I ran across this article that sums up the process fairly well.
http://www.beginner-gardening.com/straw-bale-gardening.html
I'm hoping to try this out if I can find some straw. :)
Interesting summary
Glanced over the summary. Have just 2 quick comments:
1. Hay/grass bales work fine, too. Those who have used it have had nothing but positive comments. The bales are usually a little more expensive than straw, but use what's available and your preferred medium.
2. I prefer strings ON the ground when using straw bales. Tried 'em both ways. But, again, it's a matter of preference.
Thanks for the link.
Kent
The only thing I could find around here is coastal bermuda hay so far it hasn't started showing weeds. I am starting with strawberries but this spring I plan on tomatoes and cukes this is new to me but I think I'm going to enjoy the SB gardening. I have been gardening for 40 years and for the past 15 in raised bed gardens. Expanding my garden this year will be fun and intresting. I have been lurking here for a while now I am a strawbaler too!
Hey Molymist ever been to the "Smok'n Pig"
I haven't but my daughter has and she loves eating there. :)
Keep us posted on your strawbale experience.
I will thanks. My Son In Law is stationed in Valdust ( of course my daughter and grandkids are there too) and lives up the road from it we have ate there a couple of time its very good Bar B Q and thats coming from a Texan.
I plan to keep up with this forum with questions and information.
Is your son in the Air Force here at Moody? My Son-in-law is in the Army National Guard and is in Afghanistan right now. I try to avoid the news as much as possible. :)
Yes he's in The A.F. and is going to deploy sometime we just don't know when. He just made Lt. Col. He has been deployed one other time and I didn't like it. And he is my Son in law. My daughter is a teacher they got to Valdusta to late for her to get a job. But an officers wife is a busy one also.
There is a great nursery that we go to everytime we are there I think its called "Southern Landscapes" we come home with a truck load of plants every time we go. The prices are much better there than here in the Houston area. I think we will be back there in April we might have to babysit for a week or so. I don't mind I'm retired. But that is in the middle of my fishing season. I fish Crappie in the spring maybe I can find a lake to fish there I look into it.
I'll have to check out the nursery sometime. I'm sure you will be able to find somewhere to fish around here. :)
So far the strawberries havn't done so well I mulched them right before we had some really bed weather, snow and freezing temps although they are still green they arn't growing I have tried miracle grow and yesterday I used some Medina I'm going to try to scrape some of the mulch back away from the plants to see if it'll help.I am preparing the area for the rest of my Strawbale garden and I plan to pick up 15 more bales today. Our weather here has been awful rain rain and more rain I run out and slug through the mud whenever the sun does shine I am hopeing this is our last round of bad weather so I can get something done. More rain in the forcast for this weekend.
rucky,
I am praying for the same thing. I hope your strawberries do alright. :)
I went out yesterday to get more hay bales and there was a limit of two. It seems that because of all the rain we have had no one can get their hay from the feilds. So I went on Craigslist and advertized for some old bales I got my fingers crossed.
well I found some hay bales I had to drive about 35 miles away to get them and they cost me $9 a piece. But I am ready to go I shook some year long ant killer out in the area. Layed out the bales where I wanted them then I started pouring a manure tea made with cow manure and fish emulsion and medina fertilizer. It stinks but its potent and should get it started. YEA I'm on my way!!
Good for you! Thant's a substantial investment, but I'm sure you will be glad you did it.
Keep us up to date if you can, we all like to hear what's happening for other SBers. It's surprising how much I can learn just reading about someone elses successes. Things that make you say "Now, why didn't "I" think of that???
Good luck!