Less weeding, less watering, better crops - a horticulturalist's dream

According to a straw bale growing system developed by a former farm boy, it's something everyone can achieve. And when times are tough, it might be worth a look.

Straw bale gardening pioneer Joel Karsten believes raising a garden can lower grocery bills and provide the freshest, most delicious tasting vegetables.

“Tomatoes, even in season, are a couple of dollars a pound, and it isn’t uncommon to grow 100-plus pounds of tomatoes from a single bale,” he said.

“The savings you’ll get from growing a garden are astounding and make a huge difference in any family budget.”

A horticulture science graduate from the University of Minnesota, Joel Karsten grew up on a crop and dairy farm in southern Minnesota where the seed for his love of gardening was planted. After buying his first home and realising that nothing could grow in the compacted construction backfill, he experimented with growing tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in straw bales.

It has since become a worldwide phenomenon.

Now is the time to lay the groundwork for a summer garden, and Karsten shares the details of his revolutionary method in his book, 'Straw Bale Gardens Complete'. This unique technique makes growing fresh veg possible even for those with bad soil or no backyard at all.

And those looking to create beautiful flower arrangements can also do it without breaking the bank.

Karsten’s method requires less maintenance and weeding, and because of the raised height, makes gardening more accessible for seniors who can’t do the hard physical work of gardening, he explains.

The method works in any climate and for nearly every vegetable crop, and doesn’t require any soil at all, so it can be done on concrete, asphalt or even on a rooftop.

'Straw Bale Gardens Complete' provides plenty of inspiration, with detailed steps for planning, planting and harvesting a straw bale garden; bale variations and options; watering guidelines; and plant profiles.

Also included are tips for irrigating in dry climates, gardening in small and urban spaces, and even DIY instructions for homemade bales from compostable materials.

“Growing a successful vegetable garden is difficult enough if you have terrific soil to plant your garden into, but with poor soils it can be virtually impossible,” Karsten added.

“Straw bale gardening allows anyone, even those with the worst soil conditions, to grow a terrific garden that is inexpensive, productive and much less labour intensive.”

For more information, visit strawbalegardens.com/, or follow the author on Facebook (LearnToGrowAStrawBaleGarden), Instagram (StrawBaleGardenClub) or YouTube (Straw Bale Garden Club).