Straw bale gardening explains the many advantages of growing an entire garden in straw bales. As the straw breaks down over the course of the summer, it turns into compost that feeds your plants. 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. I have 4 bales with the end of the straw pointing up and 2 bales with the sides of the straw at the top. Container gardening without the container advantages of straw bales height 2 foot raised bed no digging, cultivation soil type doesnt matter inexpensive raised bed used bales can be used as mulch, compost mobile at least.
The main difference is that the container is the straw bale itself and is held together with two or three strings. The best straw bales for a garden are wheat, oats, rye or barley straw. How to condition a straw bale for gardening outdoor happens. Garden mulch straw does it have to be organic to be safe. Straw bale gardening tips green bay botanical garden. We tried it this year for ourselves and our 81yearold mothermotherinlaw whos thrilled to have easier access to tending garden plants. A garden in a bale of the many benefits of straw bale gardening, one of the most popular is the backsaving easier access. Its economical, easier on your back, and is great for people with mobility issues. There is no need to rotate crops, since each season you start with new hay bales. Click download or read online button to get straw bale gardens complete pdf book now. When it comes to thrifty, versatile ways to garden, its hard to beat gardening using a bale of straw.
You can find it at your local library or bookstore. Straw bale gardening is simply a different type of container gardening. Straw is more common and generally cheaper and has less. Get your hands on a copy of the comprehensive guide to growing in straw bales, my book titled straw bale gardens which is filled with specific details on the entire process, garnered from my 22 years of research on this amazing method called straw bale gardening. This booklet is a guide to growing a successful straw bale garden written by the pioneer of this method of gardening. It was bought from the local farm store, and i never thought to ask about what was sprayed on it. Books written by ellen ecker ogden include the complete kitchen garden. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. I noticed in the picture for this post that the straw at the top of your bales has the sides of the straw showing, as opposed to the ends of the straw pointing up. Gardening with straw bales university of tennessee system.
This book is a complete guide to joels method, detailing the entire process of growing a straw bale garden. Straw bale gardens complete contains all of the original information that has set the gardening world on fire. In this article, youll find the whys, hows and wherefores. 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. But it also goes much deeper, with nearly 50 pages of allnew advice and photos on subjects such as growing in a tight urban setting, making your straw bale garden completely organic, and using new fertilizers and conditioning products. Click here to get the 6 week greenhouse howto pdf emailed to you right away. When the straw inside the bales begins to decompose, the straw becomes conditioned and ready for planting, according to joels website. The straw bale gardens method, was pioneered by karsten over twenty years ago, and continues to grow in popularity all around the world. Beginners guide to straw bale gardening gardening with straw bales is the answer to any organic gardeners prayers. Use one or umpteen bales as you need and in any pattern. Straw bale gardens have taken off over the last decade or so.
This excerpt is taken from the introduction of straw bale gardens. Download straw bale gardens pdf book pdfbooks divyoull find a bumper crop of vegetable gardening books on the shelves today, but it is a very. Hay bales create an environment similar to gardening hills in soil. If youre an urban gardener, you may have thought of straw bale gardening. Gardening with straw bales alan windham professor, plant pathology what is straw bale gardening. Straw bale gardening demonstration 2017 sacramento mgs. If weve positioned the straw bale garden atop a potential garden space, then weve hopefully put it on a weed barrier of cardboard or newspaper, snuffing out weed problems early on.
It solves every impediment todays home gardeners face. The straw bales are not a permanent fixture in your garden. It seems almost unbelievable, but i promise you it gets results. Generally, it is recommended to replace straw bales at the end of the growing season. Straw bale gardening is an easy way to setup your own veggie garden, by using the decomposing straw bales as the foundation for your garden. You can purchase this book from the mother earth news store. His books contain all the ins and outs on how to setup, condition and care for straw bales helping you to grow almost any plant in them. Youll find a bumper crop of vegetable gardening books on the shelves today, but it is a very rare title that actually. We did our first straw bale gardening demonstration in 20 based on the book straw bale gardens joel karsten, 20, cool springs press. Garden mulch straw does it have to be organic to be. Already a member of straw bale garden club, but cant find your email with the pdf instructions for the 6 week greenhouse. Dozens of helpful stepbystep, color photography illustrates how to arrange and prepare.
