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Straw Bale Solutions: Creative Tips for Growing Vegetables in Bales at Home, in Community Gardens, and around the World
In any climate and on any continent you can grow beautiful, fresh vegetables in environments where no food has grown before. In Straw Bale Solutions , you will find over two dozen stories of Straw Bale Gardens that inspire as much as they educate. You will recognize in them many of the challenges any gardener faces, and you will see how you can use the experiences of others to write your own Straw Bale Gardening success story.
In backyards and all across the world, Straw Bale Gardening (SPG) is making an impact. Since he created Straw Bale Gardening in his home in the Midwestern US, author Joel Karsten has talked to thousands of gardeners and traveled to dozens of countries to spread the SBG word. Here, in Joel’s own words, is a collection of fascinating illustrated stories that you can enjoy and learn from . For
In backyards and all across the world, Straw Bale Gardening (SPG) is making an impact. Since he created Straw Bale Gardening in his home in the Midwestern US, author Joel Karsten has talked to thousands of gardeners and traveled to dozens of countries to spread the SBG word. Here, in Joel’s own words, is a collection of fascinating illustrated stories that you can enjoy and learn from . For
- GenresGardening
176 pages, Paperback
Published March 20, 2018
6 people are currently reading
636 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 29, 2018
I had heard about Joel Karsten’s straw bale gardening method, and purchased this as well as his previous book, “Straw Bale Gardens Complete.” Together, they make a great addition to my gardening book shelf.
“Straw Bale Solutions” begins with an overview of the basics of starting your own straw bale garden before moving on to demonstrate exactly how well this method works. Mr. Karsten showcases gardeners from around the world, detailing the special challenges each faced and how straw bales changed they way they planted and grew food. Individuals as well as organizations are featured, each sharing the specific issues faced and detailing how straw bales have changed their lives as well as the lives of others in their communities.
The accompanying pictures are equally as impressive as the stories. As someone who has struggled for years with a short growing season along with soil that is composed primarily of clay and rocks, it was exciting to view the successes of others and realize that I have the opportunity to duplicate their accomplishments.
This book will educate you, and the stories will inspire you. Five stars.
“Straw Bale Solutions” begins with an overview of the basics of starting your own straw bale garden before moving on to demonstrate exactly how well this method works. Mr. Karsten showcases gardeners from around the world, detailing the special challenges each faced and how straw bales changed they way they planted and grew food. Individuals as well as organizations are featured, each sharing the specific issues faced and detailing how straw bales have changed their lives as well as the lives of others in their communities.
The accompanying pictures are equally as impressive as the stories. As someone who has struggled for years with a short growing season along with soil that is composed primarily of clay and rocks, it was exciting to view the successes of others and realize that I have the opportunity to duplicate their accomplishments.
This book will educate you, and the stories will inspire you. Five stars.
February 23, 2018
Hello to Straw Bale Gardening and Goodbye to Weeds!
I have a weedy patch in my backyard where I desperately would like to plant some vegetables.
So far I have been scratching my head how I would be able to do that on a very tight budget and with the little time I have during the week to actually tend to my garden.
Straw bale gardening is a new and fascinating concept for me. With Joel Karsten's valuable instructions, straw bale gardens are very easy to set up and it does not need much maintenance to produce a home grown crop of vegetables and even to feature some flowers. And, most importantly, I can basically forget about the weeds! All I need to do is to put some kind of weed barrier on the ground between the bales, plant my vegetable plants on the bales, keep them moist, and watch them grow.
I love that Joel Karsten gives many examples of people from all over the globe who have had a lot of success with straw bale gardening. Often these people have faced less than ideal conditions in their gardens, like hard to work and unfertile soil, uneven terrain, or seasonal flooding. The photographs of their straw bale gardens showing lush plants growing on them are a testimony to how well the concept seems to work. The book also shows examples of community gardens with straw bales that can be set up in all kinds of spaces. I cannot wait to buy a couple of straw bales and see how it goes.
I have a weedy patch in my backyard where I desperately would like to plant some vegetables.
So far I have been scratching my head how I would be able to do that on a very tight budget and with the little time I have during the week to actually tend to my garden.
Straw bale gardening is a new and fascinating concept for me. With Joel Karsten's valuable instructions, straw bale gardens are very easy to set up and it does not need much maintenance to produce a home grown crop of vegetables and even to feature some flowers. And, most importantly, I can basically forget about the weeds! All I need to do is to put some kind of weed barrier on the ground between the bales, plant my vegetable plants on the bales, keep them moist, and watch them grow.
I love that Joel Karsten gives many examples of people from all over the globe who have had a lot of success with straw bale gardening. Often these people have faced less than ideal conditions in their gardens, like hard to work and unfertile soil, uneven terrain, or seasonal flooding. The photographs of their straw bale gardens showing lush plants growing on them are a testimony to how well the concept seems to work. The book also shows examples of community gardens with straw bales that can be set up in all kinds of spaces. I cannot wait to buy a couple of straw bales and see how it goes.
August 19, 2018
This book takes me back to the 1970s when we had our first garden, we grew vegetables based on the same principal, where we were living then was cold, and wet and the straw bales offered warmth and protection.
Reading this book just reminded me again about this process, and how well it will work where we live now, which is very hot, dry with very cold winters.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that want to grow fresh vegetables in a multitude of climates, organically and little effort. This book offers examples of various people, in various parts of the world using this method of growing. Stood the test of time.
Reading this book just reminded me again about this process, and how well it will work where we live now, which is very hot, dry with very cold winters.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that want to grow fresh vegetables in a multitude of climates, organically and little effort. This book offers examples of various people, in various parts of the world using this method of growing. Stood the test of time.
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February 3, 2022Loved reading the different location scenarios, especially across the globe. I have been straw bale gardening for 6 years, and still found this an inspiring read.
March 1, 2018
This book has a ton of great ideas with helpful advice from a lot of seasoned straw bale gardeners so I don't think I will have any problems with this one and it is a good way to garden without digging up the yard or even if you only have a small outdoor space. I had never heard of this style of gardening, I knew you could use straw bales as walls to make a temporary cold frame but never tried to use them as the "raised bed". It's still winter here so I can't try it out yet but I already have a couple of bales of horse hay that I can't use for feed so I have followed the easy instructions on how to prep them to so they will be ready to plant in the spring. This review was originally posted on Books In Brogan
March 11, 2018
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Netgalley in return for my honest opinion. Wow! I really enjoyed this book! I have heard about straw bale gardening but didn't know too much about it. I enjoyed the way this book is organized. It gives you the information you need to get started and then also shares stories of people around the world with all different kinds of challenges they have faced with gardening and how straw bale gardening has allowed them to be successful. The pictures of people's straw bale gardens are really something. I will be getting started on my own garden soon! If you're looking for an easier way to garden, this may be for you!
June 6, 2018
#StrawBalePlanet #NetGalley
A very good reference about Straw Bale Gardening Concept. The books explores the strategies around the world using Straw Bale Gardening.
A very good reference about Straw Bale Gardening Concept. The books explores the strategies around the world using Straw Bale Gardening.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews