Introduction to Straw Bale Gardening

Straw Bale Gardening is a simply a different type of container gardening. The main difference is that the container is actually the straw bale itself, held together with two or three strings, the outside crust of the bale serves as the container. Once the straw inside the bale begins to decompose, the straw becomes “conditioned” and ready to plant. The step by step process of conditioning creates an extraordinarily productive, warm, moist and nutrient rich rooting environment for young seedlings. Getting the straw bales conditioned is an essential part of the process, and should be started approximately two weeks prior to the target planting date in your area. This planting date varies greatly depending on where you are in the world but this gardening technique works anywhere in the world for seasonal spring/summer or for winter gardens.

Here are several advantages of straw bale gardening :

• Perfect to garden when you have contaminated soil so growing veggies in the ground is questionable.
• Easier to drag a straw bale than bulk or bagged soil.
• Straw bale gardening is an old and tested practice.
• The practice has been tested in dry climates.
• After the bale has decomposed you get compost you can use elsewhere in the yard.
• Skunks may be less interested in digging in a bale!

For more information, we suggest our full tutorial: Gardening in Straw Bales Full Tutorial

or these websites :

• Rootsimple
• StrawBaleGardening
• Modernfarmer – for a DIY tutorial.

Here below are 2 videos : Conditionning the bales / Planting the bales