Filling raised beds

I'm thinking of getting round to redesigning my veg patch and building some new raised beds, the question is how to fill them? Has anyone any experience with hugel kultur? Apologies for possible poor spelling. Or any other style of filling beds with what I have around? I have wood and cardboard, grass clippings etc. I'm considering basically turning my new beds in to compost bins over the next year or two but obviously that will be slow. 
Was looking at hugel as you can build them up, top with soil and plant in to them fairly quickly. Im just not sure how they work long term.