KEYHOLE GARDENS Keyhole gardening originated in Africa, but its popularity has spread worldwide. It is an ingenious concept that is based on a circular raised bed with a notch cut out of it for ease of access and maintenance. From an aerial view it has the shape of a keyhole, hence the name. At the very center of the bed is a compost bin which is accessed via the notch. This gradually leaches out its goodness into the surrounding soil, providing it with nutrients and moisture. It is, in effect, a selfsustaining raised bed system. Due to the extra rich and deep soil it means plants can be planted closer together than if they were grown in the ground. The principle can be adapted to any type of raised bed situation. It is not absolutely necessary that the bed is circular: you can experiment with shape.
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RAISED-BED GARDENING