After much consternation, multiple revisions, and contemplation, here is where I’ve landed. My publisher suggested I develop a “Brand” around this crazy concept I’ve cornered. I finished the book, and then the suggestions began. Start a blog, start a blog… come on Joel everyone blogs, you need to start a blog. I’m afraid I will run out of things to say, I mean how do people blog for years and keep finding new things to talk about. My wife tells me all the time “to stop ranting about the same stuff” as I have a tendency to do, but once my rants are written down, everyone will know if I start repeating myself, and she’ll have confirmation that I am nuts! I’ll give it a go. Stop by from time to time and we can catch up. I look forward to some great conversations with readers.
Big Sad Grin … I know what you mean about running out of anything ‘New’ to blog about. My first post was dated June 2009 and I now have 560+ blog postings. It seems to get more difficult with every posting to not be repeating myself …
Happy blogging
Well, I for one am very excited about your blog. Every now and then I search for straw bale gardening, and find very little. And then today I see you in my reader search! Happy day! Now, when will this winter end?
You are very kind. Welcome, and I hope I can give you some good info, and maybe a couple chuckles.
I’m also a tad excited about your concept… I hope to soon get a few bales going!! I’ll keep you updated… with a post or two of my own… I’m sure! 😉
Can the bails be used more than one growing season? If so – how may years and how is is best to store them over the winter months?
I read about straw bale gardening last May. It was mid June when I thought the bales were conditioned enough to plant. The plants stayed alive, but did not thrive. I had cucumbers, squash, tomatoes as transplants. I am going to try again this year with the same bales, but put them in a container with more soil on top. Anxious to see if this will work for me.
I cant wait to try a strawbale garden. This year was my first garden with okay success. Next year I want to be much better. I have learned quite a few things, keep searching new techniques and things to try. The only thing I am weary about is the trellis systems. It is very beautiful and useful but it looks like a lot of work to do on my own. I will give it my best. It is fall now and I already miss my garden. I have some broccoli and cauliflower that doesn’t seem to be doing much and it is going to be very cold every night this week. I have been covering my plants but now I fear I will give up since I am fighting a losing battle. But spring I already ordered my seeds and my plants and know where I can have about 20 bales of straw delivered from. So wish me good luck. And hope winter passes quite quickly.
Fine way of telling, and pleasant article to get facts on the topic of my presentation subject matter, which i am going to deliver in institution of higher education.
Just got 2 of your books and I am excited to try straw bales. Living in the Pacific Northwest with lots of rain and late springs, and almost no sun until July 1 makes it difficult to get the soil warmed up. So this sounds like a great way to deal with those issues! And a great way to improve my garden soil at the same time. I have picked up mulch/straw and founds bunches of worms. So I know they are happy there. My biggest concern is finding straw with no pesticides or herbicides here in Washington. Thanks for the info!
Looking forward to straw bale gardening this year. My only concern is that it seems like it might take lots more water than conventional gardening. We have your book and have purchased soaker hose. We are in the process on laying out the garden today. Thanks.
I attended your talk at the Belgrade, MN Library a month or so ago and am very excited to get going on my bale garden! We got 5 bails for $2 a piece. I was telling a friend (who bought your book online but didn’t see you in person) that you recomend root crops the second year using the same bails instead of the first year. He really didn’t seem to believe me because you “doesn’t say that in the book”.
Thanks Joel, you are a great speaker!
This is my first attempt at Straw Bale Gardening; I took a gardening class several months ago that talked about this & unfortunately, I was told about your book but did not go in search of it until I started conditioning my bales, following the instructions given at the gardening class I took. I am now on day 10, and am so very disappointed with my results — my bales are not composting ! the internal temperature is cooler than outside. #1 mistake I made was not knowing to put the cut side up (makes sense as soon as I read your book). I put my bales in enclosures I built out of used pallets, so it is too late to turn them over. I am using a lawn fertilizer with 22% nitrogen, I’ve used bone meal, and small nitrogen crystals to no avail. Is it too late for this, or is there still hope? I am hoping I hear from you …… thanks for all you do!
a couple of weeks ago i started a few straw bales for gardening and i am excited to plant. i planned on tomatoes, peppers, and herbs but realizing i may be a couple of weeks off before the chance of frost is gone. wouldn’t you know i planned on all frost sensitive plants, so here i sit with conditioned bales and nothing in them…
Heard about S B gardening searched and find you. Excellent! We live on Vancouver Island BC. Similar climate to Seattle with many old growth Douglas Fir. 140′ in height with HUGE root systems. Raised garden boxes failed after 2 years due to root encroachment. Tried putting concrete ‘floor’ in the boxes but the roots came up around the concrete and into the boxes. Very hardy trees with a mind of their own, that is why they are 300 years old! So we are going to try the straw bale trick next spring. Looks great a very productive! Do you add fertilizer to your bales during watering? New bales each year? Do you recycle the straw thru composting? We will be using our deer fence mesh as trellising.
Could hay bales be used instead of straw?
How will I know when my bales are ready?