Straw bale gardening is also called bale gardening or mistakenly, hay bale gardening. Straw bale gardening is a gardening technique where the bales acts as natural containers for your plants. The two standard sizes of straw bales are 3 ft x 1 ft and 4 ft x 18 in. Get your hands on a copy of the comprehensive guide to growing in straw bales, my book titled straw bale gardens. Ive seen some really pretty and clever methods of straw bale gardening. As mentioned previously, he is such an authority that he has authored a book. He has perfected the perfect way for anyone to have a garden without weeding, bending over, or. 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. Step by step of creating a straw bale garden straw bale. Theyre a raised container garden inside a biodegradable container. Straw bale gardening the ultimate 5chapter beginners guide.
This will be the last gardening book youll ever need. If you want to try something new for your garden then this method is something you should look into. An indepth guide to straw bale gardening for beginners. How to condition and plant a bale of straw for gardening. Each day has its own video, and well send them to you on exactly the right day for your straw bale garden. Straw is more common and generally cheaper and has less weed seeds. Garden guides how to grow vegetables in bales of hay or. Straw bale gardens complete pdf download ebook pdf, epub. Once the straw inside the bale begins to decay the straw becomes conditioned compost that creates an extraordinary plant rooting environment. You can also learn more about me, joel karsten, or send questions you might have about straw bale gardening. Its easy, follow our step by step resources and be a gardener in no time. Take your straw bale gardening to the next levelin more places, with new products, and even sometimes skipping the straw entirelywith straw bale gardens complete. Just be prepared to answer some questions from your neighbors. They suggest a 12 cup of urea per bale or bone meal, fish meal, or compost for a more organic approach.
As interest grew, he became one of the most indemand garden lecturers in the country. 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. Joel karsten, author of straw bale gardens, straw bale solutions, and straw bale gardens complete, developed the straw bale gardening method more than 10 years ago. If garden space or physical mobility is limited, straw bales provide an easily accessible growing medium for everything from herbs and lettuces to tomatoes and squash. With this amount of space, you can plan for about 5 lettuce plants per bale, or 3 tomoato plants. After watering our straw bales for three days our next step is to apply a high nitrogen fertilizer. How to condition and plant a straw bale garden when it comes to thrifty, versatile. Just make sure youre signed up as a member of straw bale garden club first.
If you want to grow a more extensive garden, once you know this method works for you, consider expanding to around 3040 bales. Looking for an engaging speaker with something new to say. If you follow the relatively simple instructions in this book, i can assure you that you will be successful in straw bale gardening. In larger terms, it is a focus on the larger ecosystem. How to make straw bale gardens im as time poor as the next person, but even when time is tight, its no excuse for not planting those seedlings or getting a new organic patch up and running. No need to look at the calendar to try and remember which day of conditioning you are on. In plain terms, organic gardening means growing without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Whatever you call it, its a great way to grow herbs and vegetables. This type of gardening looks for solutions that improve the health of the soil, the plant, and the animals that surround the garden. Theyre like growbags at a fraction of the cost and.
Very few weeds grow in straw bale gardens, and because they are elevated, weeding is easier than in a conventional garden. It is at this point when you become a preacher about the method. A pdf file for viewing on pcs and a mobi file for ereaders. Heres the method that has made karsten the goto guru for straw bale gardening. A pioneer and an entrepreneur, karsten has been featured in the new york times, national television and radio, and dozens of other major media. The pests present in a straw bale garden will tend to be of the winged variety. With a few years of experience and having written a book on the topic, i am sold. The bale is first conditioned and then vegetable plants are planted and grown inside the bale. So i called up joel karsten, author of straw bale gardens, and lead. It solves every impediment todays home gardeners face. Its a gardening method of raising vegetables, herbs. Straw bale gardening techniques youtube video instructions. Consider the pros and cons to determine if straw bale gardening.
Its economical, easier on your back, and is great for people with mobility issues. Id already done this step prior to buying the manual. Heres the method that has made karsten the goto guru for straw bale. Straw bale gardens complete contains all of the original information that has set the gardening world on fire. If youre looking for an easier way to garden, you need to learn about the ruth stout gardening method. Generally, it is recommended to replace straw bales at the end of the growing season. Straw bale gardens have taken off over the last decade or so. Des esclaves read rescurce buch fur permaculture free ebooks from kali yi on. Ever since the publication of his book, straw bale gardens cool springs press, joel karsten has become something of a gardening celebrity, making television and youtube appearances, being interviewed by major papers, and gathering a facebook following that counts over 27,000 likes. When it comes to thrifty, versatile ways to garden, its hard to beat gardening using a bale of straw. 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.
