Making Circle Vegie Beds in the Mandala Garden

2010.09.12

I'm levelling the beds as they are on a gentle slope. It will help to keep the water on the bed longer and reduce soil erosion in torrential downpours.

Dad had this pile of tile sitting in the background. Suddenly it dawned on me that i could use them to prop up the lower side of my bed to prevent erosion. These tiles have sat there for 20 years undisturbed and now their time has come. (like a lot of other stuff lying around here).

I've just put on two wheelbarrows of mill mud - ie some waste product from the sugar cane mill which is said to be good for gardens. I got it for free from the farmer who i bought my ducks and chickens from.

I said earlier that i'd add a picture of the garden design but i havne't got the book now and I keep forgetting to draw one when i take my pictures. I will try to get around to it.

But anyway, the mandala design consists of six circular beds surrounding a central bed and that surrounds a little pond. There's more to it, but for now, i have prepared two beds like the one you can see here.

This is the only one with a tree. I was going to take it out but now i think i will keep it to provide shade for the lettuces to see how they go through the wet season. I can chop it down next year. And by then there will be some other trees around.

I am not sure if i will keep those tiles but for now they serve a purpose.

I need to find a useful material to make my paths. I made the mistake of making them lower than the bed but this will have to change soon.