Vertical Straw Bale Gardening

[@UpcycledStuff]

I grew a 47-bale straw bale garden my first year on my current property. With the hard packed clay that covered the land, I knew I wanted raised beds. But I also knew I wanted to grow EVERYTHING right NOW. So I quickly put together a straw bale garden and I fell in love with it. Now three years later with 10 raised beds and raised planting space all around the perimeter fence, I still save space for 20 straw bales and 20 second year bales (for my potatoes). I can't imagine a time where I won't have one. Tomatoes, potatoes and sweet potatoes are absolute musts in the bales every year. But I also add a few other vining crops like cucumbers, cantaloupe, mango melons and noodle beans. It's a beautiful way to garden and my hard packed clay has a beautiful, rich layer of compost in my straw bale garden area.

[@kenk2345]

a "fence post driver" really makes putting those T-Posts in easy. And no risk of missing the post with the hammer and hitting your hand. Good presentation of straw bale planting.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Yeah, I need to get one of those. 😊

[@RayH-]

Or get an auger bit and drop the post into the hole then hit it with a hammer a few times to get to the height you need

[@dollyperry3020]

You need a T post pounder! It is SO helpful!

[@jlsteelcrafts8378]

I like the idea of this for very small areas and a few plants. But I would suggest growing in ground for larger areas. Great vid!

[@karenpeddicordbaranauskas3211]

Thank you for your video. I have no soil in my yard so this is a great method ot build up soil.

[@isabelladavis1363]

I love this system especially for sweet potatoes wonderful results

[@nygardenguru]

Good idea but I’m afraid to use straw anymore given the amount of Grazon and herbicides

[@thebeginnersgarden]

In my experience (and from my talking to the workers at the place where I buy straw), that is a concern for hay, not straw. However, things can differ based on your local area, so always ask.

[@charliehenderson38]

Great video, very helpful!

[@carolinevanwinkle3755]

Would rabbit food alfalfa pellets work fir nitrogen

[@DonnaRogers-z9y]

The reason you need the knfe is because you are usinf the bails flat instead of on it side. The same reason water flows through the bail on its side quicker than flat. Its the way the bails are compressed. But I do like the way the flat bails sit also for high crops

[@mystica8788]

I so wanted to do straw bale gardening but have had difficulty finding bales that have not been treated with herbicides or pesticides. I have heard people's stories about the harmful chemicals in the bales killing their plants and destroying their chance of having healthy soil. I was pretty disappointed because I was so excited about this method. I hope I can partner with someone who has adequate space where I can grow my own cover crop, mow it and make my own bales. 😉

[@thebeginnersgarden]

In my experience, those chemicals (namely aminopyralid) occurs most commonly in hay, not straw. It’s still a good idea to ask. I did, when I asked the workers at the farmer’s co-op, where I buy my straw.

[@mystica8788]

@@thebeginnersgarden That's fantastic and encouraging! Thank you so much for that information. I will email you on your website for a specific question I have about straw. I value your knowledge and experience. 😊

[@semperfi6801]

With the fertilizer you're placing on the bails for conditioning, how much did you spend on all those bags of fertilizer per bail? Between cost of straw, cost of cattle panels, cost of fertilizer and cost of compost what are the cost comparisons when looking at produce you've harvested. I love what you've done but want to consider people on tighter budgets. Cost of cattle panels can run from $25-$50 a piece, post for the panels $5-$10 a piece, straw bales (not hay bales) $3.99-$19.99 and up, blood meal $6.98 for 3lb. size and up depending on where you shop. Factor in compost and other items you're using for that one row and you're looking at several hundred dollars. Granted you can reuse the cattle panels and post for years. I'm just curious what the value is in the catelopes and tomatoes you harvested in that row compared to initial cost of the straw bale row? That's also not including when you calculate time invested, water hose, drip lines, fittings, water cost (unless you have a well), pest control, etc... Love the idea and not knocking it in any way. For those with money and a steady flow of income this might work great. For homesteaders trying to save money or those on a tighter budget this might not work but I don't know what the cost differences are. Glad it worked for you and really enjoyed the video. I'd definitely like to try it as I already have the panels and post I currently use in my garden. I'd caution against blood meal if you're growing and selling produce and claiming to be organic or looking to become a certified organic farm. Blood meal and many other organic animal byproducts contain antibiotics and toxins dangerous to your pets if ingested and you if inhaled. Buildasoil.com has an older yet great article (see link below) on several fertilizers and their dangers if you're looking to go truly organic. buildasoil.com/blogs/news/8332509-did-you-know-that-harmful-hormones-antibiotics-and-toxins-are-hiding-in-your-organic-fertilizer