This makes it a great choice for anyone with hard soil or no soil at all, as all the magic takes place above the surface of the ground. This gardening technique works well anywhere in the country or the world for that matter. Theyre like growbags at a fraction of the cost and without the plastic waste. A straw bale garden bed starts with a bale of straw. Straw bale gardening grow more food, in less space, with. He has perfected the perfect way for anyone to have a garden without weeding, bending over, or using chemicals.
Straw bale gardening is very simple system to set up, and there are many benefits to growing this type of garden. Here you will find all that you need to know about this great method. An alternative method for gardening in these situa. I also use a square bale garden formation for heavy feeding plants, lay out the bales for an interesting garden and have mossed the sides of the bales for a very artistic flower garden. 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. If you want to garden organically, the person at the garden center wont likely know how the straw was grown.
Straw bale gardening, is a most informative and detailed book for the avid vegetable gardener. Straw bale gardening is simply a different type of container gardening. Hay bale gardening is easy and the garden area has a unique look. How to make straw bale gardens organic gardener magazine. Straw bale gardening offers gardeners a great opportunity to try their hand at organic gardening practices without spending a great deal of time or money on soil conditioners. A beginners guide to straw bale gardening raleigh news.
The technique allows you to put a substantial but temporary garden almost anywhere, even if your yards sunniest spot happens to be the middle of your driveway. Well you do not have to have soil, so that means you can use this method on virtually any surface. Were following west virginia university extension services straw bale gardening advice. Straw bale gardening ebook written by john tullock. Breakthrough method for growing vegetables anywhere, earlier and. Straw bale gardening is a great technique to have in the gardeners tool kit. Then, once weve made it through the growing season, the straw bales are nicely broken down as. Consider how many bales youll need for the size garden you want to grow.
Straw bale gardening is an ancient farming technique used in many cultures. 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. Hello and welcome to my straw bale gardening website. 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. This new edition of straw bale gardens complete is the only book you need to get started with the revolutionary gardening method that has taken the world by storm. Straw bale gardening gets a lot of pressand for a good reason. A complete guide to growing in bales without soil or weeds by joel karsten. Urban homesteading, straw bale gardening, vertical gardening pdf. Grow the best in organic vegetables, organic fruits, and organic herbs. Most vegetables and annuals will grow in the straw bale medium. The straw bale process is for the person who is tired of tilling, trying to improve soil condition, weeding, constant watering, etc. The hidden dangers of straw bale gardening the grow.
Written by joel karsten, the originator of straw bale gardening, this exciting update contains detailed, starttofinish instructions. The straw bales are not a permanent fixture in your garden. These are controlled normally through sprays, baits, or other appropriate methods. Lehoullier just published his second book growing vegetables in straw bales. The straw bale process is for the person who is tired of tilling, trying to. He gives an excellent explanation and we highly recommend you purchase his straw bale gardening book. Straw bale gardens teaches gardening in a way that isnt only new but is thoroughly innovative and revolutionary to home gardening. This book tells about the techniques to be used in gardening. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read straw bale gardening. Poor soil no space for a garden in full sun site no containers or soil to buy just a cheap source of straw bales. For a smaller garden, consider starting with a dozen bales. It seems almost unbelievable, but i promise you it gets results.
Growing vegetables in straw bales, strawbale gardening. Straw bale gardening is easy, affordable and fun for kids. Ever since the publication of his book, straw bale gardens cool springs press, joel karsten has become something of a gardening celebrity, making television and youtube appearances, being interviewed by major papers, and gathering a. A variety of crops can be grown in bales, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, melons, and herbs. 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. Many garden centers, home improvement stores, and feed stores sell straw bales. This booklet is a guide to growing a successful straw bale garden written by the pioneer of this method of gardening. You can scale your garden up or down each year, depending on how many bales you buy and how much you want to grow. Straw bale gardening sharon morrisey consumer horticulture agent milwaukee county uwextension. Click download or read online button to get straw bale gardens complete pdf book now.
541 1294 352 1258 644 58 1093 1022 1436 234 1602 824 173 1314 212 1295 365 412 663 489 885 954 1571 1560 1349 1073 1198 1116 894 478 1237 15 1040 494 14 99 729 1051 171 1262 1140 1093 1220 1138 1450 752