Straw Bail Gardening

The main difference is that the container is the straw bale itself and is held together with two or three strings.

Straw bail gardening. At the end of the season compost the bales so it s the ultimate in sustainable gardening too. It doesn t require digging in rocky or hard soil and it creates cheap raised beds. Sometimes known as bale gardening or hale bale gardening a straw bale garden uses ordinary farmer s straw as the principle growing medium conditioned with a small amount of potting soil compost and fertilizer the straw itself breaks down gradually.

Straw bale gardening tips. Once the straw inside the bale begins to decay the straw becomes conditioned compost that creates an extraordinary plant rooting environment. In this first chapter you ll learn about the benefits of a straw bale garden and what you ll need to create your own.

The straw should hold up through one full growing season. Karsten argues that straw is an ideal container for growing vegetables. Straw bale gardening uses a bale as the medium in which you plant.

Advantages to the method. Straw bales are held together by two to three strands of rope or metal baling twine which holds the bale in its familiar shape. Straw bale gardening pros.

They function essentially as a raised bed each bale is 14 16 inches high and a container garden in one. So i called up joel karsten author of straw bale gardens and lead authority on all things straw. When my publisher asked me to write about straw bale gardening i tested the techniques in my own gardens and was quite impressed with the results.

Although the practice of gardening in straw bales dates back to ancient times i learned of it only a decade ago during a chance encounter with a local straw bale guru kent rogers. As the straw breaks down over the course of the summer it turns into compost that feeds your plants. The benefits are awesome.