STRAW
BALE
GARDENING




STRAW BALE GARDENING

WHAT IS STRAW BALE GARDENING?

STRAW BALE GARDENING LINKS



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SECTION 1



STRAW BALE
GARDENING




A straw or hay bale garden is a gardening method used for raising
vegetables, herbs, and flowers directly on a bale. Straw or hay
bales from alfalfa, wheat, oats, rye, or other cereals are suitable
for making a garden bed. Straw bales are preferable over hay because
hay bales contain more weed and grass seeds. The bale should be tight
and held together with 2-3 strands of plastic baling twine—preferably
made from a biodegradable material such as jute and sisal. Biodegradable
twines should be positioned parallel to the ground to avoid their hastened
decomposition.



Advantages

Bales are about 2 feet tall, which makes gardening more accessible for gardeners
who have difficulty bending over. The bales are not permanent and are usually
removed at the end of the season.

Used bales can be used as mulch, added to a compost pile, or spread on the ground
to enrich the soil.

No digging or soil preparation is required, a big advantage if you have hard or
rocky soil or if you live in an area where soils may be contaminated with heavy
metals.

Bales can be placed on concrete or asphalt paving.

Bales are an inexpensive way to create raised beds for gardening.



Source

Source and cost

Straw or hay bales can be obtained from a variety of places, such as a local farm
store or directly from a producer. In farm areas, straw bales should be easy and
inexpensive to purchase ($5 or less per bale.) You will want a bale that is held
together tightly with baling twine encircling the bale in two to three places.
Old, unrotted bales work well if bales are still held tightly together by the twine.



Straw Bale Gardening
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS109E/FS109E.pdf



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SECTION 2



WHAT IS
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.



What is Straw Bale Gardening?
https://strawbalegardens.com/faqs/what-is-straw-bale-gardening/



Straw Bale Gardening: Start to Finish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXcA99xGHwQ




Straw Bale Gardening Complete Instructions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8wKwFXzF-4




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SECTION 3









A beginner’s guide to straw bale gardening
http://www.newsobserver.com/living/home-garden/article68603142.html

DIY Straw Bale Gardening
http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2014/10/diy-straw-bale-gardening/

Grasping at Straw
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/21/garden/grasping-at-straw-a-foolproof-vegetable-plot.html

Growing a Straw Bale Garden
https://www.growandmake.com/straw_bale_garden/

Here's Why You Should Be Adding Straw Bales to Your Garden
https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/a42075/straw-bale-gardening-method/

The Hidden Dangers of Straw Bale Gardening
https://thegrownetwork.com/hidden-dangers-straw-bale-gardening/

How To Build A No Dig Straw Bale Garden
https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/straw-bale-gardening

How to Build a Straw Bale Garden
https://modernfarmer.com/2013/07/straw-bale-gardening/

How to Condition & Fertilize Straw Bales
http://sympathink.com/conditioning-fertilizing-straw-bales-for-gardening/

How to Condition and Plant a Bale of Straw for Gardening
https://bonnieplants.com/library/how-to-condition-and-plant-a-bale-of-straw/

How to Make a Raised Bed from Bales of Straw
https://bonnieplants.com/library/how-to-make-a-raised-bed-from-bales-of-straw/

HOW TO: STRAW BALE GARDEN
https://www.fieldmuseum.org/sites/default/files/Straw%20bale%20gardening_0.pdf

A Raised Bed Twist: Straw Bale Gardening
https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/garden-styles-and-types/a-raised-bed-twist-straw-bale-gardening

Starting A Straw Bale Garden
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/projects/starting-a-straw-bale-garden.htm

Straw Bale.com
https://www.strawbale.com/

Straw Bale Gardening
http://naturemoms.com/blog/2016/05/30/straw-bale-gardening/

Straw Bale Gardening
https://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/straw-bale-gardening.html

Straw Bale Gardening
https://www.thespruce.com/straw-bale-gardening-848248

Straw Bale Gardening
https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/gardening-techniques/straw-bale-gardening-ze0z1310zcov

Straw Bale Gardening
A Beginner’s Guide

https://happydiyhome.com/straw-bale-gardening/

Straw Bale Gardening: An Easy Way To Grow Food
https://www.diynatural.com/straw-bale-gardening/

Straw Bale Gardening Book
http://www.strawbalegardeningbook.com/

Straw Bale Gardening Techniques
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/351843789628600378/?lp=true

Straw Bale Gardens
https://strawbalegardens.com/

Straw Bale Gardens
https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/straw-bale-gardens/8882.html



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Readers Digest
https://www.rd.com/




Farmers Almanac
http://www.almanac.com/




Modern Farmer
http://modernfarmer.com/




The Encyclopedia of Life
http://eol.org/




PLANETKIDS.BIZ
http://www.planetkids.biz/




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