[dennishoddy]

Well, since turkey season is over, and the area lakes are at flood stage, with another 4" of rain today, I guess my thoughts will have to turn to the garden. Its too wet to rototill, and will be for days, BUT!
I just got an email about how to garden with straw bales that sounds really interesting. He even grows potatoes in them ???
I've heard of this technique for people that live in real rocky areas to produce veggi's, but this guy takes it even further.

I have learned that wheat straw bales are the best. Pine straw won't work. Get bales that are tightly tied with synthetic twine if you can find it. Synthetic twine won't rot and it will hold the bales together longer. If the bales use regular twine, you may have to put a stake at the end to hold it together. I have paid about $2.50 each for bales.

I arrange 10 bales per row, so they can hold each other together. Orient bales with the strings on the ground to make transplanting easier. If you make more than one row of bales, put them wide enough apart so your lawnmower can get between them. And because you'll be watering them, place bales where the water will drain away.

You can use seeds if you add some topsoil on top of the bales. I transplant my vegetables from flats and trays directly into the bales.



PREPARE YOUR BALES
It takes 10 days to prepare your bales.

Days 1

 

[kele]

Cool,with the price of food going up with Gas,and the better tasting food you can grow your self it a Win-Win Situation.
Greg

 

[dennishoddy]

tastes a whole lot better too. Nothing beats a garden tomato ;D

 

[Bird (this time)]

Now that's pretty cool.

 

[dennishoddy]

I only used one bale, but I have a tomato plant in it, and will see how it comes out.
I had all of my tomato cages stacked on the side of the garden and as I was moving them, I saw movment, and spotted where a rabbit had 3 little babies in a shallow depression, covered in grass. I put the cages back and made sure there was an opening for mama to get back in, but the next day we found two dead, and one gone. Something got a little snack I guess. Mother nature at work.