A pioneer and an entrepreneur, karsten has been featured in the new york times, national television and radio, and dozens of other major media. With a few years of experience and having written a book on the topic, i am sold. Straw bale gardening is a great technique to have in the. Heres that ruth stout garden video if youd like to watch it. Straw bale gardening ebook written by john tullock. Straw bale gardens complete, updated edition by joel karsten. 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. This is based on a book by joel karsten along with improvements i hope to make. Straw bale gardening grow more food, in less space, with. Karsten argues that straw is an ideal container for growing vegetables. Transform your garden with a bail of hay and meet the man who wrote the book on it. 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. Straw bale planters are an easy solution for people lacking clean soil or extra space for gardening.
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. Its economical, easier on your back, and is great for people with mobility issues. Are you are wondering how you can start gardening and learning all of the necessary techniques. Whatever source is used, it should have a minimum of 5% active nitrogen content. So i called up joel karsten, author of straw bale gardens, and lead. Whatever you call it, its a great way to grow herbs and vegetables. Would you like to try this method of vegetable gardening. Straw bale gardening is very simple system to set up, and there are many benefits to growing this type of garden. Once a straw bale has been prepared for planting, it can be transformed into a beautiful threedimensional annual garden, or host a fresh vegetable garden. As mentioned previously, he is such an authority that he has authored a book. Ive seen some really pretty and clever methods of straw bale gardening. Straw bale gardens have taken off over the last decade or so. Karstens bale technique can help gardeners raise tantalizing tomatoes. Beginners guide to straw bale gardening gardening with straw bales is the answer to any organic gardeners prayers.
Consider the pros and cons to determine if straw bale gardening is right for you. Since his first book, straw bale gardens, was published in 20, this method of growing vegetables has exploded in popularity and is now being practised across the world. Once the straw inside the bale begins to decay the straw becomes conditioned compost that creates an extraordinary plant rooting environment. Mar 26, 2019 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. Aug 19, 20 transform your garden with a bail of hay and meet the man who wrote the book on it. Jul 16, 20 one of the coolest things about straw bale gardening is that it combines the best of container gardening with vertical gardening. I like to use blood meal as an organic nitrogen source for conditioning the bales.
Straw bale gardening combines these two by growing vegetables yes, you can grow flowers too in what is arguably natures perfect container. Youll find a bumper crop of vegetable gardening books on the shelves today, but it. Strawbale gardening can be done practically anywhere, even in small back. Straw bale gardening, is a most informative and detailed book for the avid vegetable gardener. Ill give my reasons for and against planting in straw bales. Creating a straw bale garden flea market gardening. The hidden dangers of straw bale gardening the grow. Theyre like growbags at a fraction of the cost and. Straw bale gardening is more work, takes more water and uses more fertilizer than traditional gardening. Here you will find all that you need to know about this great method. Information on container, raised beds, square foot, organic and straw bale gardens. Supplement the book by googling straw bale gardening and get some advice from others that have also been employing this technique for years. Straw bale gardening gets a lot of pressand for a good reason.
Just be prepared to answer some questions from your neighbors. They are also great for seniors who still want to garden but have a hard time. Straw bale gardening with joel karsten the beginners garden. Karsten recommends erecting sevenfoottall posts at the end of each row of bales, and running wire between them at intervals of 10 inches from the tops of the bales.
How to condition and plant a bale of straw for gardening. Oct 15, 20 if you follow the relatively simple instructions in this book, i can assure you that you will be successful in straw bale gardening. Finally, when your straw bale garden is complete, it still isnt done giving to you. My suggestion for anyone who wants to do straw bale gardening organically is to stick with blood meal or feather meal. Straw bale gardening is simply a different type of container gardening. That includes researching and sourcing the best books and products to help individuals master the skills they need in times like these and. Looking for an engaging speaker with something new to say. The hidden dangers of straw bale gardening the grow network. In larger terms, it is a focus on the larger ecosystem. Written by joel karsten, the originator of straw bale gardening, this exciting update contains detailed, starttofinish. Joel karstens book on this breakthrough method of gardening is well written, informative, and beautifully illustrated.
