Straw bale gardens and those who love them
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  • There is a very good book - No-work Garden book, by Ruth Stout, probably out of print - my copy bought second hand about 1980 was published in 1971.  This type of gardening has been going on for years, and it works.  She was American - and never had any problems, except for people who didn't believe gardening could be so easy. 

  • Make a hole in the straw and pot in a handful or two of compost and plant in that.  I used this method to start my garden in 1987.  It works a treat.

  • Hi guys, I just got around to have enough interest to try out straw bale gardening 2 weeks before Spring. I realized that you have to let the straw bale sort of mature over winter before you can plant into it. Is there a way to kick start the process? I am not planning to grow food out of it, but to merely plant clovers in it.

  • Hi. Just wanted to post a link to a local TV piece on the strawbale demo gardens we now have in Willits.

    Worked out pretty good.

    Willits Community Television

    http://www.willitstv.org/

    Episode 18

  • Whoot! seems that I may have hit the mother load of straw bales! Seems this guy doesn't want the moldy bales that he has behind the barn! Guess what I am doing this weekend!
  • J

    ust wanted to Howdy! We are trying out an experimental strawbale garden  at the local community garden in Willits, Ca. in redwood country a couple hours north of SF. Added about four cups of bird guano to each bale in early April. Inside temps have not reached more than 80 degrees after about a month of being watered about an hour a day with a soaker hose. The mission is to grow a lot of flowers and vegetables, but also to generate soil on top of the river rocks and clay currently making up the front yard of an office bldg.

    Chris Hardaker

     

    Bales2011.jpg

  • 2170542081?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024Started my first straw bale garden. letting them season for a month or so before I get the chance to actually plant
  • Dachshunds work well for vermin of all kinds. However to have a straw bale garden the bale must be kept well watered and that is usually enough to make them seek their nice dry home elsewhere.
  • Hi. I want to build a large experimental straw bale garden but a friend told me to watch out for rats and mice who like to nest in them.

    If so, what is a good organic defense?

    Chris Hardaker

    Willits, CA (Mendo)

  • Oh my I have been all caught up in life as I know it and away from the computer for much of the last few weeks. I am going to try to get bales in the garden here at the new house next spring. I am growing some veg under lights in the house for the winter. Dorthy I have always loved the tire (tyre) gardens. My auntie used to paint her tires in bright colors, though I don't to this day understand how she turned them inside out to make those daisy looking gardens.
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