Straw Bale Gardening: Difference between revisions
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Joel Karsten literally wrote the book on gardening in straw bales. It’s often said that necessity is the mother of invention, and that was true for Joel. He grew up on a dairy farm in southwest Minnesota and, as a child, noticed how robustly thistles would grow out of broken bales left near the family barn. Joel also noticed that the bales would decompose into a rich soil-like material. | Joel Karsten literally wrote the book on gardening in straw bales. It’s often said that necessity is the mother of invention, and that was true for Joel. He grew up on a dairy farm in southwest Minnesota and, as a child, noticed how robustly thistles would grow out of broken bales left near the family barn. Joel also noticed that the bales would decompose into a rich soil-like material. | ||
Eventually, Joel earned a degree in horticulture from the University of Minnesota, so when he bought his first home, he was eager to grow a garden. The problem was that the property was built on fill dirt. Having just spent all his money to buy the home, Joel didn’t have money to build raised beds or bring in lots of quality soil or amendments to get started. | Eventually, Joel earned a degree in horticulture from the University of Minnesota, so when he bought his first home, he was eager to grow a garden. The problem was that the property was built on fill dirt. Having just spent all his money to buy the home, Joel didn’t have money to build raised beds or bring in lots of quality soil or amendments to get started. | ||
=====What is Straw Bale Gardening?===== | |||
[https://strawbalegardens.com/ by Straw Bale GARDENS] | |||
“Straw Bale Gardening is simply a different type of container gardening. The main difference is that the container is the straw bale itself and is held together with two or three strings. Once the straw inside the bale begins to decay the straw becomes “conditioned” compost that creates an extraordinary plant rooting environment. Getting the straw bales conditioned is an essential part of the process, and should be started two weeks prior to your target planting date wherever you are located. This gardening technique works well anywhere in the country or the world for that matter.” – Joel Karsten | |||
