Kurt Stubbs digs up the past to improve the present

Kurt Stubbs

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Kurt Stubbs is using historic gardening techniques to learn how methods of the past can help the problems in the present.

Kurt, a horticulture student at Hopwood Hall College, is employing the centuries old German permaculture technique, Hugelkultur, as part of his college project.

Kurt has created a traditional style bed and a new experimental one to learn how the ancient method can help create a greener future in our homes.

He said: "This time last year, one of my college's campuses was partially underwater, hundreds of homes were without power in Rochdale/Oldham and people were berating supermarket workers for running out of Christmas veg.

"When I started reading up on Hugelkultur I thought to myself, these problems could be solved to a certain extent if people with the capacity to do so invested their time in this method."

The beds are made by creating a pyramid style system, whereby dead tree logs are placed down first, with a layer of decomposing organic material above that and a final layer of soil/compost on top.

The nature of the way the raised beds work means they can act as an excellent flood defence on a small localised scale.

Kurt explained: "If we had these beds in our gardens, they could help prevent the excess run off water many new homes and homes on hills suffer from. The beds suck up a large amount of water and then release it back into the surrounding environment slowly."

As well as the fight against flooding being strengthened, Kurt says that the use of the gardening technique could lead to much greener homes.

He said: "One of the biggest benefits of Hugelkultur is that it provides fertile soil in areas where there is none. This leads to a better quality and larger variety of consumable flora grown faster, stronger and larger in your garden.

"It doesn't just help feed you, the organic material layer can just as easily be newspaper or other bio-degradables you'd usually throw out and the heat the beds create has the potential to warm a greenhouse.

"You're aiding recycling and promoting greener homes whilst feeding yourself fresh produce."

When asked why he felt the practice wasn't used widely, Kurt explained that people's awareness and lifestyle are the biggest stumbling blocks.

He said: "I think actually knowing about the method is obviously the largest obstacle, outside of dedicated horticulturists pretty much nobody knows about this historic technique. But after that, the next issue is that it is a fairly time consuming project for the usual nine to five life.

"I really believe in pushing for greener food production with no energy usage and no chemicals, one that actually helps out the surrounding ecosystem. Surely that is something worthy of people's time.

"When people are searching for new, expensive ideas for flood defences and greener homes, they might do well to research Hugelkultur."