By Eugene Gessler
Master Gardener
After attending the Green County Master Gardeners Symposium on March 10 with speaker/author Joel Karsten of Straw Bale Gardens, I am writing this article to share some basic information about straw bale gardening and what it can do for you. Straw bale gardening has been taking the country by storm, which is no wonder, when a person considers all it has to offer. In its simplest terms, straw bale gardening is merely planning and raising vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers on bales of straw - the straw bales are the growing medium. No soil is used.
Straw bale gardening is economical - it typically saves you 60 to 70 percent of the cost of conventional gardening techniques. Also, straw bale gardening is a very labor-saving method of gardening, often saving a person 70 percent or more of time and labor as opposed to conventional methods of gardening.
Straw bale gardening is a "game changer" for gardeners who have a limited or restricted range of motion. I have spoken to many people who have had to give it up or were going to give up gardening because they no longer have a sufficient range of motion. They don't get around the way they were able to when they were younger; gardeners with arthritis, for example. Because straw bale gardening is less strenuous and demanding, many gardeners can continue their passion for gardening for additional years.
Next, seeds don't touch the ground and are thus less likely to become contaminated; these seeds and seedlings are all planted in straw bales. This alone greatly reduces the need for weeding. Plus, because gardeners plant into the top of the bales, they don't have to bend over as much or get down on the soil.
Because the seeds never touch the ground, risks of disease, insect damage and rabbit damage are greatly reduced, and the need for crop rotation is eliminated. Since these things (and weeds) are greatly reduced, your garden's seed's rate of germination is higher, and the plants themselves are generally healthier, thus increasing yields.
Overwatering and underwatering are practically eliminated too. If you overwater, not to worry, because excess water drains through the bales and onto the ground, and since the interior of the bale remains damp (not wet), underwatering is less likely to occur. Please realize, however, that some watering of your straw bales may be necessary, especially in the hottest part of the season. The best way to water is with a drip irrigation system (soaker hoses) controlled by a timer. A drip system is inexpensive and timers are also reasonably priced. A system like this will keep your straw bale garden properly watered whether you are there or not. Plus, you will use 75-80 percent less water because what water you use goes directly to where it is needed - to the roots and not to the above-ground parts of the plant. This also reduces risk of disease.
Straw bale gardening typically extends your gardening season for up to one to two months and possibly more if you employ row covers or tunnels. Or, a gardener could opt for a straw bale greenhouse. Row covers, tunnels and greenhouses protect against spring frosts and late summer/early autumn freezes, thus providing gardeners the means to extend both ends of the gardening season.
Straw bale gardens are versatile. They are easy to set up and can be any size a gardener would want - from a single bale to dozens and more. Straw bale gardens can be set up on many types of locations, for example, lawns, former conventional garden plots, patios, driveways, balconies or even roofs.
Another great advantage of straw bale gardening is the opportunity to reduce or eliminate the use of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides or other dangerous chemicals. Thus, you will have reduced the risk of exposing yourself and your plants to these substances. Also, you will have saved money by not having to purchase these items. Further, because you are planting the seeds and seedlings directly into bales in straw bale gardening, you are greatly reducing the risk of your plants contracting soil-borne diseases.
Along with the use of these techniques of straw bale gardening comes this: Most straw bale gardeners find that their straw bale garden's produce is much more uniform in size, shape, color and taste. Also, yield should be increased because of fewer plants lost to disease, insects and weather conditions.
One more advantage of straw bale gardening is as the bales decompose, they produce ample quantities of excellent high-grade compost for use in your other gardening projects.
So there you have it: a list of some of the wonderful advantages of straw bale gardening. You can enjoy your gardening experience more because the heavy work has been eliminated, you garden at a lower cost using straw bale gardening techniques, and the quality and quantity of your garden produce is greater, all of which brings a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, knowing you have partnered up with nature in a new and exciting and precious way! I wish you happy and exciting straw bale gardening pleasure!
- Eugene Gessler is a local master gardener with the University of Wisconsin-Extension.
