speltbaker

hi all, i'm new to the forum - looked for biodynamic gardening forum and here i am
i'm interested in permaculture, organic, biodynamic, and, really, whatever works in my new beds! i'm trying a raised garden because that's what we need around here according to my biodynamic gardening friends who try to make this dirt work.. this is my first year with a no dig garden, burying compost, compost tea and straw mulching.

my question is about bed sizes and permanence. i've currently got 4' x 8' raised areas. no walls - just raised amended soil and compost with straw mulch. i've been reading about the mittleider method and one thing i've noticed is that they recommend very thin beds (with vertical growing methods). somehow, this makes sense to me (though i can't say everything they recommend makes sense to me!). does anyone have an opinion about creating thinner beds? seems like a 2' or less width would make gardening easier and use less water. has anyone tried using a thinner bed? possibly in a keyhole shape?
also, in my permaculture book they recommend NOT disturbing a raised bed. don't think this is biodynamic, but since i put these beds in, i'd like to change the shape (more keyhole spaces rather than straight beds). i know ruth stout never touched her beds over 30+ years, but i think she just used a huge space as a blank canvas and started planting!
i'm wondering if anyone has an opinion on the benefits or drawbacks of disturbing my newly created soil. thanks!