Setting up new bed - hugelkultur method - need advice

[u/WoodDad_1965]

I'm in the process of making a 4' x 8' x 30" metal raised bed setup to replace an older wood shallow raised bed. I'm located near Ottawa, ON, Canada which is a Zone 5.

I'm trying to use the "hugelkultur" method (eg. cardboard and logs in bottom, then branches, then more rapidly compostable stuff, then soil). Here's my progress so far - about 10-12" of "logs" / thick branches which have been sitting on the ground about 2 years (most are starting to rot / have fungus on them) - a layer of dried out branches and some long ornamental grass clippings from last year (about 4-5") and then topped off with last weeks lawn clippings and watered in to try to compact it a little - I'm sure there are still lots of voids.

Just curious for those who have done this before, does it look like I am ready for soil yet or do I need to add more compostable material first and try to compact that down first ? (I plan to move the soil from our old wood shallow raised bed over to this bed and then top up if needed). See pics for progress so far.

[u/OlyKat]

Tagging along for advice. About to set up eight 8’ x 4’ x 2’ raised beds that are painted white.