I wondered the same thing in 2009 when saw a Straw Bale Gardening class in my local community education booklet! I knew nothing about growing veggies or preparing the soil so figured I had nothing to lose and everything to gain! Boy was I right! The instructor walked us through the whole process from beginning to end and by the end of the three hour session I had the motivation and knowledge to start my own straw bale garden.
In 2009 I started with 11 bales:
In 2010 I increased my garden to 15 bales:
In 2011 I am trying a mix of old bales and new bales for a total bale count of 17.5.
I've shared many posts about what I've learned that can be read
here. I would love to answer any questions you might have about gardening in straw and invite you to join me in this successful and EASY gardening method! If
I can do it, anyone can!
Hi! I'm trying straw bale gardening for the first time this year. Your blog has been so helpful! My veggie plants are looking good, but recently this weird mushroom? (maybe??) thing has started growing in some of my bales. The only way to describe it is that is is light beige colored and looks like brains. Any idea what it is or if it's harmful to my plants? Hope you are doing well.
ReplyDeleteAli
Hi, I have read and re-read your posts on straw bale gardening several times. I tried to find Dr. Earth's fertilizer, but it does not exist in my town. I should have ordered it online weeks ago. So today, I just gave up trying to make up your fertilizer recipe, and bought some regular nitrogen 34-0-0. Then tonight, re-reading your posts, I see that the whole reason you made up your own version, was for organic-ness, which is not found in what I bought. I found everything except the Dr. Earth's stuff :(
ReplyDeleteHere is my QUESTION: My straw bales have orange string around them, with the "tips" of the straw opposite the string. Do you plant string side up, or "tips" side up? A way to envision this is with regular drinking straws. The string goes around the middle section of the straws but the "holes" of the straw are opposite the string. I cannot tell from your photos, which way you set yours up. Can you PLEASE HELP, before I start conditioning them? Many Thanks!
Kim