Growing plants in straw bales has become popular over the past several years. There are quite a lot that works well, but a few to avoid, and some to leave for when you are more experienced with straw bale gardening. Because straw bale gardening is raised, its easy to work with, so make sure you allow for handy access. To quote one delighted visitor at the 2019 minnesota state fair after she walked through our straw bale gardens 6 week greenhouse display. Download pdf straw bale gardens complete book full free. In forest glen, girl scout annie aguirre and other members of troop 20804 used straw bales to plant an organic vegetable garden in the back of a community church. Straw bale gardens complete available for download and read online in other formats. Ive seen some really pretty and clever methods of straw bale gardening. Straw bale gardening sharon morrisey consumer horticulture agent milwaukee county uwextension. How to condition and plant a bale of straw for gardening. Straw bale gardening is easy, affordable and fun for kids.
Esclaves read rescurce buch fur permaculture free ebooks from kali yi on. Gardening is more popular than ever and now you can grow all types of vegetables in any location. They function essentially as a raised bed each bale is 1416 inches high and a container garden in one. Easily accessible to those who battle to reach normal garden beds, this type of gardening can be very effective and useful. How to condition and plant a straw bale garden when it comes to thrifty. Poor soil no space for a garden in full sun site no containers or soil to buy just a cheap source of straw bales. Straw bale garden straw bales allow you to set up a garden anywhere, even on hardscapeadding valuable greenspace to your urban habitat. Straw bale gardens teaches gardening in a way that isnt only new but is thoroughly innovative and revolutionary to home gardening. Here you will find all that you need to know about this great method. Heres why you should be adding straw bales to your garden. You can toss the dice like i did and purchase straw bales from your local garden center, but its best to source them direct from the farm. I started a straw bale garden to follow along with you. Straw bale gardening is also called bale gardening or mistakenly, hay bale gardening. Straw bale gardens complete pdf download ebook pdf, epub.
The pests present in a straw bale garden will tend to be of the winged variety. Whatever you call it, its a great way to grow herbs and vegetables. Straw bale gardening, is a most informative and detailed book for the avid vegetable gardener. In his book straw bale gardens, joel karsten explains that straw bales function as another type of container gardening, except the container is the outside crust of the bale itself. To sign up for a straw bale gardening class or to order a guide to straw bale gardening. If youre looking for an easier way to garden, you need to learn about the ruth stout gardening method. Step by step of creating a straw bale garden straw bale. In 2015 the book was revised see photo to address some of the questions the author received from readers.
Growing vegetables in straw bales, strawbale gardening. The straw bale process is for the person who is tired of tilling, trying to improve soil condition, weeding, constant watering, etc. Straw bale gardening is just that, planting your seedlings into bales of straw. I would swear that a bad bale of straw i bought last year, killed off several batches of my seedlings. In this first chapter, youll learn about the benefits of a straw bale garden. We do a lot of gardening and grow a lot of our own food, but straw bale gardening was completely new to me. The bale is first conditioned and then vegetable plants are planted and grown inside the bale. We covered how to condition a straw bale for gardening, and the plants seem to enjoy their straw bale garden. Organic soilfree potting media will help hold nutrients and water more efficiently for faster growth. Straw bale gardening ultimate 5chapter beginners guide. These are controlled normally through sprays, baits, or other appropriate methods.
Looking for an engaging speaker with something new to say. Joel, a farmboy, grew up tending a soil garden, like other gardeners have for centuries, until he shook up the gardening world with his new concepts and book. Adapted from joel karsten, author of straw bale gardens complete. The breakthrough method for growing vegetables anywhere, earlier and with no weeding.
Its been a great experiment and ive thoroughly enjoyed the process. Consider the pros and cons to determine if straw bale gardening is right for you. Well you do not have to have soil, so that means you can use this method on. Hello and welcome to my straw bale gardening website. In this first chapter, youll learn about the benefits of a straw bale garden and what youll need to create your own. If your soil is so poor that amending, or enhancing, it with compost, fertilizers, or leaf mold makes you exhausted just thinking about it, then using straw bales for planting may be the perfect solution. Joel karsten perfected the methods of straw bale gardening during more than 20 years and has written many excellent books about the subject. If you are keen to start your own straw bale garden, you will want to know which vegetables work best with this unique gardening technique. Once the straw inside the bale begins to decay the straw becomes conditioned compost that creates an extraordinary plant rooting environment. Straw bale gardening is a great way to extend your growing season, create a garden in areas with lessthanideal soil, and make tasks like planting and weeding less laborintensive. Pdf straw bale gardens complete download full pdf book. A complete guide to growing in bales without soil or weeds by joel karsten. If you are hoping to find enough space to grow even a tomato plant or two, building a garden with straw bales creates a whole new range of possibilities. Learn to grow a straw bale garden, roseville, minnesota.
290 744 41 1151 1411 921 754 1316 854 1012 1668 446 914 1322 139 492 491 949 1331 1182 924 686 336 470 1050 968 657 278 1145 1066 60 471 389 1350 1100 1107 851 35 801 1071