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I did put the numbers to this method a few years ago, and doing this organically isn’t cheap. However, this is a great option for those who don’t have ready-made soil. I’ve tried to grow in poor soil, and the meager harvest makes that costly, too. I use this method in only one row, and I choose the row that I know isn’t great naturally. The following year I use the spent straw to amend my soil in other areas, and it has helped that year’s harvest tremendously. So, yes, looking at just cost, this isn’t cheap. But it can serve a purpose in some gardens.

[@Jeff24669]

You can also do it fairly inexpensively as well with similar results. The bales themselves are usually pretty cheap, especially if you get them the previous fall. You can condition with manure which farmers are usually happy to give away by the truck bed full. And finally, you can trellis with a couple of posts and some galvanized wire or twine. If you go that way, you could probably do the whole row for about $50-$60

[@Martina-xk6zo]

I didn't hear how many days for each step of the conditioning process. Anybody know?

[@mahlonmosley8673]

Do I need to condition the same way if my bales have been weathered for 6 months?

[@MitchGodbey]

Hi. I've sucessfully grown tomatoes in straw before, but very small scale. This year will be a new garden in a new space , with good sun at a minimum. In your video you had tomatoes with squash in front of it, what was your spacing and were there any crowding issues that affected your yield? I'm really trying to maximize my space. Thanks.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

The spacing was very tight. Maybe a foot between the tomatoes and a squash in between, though offset. No, no crowding issues since the tomatoes grew up and the squash spilled over the opposite way. Worked great and I’m doing it again!

[@MitchGodbey]

@@thebeginnersgarden Thanks for your reply. Nothing to lose for trying!

[@donniecarter4981]

I went 2 ways with conditioning my bales. 2 sets I used chicken manure and the other 2 I used goat and sheep manure. They both worked.

[@daenawalker3019]

I definitely want to try this, just wondering how many days do you add 3 cups, and how many days of 1 1/2 cups? Also, how many days of the general fertiliser? Thanks 😊

[@thebeginnersgarden]

The precise schedule is in the books I referenced. I always have to revisit it each year to remind myself. But I think it’s 3 cups every other day for 3 times and 1.5 cups every day for 3 days. I can’t recall the number of days on the all-purpose. Definitely double check me on this though.

[@lynnwillard3414]

I've been using the milorganite, but it isn't dissolving, is that normal? it just sits on the top of the bales.

[@FamishedFarm]

yes!

[@janohdegroot989]

You advice to check video #132, but where that to be found please?

[@thebeginnersgarden]

It's episode 132 of the Beginner's Garden Podcast. Here's a link: journeywithjill.libsyn.com/132-straw-bale-gardening-with-joel-karsten

[@markmeyer9571]

Great job on the video Jill! 💪💪🥗🥗🥕🥕🥕

[@Lifeguard102]

I pray for that young white man in the video. His mama is Sata ---ann

[@mrs.spitfire9668]

I planted cucumbers in bales but I didn’t condition at all 😳 and I put some soil on top and planted into it. They are growing but are small.

[@jarvismoore8320]

ever tried sweet potatoes?

[@hartfeltopinion6178]

Cool. But sounds expensive

[@78LW]

Great information.............2:08=tight

[@suzannebazeghi5698]

It seems expensive homesteader need easy and afordable soulotion but the idea is interesting.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

It is expensive. But it’s an option for those who either (a) have poor natural soil, (b) have poor natural soil and can’t build raised beds, or (c) want to garden but their problem is maintenance more than cost because this is very low maintenance. In my case, I use it in areas where I know my soil isn’t great and I want a way to make that space useful. Plus, the straw can be used to build the soil in the future.

[@RayH-]

Too expensive and to much time and work. What is the cost per bale , per square foot? You could have built a hugelkultur or permaculture bed. I've seen a video where they put down some compost on grass, put potatoes on the compost, spread loose straw on top, watered in and dome. Worked on the video. Just remove straw to harvest

[@martylynchian8628]

Your Husband looks very young.

[@emilybh6255]

As a vegan, the idea of using blood meal in a garden is revolting. I found that vegan organic gardeners do just as well using alfalfa on their straw bales.