workflow: 1. Start 8 trash cans of weed tea all at once 2. Do all the biochar production upfront 3. Dig out every other bed (so 4 beds first) 4. When weed tea is ready (2 weeks), layer the first half of clay from those 4 beds 5. Start another round of weed tea 6. Two weeks later, add biochar and layer the second half of clay 7. Dig out the remaining 4 beds 8. Layer those with the second batch of materials 9. Cover everything with tarps, turn every 2 weeks for 6 weeks 10. Build log bases while soil cures 11. Add finished soil on top when ready 12. Seed This is actually a very smart production approach - doing everything in two big batches rather than one bed at a time. It's more efficient and uses economy of scale. So they need 8 trash cans to start all at once, not rotating cans. They want to produce enough weed tea for all 8 beds in two big batches. Got it! You're doing **two massive batches** - much smarter approach! **Batch 1 (Week 1):** - Start 8 trash cans weed tea - Burn all biochar (24 buckets) - Dig 4 beds (alternate ones) **Week 3:** First tea ready - Charge 12 buckets biochar - Layer first half of clay from 4 beds **Week 5:** Start second batch - 8 more cans weed tea - Dig remaining 4 beds **Week 7:** Second tea ready - Charge remaining biochar - Layer second half of clay + clay from beds 5-8 - Cover all with tarps **Weeks 7-13:** Everything curing - Turn piles every 2 weeks - Build log bases in all 8 trenches **Week 13:** Soil ready - Add to hugel beds, seed This approach needs **16 total trash cans** but you get massive economy of scale and everything finishes together. Much more efficient than my earlier suggestion! # Clay Transformation Layering Process ## Working Area Setup **Recommended:** Build 4 separate piles (8x10 feet each) rather than one massive pile - **Why:** 18+ foot tall pile = impossible to turn, dangerous to work on - **Max height per pile:** 5-6 feet (manageable with pitchfork) - **Total footprint:** 32x20 feet for all 4 piles ## Perfect Layer Recipe **Repeat this sequence until all clay is processed:** ### Layer 1: Clay Foundation - **Height:** 4 inches clay from excavation - **Coverage:** Even spread across 8x10 working section ### Layer 2: Fresh Carbon/Nitrogen - **Height:** 1 inch fresh grass clippings - **Mix:** 70% green clippings, 30% brown/older material - **Distribution:** Even layer, don't compact ### Layer 3: Biochar Amendment - **Amount:** 1 cup charged biochar per 4 sq ft (handful scattered) - **Prep:** Pre-soaked in weed tea for 48 hours - **Distribution:** Scatter evenly, don't clump ### Layer 4: Carbon Structure (Optional) - **Material:** Hand-torn cardboard pieces - **Coverage:** 50% coverage (not solid layer) - **Purpose:** Additional carbon, weed suppression when used later ### Layer 5: Microbial Inoculant - **Height:** 1 inch existing topsoil - **Purpose:** Introduces local soil biology - **Source:** From another area of property ### Layer 6: Fermented Matter - **Height:** 0.5 inch strained weed tea solids - **Material:** Solid plant matter left after straining liquid tea - **Distribution:** Even layer of decomposed organics ### Layer 7: Moisture & Nutrients - **Application:** Diluted weed tea (1:5 ratio with water) - **Target:** Until entire layer feels like wrung-out sponge - **Amount:** ~3-4 gallons per 80 sq ft section ## Critical Process Issues & Solutions ### Issue 1: Pile Height Management **Calculation:** Each pile = ~14 inches tall (very manageable!) - 55 cu ft clay + 35 cu ft amendments = 90 cu ft total per pile - 90 cu ft ÷ 80 sq ft base = 14 inches tall - Easily turned with shovel or pitchfork ### Issue 2: Layer Cycle Reality **Each complete cycle = 6.5-7 inches total** - With 55 cubic feet clay per pile: **2 complete layer cycles per pile** - Final height per pile: **14 inches** (not 10 feet!) - Perfect working height for easy turning and management ### Issue 3: Material Logistics **Materials needed per pile (55 cu ft clay):** - 55 cu ft clay (from 2 hugel bed excavations) - 14 cu ft fresh grass clippings - 6 five-gallon buckets charged biochar - 14 cu ft topsoil - 7 cu ft fermented weed tea solids - 40-60 gallons diluted weed tea for moistening ### Issue 4: Working Sequence **Smart staging approach:** 1. **Week 1:** Build piles 1 & 2 (beds 1-4 clay) 2. **Week 3:** Build piles 3 & 4 (beds 5-8 clay) 3. **Week 5:** All piles complete, begin turning schedule 4. **Weeks 5-11:** Turn all piles every 2 weeks 5. **Week 12:** Soil ready for hugel bed assembly ## Turning Protocol **Every 2 weeks, each pile:** 1. **Remove tarp** and assess moisture/smell 2. **Work from outside edges** toward center with pitchfork 3. **Break up any clumps**, ensure even mixing 4. **Add diluted weed tea** if too dry 5. **Add brown material** (cardboard/dry leaves) if too wet/smelly 6. **Rebuild pile** in same footprint, re-cover with tarp ## Success Indicators - **Week 2:** Pile warming slightly, earthy smell beginning - **Week 4:** Dark color developing, crumbly texture starting - **Week 8:** Rich dark brown, holds shape when squeezed but crumbles - **Week 12:** Finished compost smell, earthworms present, ready for use ## Final Assembly Timeline - **Week 12:** Begin adding cured soil to hugel beds - **Week 13:** Complete all bed assembly - **Week 14:** Seed with cover crops - **Season 2:** Ready for intensive vegetable production *Note: This process transforms 220 cubic feet of clay subsoil into 300+ cubic feet of premium growing medium through the addition of organic amendments.*