Raised bed gardening is a form of gardening in which the soil is formed in 3Â4 foot (1.0Â1.2 m) wide beds, which can be of any length or shape. The soil is raised above the surrounding soil (6 inches to waist high), sometimes enclosed by a frame generally made of wood, rock, or concrete blocks, and enriched with compost. The vegetable plants are spaced in geometric patterns, much closer together than conventional row gardening. The spacing is such that when the vegetables are fully grown, their leaves just barely touch each other, creating a microclimate in which moisture is conserved and weed growth suppressed. Raised beds produce a variety of benefits: they extend the planting season; they reduce the need to use poor native soil; and they can reduce weeds if designed properly. Since the gardener does not walk on the raised beds, the soil is not compacted and the roots have an easier time growing. The close plant spacing and the use of compost generally result in higher yields with raised beds in comparison to conventional row gardening. Waist high raised beds enable the old and sick to grow vegetables without having to bend over to tend them Lasagna gardening is a time-saving way of creating an organic garden without any digging, tilling or sod removal. It is called lasagna gardening because a layering method is used. Layering builds soil rich in nutrients that greatly increases the garden's productivity So for you IMO build the beds and fill them with lasagna instead of compost and soil!

A lasagna bed starts as a "raised" bed but as the organic matter in the pile is digested the height shrinks, so in a raised bed you will want some soil to add that organic matter to. Whether there is any offensive odor depends on what you add to the mix and that will also determine how long it takes to be digested. Perhaps this from Pat Lanza will help. Here is a link that might be useful: Lasagna Gardening 101

I would go with the 10.5 inch height. I find that shorter ones aren't as productive as the taller ones. Also, when you start heaping up the raw materials in the bed, mound them up in the middle so they are higher than the sides. They will quickly become shorter as the items mix and compost themselves. I have 8 lasagna beds now so I have some experience with this! Good luck. Marcia

There's no need to use vermiculite. Idaho gardener mentioned sulfur and coffee grounds to combat the high pH that is fairly common in the intermountain west. since you're planting in a lasagna garden, the pH of the soil won't be a factor. Although coffee is acidic, the acid is water soluble, so the acidity ends up in the cup and the grounds are pretty close to neutral. You should also test the soil before doing anything about pH. Although most of the intermountain west has high pH soil, My understanding is that there are some places in and around Denver that have acidic soil (I think I read that it has to do with something in the granite).