The idea of a keyhole garden was first conceptualized in Lesotho in the 90s when the nation was facing severe drought. The idea was based on improving the soil nutrient level and moisture retention to improve food security for poor homesteads in arid areas.
Decades after its development, the keyhole gardening concept has been adopted worldwide to compost and grow fresh veggies for people with limited space. It is also a great way of landscaping and can help your home’s curb appeal when done right.
This guide is an excellent read if you are considering starting a keyhole garden or upgrading your existing one.
What Is a Keyhole Garden?
The keyhole garden gets its name from its shape. It’s usually a circular raised bed with a keyhole-shaped opening for access. But it doesn’t always have to be circular. You can design one in any shape as long as you use the concept and as long as all the food you grow is accessible while you are not in the garden itself.
Since the garden is raised above the ground, it is suitable for places where the soil is unusable for whatever reason or even where the soil is nonexistent. For example, if your home is in an area with rocky soil. You only need to get the soil you intend to use from somewhere else to fill the garden.
Benefits of a Keyhole Garden:
Reduced Environmental Pressure
If you are environmentally conscious, pollution should be one of your greatest concerns, and the last thing you want is to be part of the problem. Having a keyhole garden can be your small way of ensuring you play your part in protecting the environment by ensuring that your compostables, such as fruit peels and food leftovers, go fertilizing your garden rather than to the landfills, where it does more harm than good.
You could wonder what difference composting your waste and having it go to the landfill is. Composting waste in unlimited oxygen in a garden does not produce methane, like the piles of waste decomposing in a landfill with limited oxygen.
It Could Improve Your Credit Score
While you have never considered a garden as a way of boosting your credit score, the truth is that it can help in several ways. First, a well designed keyhole garden can significantly improve your curb appeal and, consequently, the value of your home. More equity in your home plays a significant role in improving your credit score.
While your credit score is critical when seeking financing for your keyhole garden projects, you will want to maintain a good credit score. An excellent way to do this is by using credit score monitoring resources such as SoFi to help you access your weekly credit score updates and control of your score.
Designing a Keyhole Garden That Is both Functional and Artistic
You do not need a sophisticated keyhole garden to compost or grow food in your backyard. But if you are looking for one that will serve a functional and aesthetic purpose which is critical if you hope to build your credit score with one, you must be intentional with its design.
But you do not have to break the bank. You can use recycled bricks, cinder blocks, or stones to create a raised bed, especially if you are working on a tight budget. But it would be best if you also considered incorporating decorative elements such as colored stones or ceramic for the perimeter to boost the appeal of your garden. Also, choose plants that best suit your lifestyle, and you will be good to go.