On a beautiful sunny day on the summer solstice, The Uplands held a community Herb Spiral Workshop led by Sarah Williford. The group gathered under the shade of umbrellas on the east patio to introduce themselves and discuss the history of herb spirals, why they’re so effective, and which herbs to plant in the different zones within the spiral.

An herb spiral is a raised garden bed built in a spiral shape that gradually rises from the outside to the center. It originated in permaculture design as a way to grow many different herbs in a very small space. Because of the spiral shape, different parts of the bed have different growing conditions: the top is the driest and sunniest, the middle zone has moderate moisture, and the bottom of the spiral is the coolest and moistest. By stacking elevation, sunlight, and moisture gradients into a small footprint, an herb spiral reflects the complexity and efficiency of natural ecosystems. The resulting mosaic of microclimates supports greater biodiversity than a conventional garden bed.

After a discussion, the group transitioned to The Uplands’ garden to assist in the building and planting of the herb spiral. They began by completing construction of the inner, upper spiral, and then filled the lower portion of that with gravel.

The group then built up the rest of the spiral to its full height, and filled it with soil. Zone-appropriate herbs were then laid out and planted. Sarah led a brief solstice celebration honoring the garden creation, the four directions, and the elements, as participants selected rocks and shells from her world travels to decorate the herb spiral before concluding with a closing circle.