Anyone with experience in Straw Bale gardening?

[Pakanohida]

Since I lost my 2nd chook tractor, and our ground is so incredibly compacted I opted for trying Straw Bale gardening method.

For reference, this is what I am referring to:
http://youtu.be/UXcA99xGHwQ

I am curious if anyone has any tips or pointers?

[gardenlen]

we do bale gardening, whether straw, hay or sugar cane mulch bales.

see our presentation:

http://www.lensgarden.com.au/straw_bale_garden.htm

len

[wmthake]

The discussion of the one I built is here.
http://www2.permies.com.evohst.org/t...tur-vs-Natural

That is a staw-bale + hugelculture (sticks/branches on bottom). Scroll half-way down, then to the bottom to see a before/after shot.

So far, my mind isn't made up. I think that digging the bales into the ground does a lot for keeping moisture in the area, but the sticks and branches on the bottom do too. I don't know what I'll do with the project when the bales eventually break down.

I load up compost on the top. and then cover with straw. Planning to plant this one this week or next.

If you have hard soil, go aboveground. I did 9 of these things and it was a lot of work. Budget about 4 hours of intensive labor for each one.

One problem in general is the amazing power of sinking soil. I made sure mine were mounded up really high so in a few weeks they come out even.

The other thing is that straw bales seem to take a while to break down if they are dry, you might be signing up for a lot of watering.

You might also think about finding a way to mix hay bales and straw bales. The hay bales would provide a huge amount of "break-down-y-ness" while the straw bales would provide that stability you're looking for.

hope that helps somewhat.
William

[Pakanohida]

Len, with respect, I do not believe they are the same thing, you added soil, I won't be except on top.

Wmt,

With respect, Hugulkulture does not work properly here in the Pacific Northwest since the soil is heavy clay, I posted about this on Permies once and got moderated, heavily.

However, as you also promoted somewhat, deadwood swales with this STRAW, not hay bales on top might be an excellent to encourage the deadwood swales.

Hay bales have too much grass seed and defeat the purpose here.

[wmthake]

Before:
bronx2.jpg
After:
bronx.jpg

Here's something you might be interested in. On top of concrete. In serious shade.

I actually got 3 or 4 peas out of it. I grew climbing beans just for their ornamental value and to get some green in a decidedly non-green place.

I use this area as an organic material production center. Everything goes in and then comes out digested and ready for my crops. Eventually even the straw bales will make their way onto the mix. I grow beans right in the middle with all the compost once it's died down a bit.

Growing on top in the first year, mmm, hey were too dry and there wasn't enough sun there. In better sun, with more water, it probably could be done. There's a much higher fungal content right now.

I think in the second year they remain wet enough, given the fungal stuff happening. But maybe not if they are alone with no wet stuff nearby.

Oh, about hugelculture on heavy clay...mmm...I have heavy clay and right now I can sink my whole hand inside. If I go out to my field, I might get up to the first knuckle if I hit a wet spot. That could be due to the deadwood, it could be due to the straw bale border, it could be due to my adding compost earlier this spring, or the fact that I grew and left roots. Whatever the case, the heavy clay is not a problem if you attack it from different angles, at least that's what I think so far. My main problem is sun in this location, not the soil. The soil is just getting awesomer and awesomer and awesomer.

-wm

[gardenlen]

i did what!! added soils you say? beg your pardon look at presentation carefully please, we never bring in soil. we sue hugelcuktu as well (now that i have heard the term), and putting any pruning's or other sort material at the bottom of the bed will work anywhere over time it mus surely? look at the natural forests if stuff didn't rot the floor of the forest would be littered high with the material.

but gardening is you do what works for you, best not to criticise others ideas that you asked for.

we never buy soil in so where did you get that idea please?

with our new beds as they will be higher and we have lots of our own top soil from building site to dispose of yes we will this time use soil but not in you context, the rest of the material will be as it always has been.

read carefully

len

[Pakanohida]

i did what!! added soils you say? beg your pardon look at presentation carefully please, we never bring in soil. we sue hugelcuktu as well (now that i have heard the term), and putting any pruning's or other sort material at the bottom of the bed will work anywhere over time it mus surely? look at the natural forests if stuff didn't rot the floor of the forest would be littered high with the material.

but gardening is you do what works for you, best not to criticise others ideas that you asked for.

we never buy soil in so where did you get that idea please?

with our new beds as they will be higher and we have lots of our own top soil from building site to dispose of yes we will this time use soil but not in you context, the rest of the material will be as it always has been.

read carefully

len

WOW! LEN RELAX!

k, soil was a bad choice of words but to quote you exactly from your site

This instruction will take you right through to harvest time.

So the minimum ingredients for my instant organic straw bale garden are as follows:
20 bags of mushroom compost, direct from the farm.
15 bales of spoilt pasture hay could also use straw or lucerne hay or sugar cane mulch as well.

Right here you went well beyond the scope of the discussion as outlined in the 1st post especially when it came directly to this quote from myself.

For reference, this is what I am referring to:
http://youtu.be/UXcA99xGHwQ

[Pakanohida]

Before:
Attachment 1383
After:
Attachment 1382

Here's something you might be interested in. On top of concrete. In serious shade.

I actually got 3 or 4 peas out of it. I grew climbing beans just for their ornamental value and to get some green in a decidedly non-green place.

I use this area as an organic material production center. Everything goes in and then comes out digested and ready for my crops. Eventually even the straw bales will make their way onto the mix. I grow beans right in the middle with all the compost once it's died down a bit.

Growing on top in the first year, mmm, hey were too dry and there wasn't enough sun there. In better sun, with more water, it probably could be done. There's a much higher fungal content right now.

I think in the second year they remain wet enough, given the fungal stuff happening. But maybe not if they are alone with no wet stuff nearby.

Oh, about hugelculture on heavy clay...mmm...I have heavy clay and right now I can sink my whole hand inside. If I go out to my field, I might get up to the first knuckle if I hit a wet spot. That could be due to the deadwood, it could be due to the straw bale border, it could be due to my adding compost earlier this spring, or the fact that I grew and left roots. Whatever the case, the heavy clay is not a problem if you attack it from different angles, at least that's what I think so far. My main problem is sun in this location, not the soil. The soil is just getting awesomer and awesomer and awesomer.

-wm

That top picture with the dark looking soil like matter is exactly what I am writing about for clarity sake again.


Good to know that the soil keeps getting better!

[Pakanohida]

More Youtube reference material:

http://youtu.be/3adakfU9bCY

http://youtu.be/5rIc8kH8x50

[gardenlen]

still don't get what you are on about, first i do not watch youtube stuff show me hard text please, no i did not go beyond any scope the topic "anyone experienced in straw bale gardening", our presentation fits because it clearly shows what we do, we never bring in soil.

if you have a specific question why not ask it?

and i am relaxed what about you? we supplied how we do it not to be criticised but for people to look at and if they find nothing there then ok.

len