Hi Sam, I guess you're familiar with the Walipini project in Bolivia as you mentioned the Victorians ;)
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Hi Sam, I guess you're familiar with the Walipini project in Bolivia as you mentioned the Victorians ;)
I was aware of it but hadn't looked at it closely till a few days ago. Have downloaded a PDF on how to construct a walipini for future reference.
Seems like they are onto something great there! Though I don't fancy digging down any further to match their recommended 2m depth.
I like the Victorian pineapple pit more because its design permits for the extra heat of a compost or manure. Which as time goes on will I think become more and more important. We are currently in the warmest period of the 11 year solar cycle, the maximum. So in around 5 years from now we can expect the opposite.
The Victorians caught the end of the Dalton Minimum (an extended period of cold) which is why they were thinking about ways to capture extra heat and I would be willing to bet there were plenty more of these 'pits' than we have been told, growing all manner of plants at a time when people were desperate for the extra nutrition.
Am just pleased I was able to get it done in two weeks. The new mulch garden awaits now...
Can't wait for it to get really cold so I can test it out by sleeping in there!
Thanks for the PDF! So detailed the construction and thinking behind it.
I watched a couple of documentaries about walipinis in La Paz (Bolivia). Having to fight the altitude issue they came up with walipinis which turned out to be beneficial. So much to discover and gather knowledge about. Yeah, I'm with you when it comes to having these pits all over the globe.
Now that's going to be a fun test 😉😊