Rachael Cahan with the Travis Foundation came out to the February WHCA Member Meeting to answer the pressing question. What are those strange mounds?
Has the Travis Spark Park been infested with giant gophers? No, it’s hügelkultur. What? Mounds or raised beds of organic tree material mimicking the fallen debris on a forest floor. Why? The soil surrounding our playing field is in poor condition with many exposed Cypress knees causing a serious trip hazard. Hügelkultur is the long-awaited soil remediation project the Travis Foundation is excited to have had installed during the winter break.
Hügelkultur are mounds constructed to provide a natural, self-fertilizing, slow-release composting soil remediation technique which requires minimal irrigation. Due to its raised nature, hügelkultur are more flood resilient and the answer to our soil and erosion problem.
Clear Perspex has been installed at the end of the mounds so you can take a closer look and watch the magic of decomposition. If you look, you will see distinctive layers of different types of dead tree material. Last year’s big freeze has provided a plethora of material including the bamboo located outside the cafeteria. It has all been put to great use feeding the soil and our beautiful Cypress trees. These mounds will eventually be covered in plants, but this will not happen until after winter, so until then, the plastic fencing will remain.
The Travis Foundation would like to thank all its donors for making this project happen. It has been years in the planning and would not have been possible without them.
For further information or questions, please email contact@travisfoundation.org
