A 400 sq foot plot, this garden featured 200+ flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables.

In total, the garden produced 150 lbs of tomatoes, hot peppers, watermelon, zucchini , cucumbers, delicata squash, basil, bush beans, and swiss chard.

Using a keyhole layout to maximize space and heavy straw mulch to improve water retention, this design also borrowed from the German hügelkultur which layers organic material to create a raised bed.

Each bed was outlined by a series of saturated logs which was covered by 8 inches of compost, top soil, and straw. These logs acted as sponges releasing water as the plants needed them.

Avg. watering time per week: 45 min over the course of 1-2 days depending on weather

Avg. maintenance time per week: 1.5 - 2.5 hrs. Typically each day (weather permitting) involved at 20 min of observation, weeding, and/or harvesting.