Wicking Beds

[GaryD]

Hi Shane,

Yes......we've been using Qubelok for years for a variety of food production purposes. To an old micro-farming systems designer like me it's manna from heaven.

Gary

[Sue B]

Hi

If a wicking bed is well inoculated with worms that are constantly 'churning' the soil is there still the need for crop rotation or do the worms hinder pathogens/viruses etc?
I ask this particularly as I am planning on setting up a worm wicking bed that is only small but too big to constantly empty and replenish. I would also like to maintain continuous plantings as I do in my vermiponics system.

[GaryD]

Hi Sue,

You can run continuous plantings in wicking beds. Treat them like any other water-wise growing option......like raised beds or square foot gardens.

Gary

[Sue B]

Thanks for that.

Another question!!
I've been reading that charcoal in the reservoir can stop the water going 'sour'. As I live in Darwin where we have a huge Wet Season (I'll try to keep the rain off as much as possible) some charcoal might be a good idea. So ... I wonder if the charcoal that is available from hardware stores is fine to use or if it has been treated in some way for BBQs?

[abbabba]

Could anyone please help me. I do not seem to be able to view attached pictures. Fishfood has, for instance, some entries at the beginning of this thread where he is supposed to show his wicking beds, yet I do not seem to able to figure out how to look at them. I assume there must be pictures somewhere, as Cucuteni is thanking for the "posts and pictures on wicking beds". I checked the settings and there is a tick next to the images, so it puzzles me a bit why I can not see them. Any help will be most appreciated. Thanks

[GaryD]

Hi Abbabba,

Around mid year in 2010, we lost all of the images on the forum during a software upgrade. We've got all of the images back......in a bunch.....and I'm still trying to work out how to deal with them. Putting them back against each of the posts would take weeks.

Gary

[abbabba]

Thanks Gary, I was just wondering if it may be an incorrect setting. Cheers

[dan0178]

Any chance some of the guys that did post photos could post a couple again? Relatively new to the forum and very interested in the idea. Would love to see the progress people have made with these by themselves or incorporated into an aquaponics system.

[GaryD]

Hi Dan,

You can see an article that I wrote about wicking beds (with a diagram that shows their construction).....here.

You can also see plenty of photos.....and get more information.....here.

Gary

[bart]

hi garyd Ive got two GBs that i wanted to convert to wicking beds they are 1800 MM in dia and 400 deep if i go down to the local garden suppliers what ratio and what materials would you recommend i was thinking equal parts musshy comp with a good potting mix or organic compost Ive laid flexible drainage pipe as a feed pipe and cut down milk crates to create a void covered with shade mesh any ideas would be great i can buy compressed co co core from burnings to put in as the first layer i have only put together small wicking beds in the past what would be the most cost efective and best soil formula