, 413 Cedar Drive, Moon Township, Pennsylvania 15108 United States of America — or — send an e-mail to: http://www.worldagriculturesolutions@gmail.com.

About the Author: Mr. Koperek is a plant breeder who farms in Pennsylvania during the summer and Florida over winter. (Growing 2 generations yearly speeds development of new varieties).

Index Terms: Agricultural Archeology; Agricultural History; Agriculture in the Middle Ages; Agriculture in the Renaissance; American Indian Agriculture; Aymara Indian Agriculture; Aztec Indian Agriculture; Camellones = Ridges; Chinampas; Chinese Agriculture; Duotian = Pile Fields; Green Manures; Hill Culture; Hugel = Mound; Hugelkultur = Mound Culture; Hydraulic Agriculture; Inca Indian Agriculture; Mayan Indian Agriculture; Monticulo = Mounds; Mound Culture; Planting Hills; Planting Mounds; Raised Beds; Raised Fields; Soil Aeration; Soil Drainage; Sukakollus; Waru-Waru; Worm Farming.

Original Publication Date: November 1981 Evans City, Pennsylvania.

Update: June 2023 Homestead, Florida.