Master Gardener
After attending the Green County Master Gardeners Symposium on March 10 with speaker/author Joel Karsten of Straw Bale Gardens, I am writing this article to share some basic information about straw bale gardening and what it can do for you. Straw bale gardening has been taking the country by storm, which is no wonder, when a person considers all it has to offer. In its simplest terms, straw bale gardening is merely planning and raising vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers on bales of straw - the straw bales are the growing medium. No soil is used.
Straw bale gardening is economical - it typically saves you 60 to 70 percent of the cost of conventional gardening techniques. Also, straw bale gardening is a very labor-saving method of gardening, often saving a person 70 percent or more of time and labor as opposed to conventional methods of gardening.
Straw bale gardening is a "game changer" for gardeners who have a limited or restricted range of motion. I have spoken to many people who have had to give it up or were going to give up gardening because they no longer have a sufficient range of motion. They don't get around the way they were able to when they were younger; gardeners with arthritis, for example. Because straw bale gardening is less strenuous and demanding, many gardeners can continue their passion for gardening for additional years.
Next, seeds don't touch the ground and are thus less likely to become contaminated; these seeds and seedlings are all planted in straw bales. This alone greatly reduces the need for weeding. Plus, because gardeners plant into the top of the bales, they don't have to bend over as much or get down on the soil.
Because the seeds never touch the ground, risks of disease, insect damage and rabbit damage are greatly reduced, and the need for crop rotation is eliminated. Since these things (and weeds) are greatly reduced, your garden's seed's rate of germination is higher, and the plants themselves are generally healthier, thus increasing yields.
Overwatering and underwatering are practically eliminated too. If you overwater, not to worry, because excess water drains through the bales and onto the ground, and since the interior of the bale remains damp (not wet), underwatering is less likely to occur. Please realize, however, that some watering of your straw bales may be necessary, especially in the hottest part of the season. The best way to water is with a drip irrigation system (soaker hoses) controlled by a timer. A drip system is inexpensive and timers are also reasonably priced. A system like this will keep your straw bale garden properly watered whether you are there or not. Plus, you will use 75-80 percent less water because what water you use goes directly to where it is needed - to the roots and not to the above-ground parts of the plant. This also reduces risk of disease.
Straw bale gardening typically extends your gardening season for up to one to two months and possibly more if you employ row covers or tunnels. Or, a gardener could opt for a straw bale greenhouse. Row covers, tunnels and greenhouses protect against spring frosts and late summer/early autumn freezes, thus providing gardeners the means to extend both ends of the gardening season.
Straw bale gardens are versatile. They are easy to set up and can be any size a gardener would want - from a single bale to dozens and more. Straw bale gardens can be set up on many types of locations, for example, lawns, former conventional garden plots, patios, driveways, balconies or even roofs.
Another great advantage of straw bale gardening is the opportunity to reduce or eliminate the use of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides or other dangerous chemicals. Thus, you will have reduced the risk of exposing yourself and your plants to these substances. Also, you will have saved money by not having to purchase these items. Further, because you are planting the seeds and seedlings directly into bales in straw bale gardening, you are greatly reducing the risk of your plants contracting soil-borne diseases.
Along with the use of these techniques of straw bale gardening comes this: Most straw bale gardeners find that their straw bale garden's produce is much more uniform in size, shape, color and taste. Also, yield should be increased because of fewer plants lost to disease, insects and weather conditions.
One more advantage of straw bale gardening is as the bales decompose, they produce ample quantities of excellent high-grade compost for use in your other gardening projects.
So there you have it: a list of some of the wonderful advantages of straw bale gardening. You can enjoy your gardening experience more because the heavy work has been eliminated, you garden at a lower cost using straw bale gardening techniques, and the quality and quantity of your garden produce is greater, all of which brings a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, knowing you have partnered up with nature in a new and exciting and precious way! I wish you happy and exciting straw bale gardening pleasure!
- Eugene Gessler is a local master gardener with the University of Wisconsin-Extension.