Beginners guide to straw bale gardening safer brand. Written by joel karsten, the originator of straw bale gardening, this exciting update contains detailed, starttofinish instructions for growing vegetables in straw anywhere, plus many new ideas and projects to help you enjoy your. The straw bale process is for the person who is tired of tilling, trying to. If you are able to grow food in soil, keep doing it. She was planting potatoes by throwing them on the ground and then covering them with straw. Heres the method that has made karsten the goto guru for straw bale. By now, even the most casual gardeners have heard of straw bale gardening, the pioneering method to gardening introduced by joel karsten. This process allows the straw to break down into a composttype material. In plain terms, organic gardening means growing without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Harvesting is one of the easiest parts of the gardening process.
In this first chapter, youll learn about the benefits of a straw bale garden and what youll need to create your own. We start with a bale of straw and add a nitrogen source over the period of a couple of weeks. 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. The book starts out with a history of how the author got started in straw bale gardening, followed by some of his favorite examples sent in by fellow gardeners. Faced with the expense ok, and effort of building raised beds, i decided instead to go cheap and easy. An indepth guide to straw bale gardening for beginners.
Planting and growing a straw bale garden from day one. A profile of just one of the many in the book which detail how gardeners around the world are using the straw bale gardens method to solve problems that couldnt. This gardening technique has been around for centuries but thanks to joel karstens book straw bale gardens it has gained new popularity. This technique might be an option if you have no soil, or your soil is contaminated, chemically or with diseases. Youll master karstens methods for combating plant pests and maximizing. He gives an excellent explanation and we highly recommend you purchase his straw bale gardening book. Here i will describe the results of my attempts at gardening on straw bales. Straw bale gardening provides many advantages over traditional soil gardening, some of which have already been alluded to. The main difference is that the container is the straw bale itself and is held together with two or three strings.
Joels experiment led to a book and a website, straw bale gardens and he has an impressive speaking schedule explaining his easy, fun and productive gardening method. By planning and preparing in advance, conditioning the bales, and choosing the right plants, you can build a solid basis to start growing and harvesting your own fruits and vegetables from straw bales this season. 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. This type of gardening looks for solutions that improve the health of the soil, the plant, and the animals that surround the garden. 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. Health benefits of gardening and recipes to use your fresh produce. As interest grew, he became one of the most indemand garden lecturers in the country. Gardening without work ruth stout 1of2 engmagyar youtube. As i just mentioned, the book is illustrated with beautiful photography, somewhat of a requirement in a good gardening book.
A beginners guide to straw bale gardening raleigh news. Growing vegetables in straw bales, strawbale gardening. This new edition of straw bale gardens complete is the only book you need to get started with the revolutionary gardening method that has. Straw bale gardening is a method of planting in conditioned straw bales that are ripe with nutrients ready to nourish those plants. 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. 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. So i called up joel karsten, author of straw bale gardens, and lead authority on all things straw. Dec, 2019 straw bale gardening can destroy your garden. Manure will just not work quickly enough, it doesnt have enough concentration of active nitrogen. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read straw bale gardening. 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 is a great alternative for building raised garden beds, and the.
Well you do not have to have soil, so that means you can use this method on virtually any surface. This book will give you an overview of the gardening process, from what you need to learn in order to successfully diy design your garden, to what to gardening. When it comes to thrifty, versatile ways to garden, its hard to beat gardening using a bale of straw. Very few weeds grow in straw bale gardens, and because they are elevated, weeding is easier than in a conventional garden. 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. I think even i can do that while building a new home. The straw bale process is for the person who is tired of tilling, trying to improve soil condition, weeding, constant watering, etc. In this five chapter guide youll learn exactly what straw bale gardening is all about. Straw bale gardening techniques youtube video instructions. Straw bale gardens complete, updated edition joel karsten. Fruiting plants and leafy greens will grow at about their normal rate, and the normal signs of ripeness rich colors and the proper size and firmness will clue you in that its time to pick. 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.
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