[Dr Green Thumb]

Hello all. I'm new here and was just looking for some help really.

Me and two friends have lately aquired a piece of land that we can use as we please.
We are currently building 20 masive raised beds out of oak to take compost.
We already have 150 60litre bags whixh we will be using to fill them.

The only problem being, you have to park about 800meters away from the plot and the ground is far to rough to take any kind of barrow.

Does anyone have any tips for moving all this compost without 3 of us breaking our back?

Many Thanks 

[Yorkie]

My word, that's some undertaking!

If you really can't get a barrow over the land, and can't get any form of vehicle (not even a tractor?) nearer to the plot than 800m  , then I guess it has to be carrying it.

Perhaps those rubber trugs - they have a handle each side so you could carry a bag of compost between you.  But it will take an awful lot of trips.

Is there really no access for a tractor or quad bike etc?  Put a trailer on the back?

The other thing you need to be aware of, is that compost a) only has enough nutrients for a few weeks and will need additional fertilisers adding, and b) it reduces in volume so will constantly need topping up every year.

Far better, if you can get some access to the site, is topsoil. 

One final thought - why are you raising the beds?  It is an awful lot of effort for no valid reason other than 'it looks good' in many cases.  Why don't you just use the wood to edge the current level soil?

[Dr Green Thumb]

Not really. Theres a old foot path by it but it hasn't been used for years and years because of how bad the ground is and it has barbed wire fences buried in the bramble down both sides. A true nightmare.

Will just have to slug it out i suppose.

[Dr Green Thumb]

Sorry didn't see your edit.
I think the ground there i terrible. Its not far from a reed bed so its a bit of a bog. One of the friend has had the wood for ages and has his heart set on it. Maybe i'll let him know.
Its B&Q MP compost. Any recommendations on slow release ferts because we won't be able to go there all the time due to work.

Thanks again

[Yorkie]

Poor drainage is one of the situations where raised beds are a good idea (sorry!).

Good general purpose, balanced, fertilisers are Fish Blood and Bone (organic) or Growmore (inorganic).

Other additions will depend on the particular crop being grown in each bed.

[Dr Green Thumb]

Thanks, i'll read into it a bit more