Steel from soil?

12 years ago

Did you back the steel with something as a barrier to the soil? If so, what did you use? This is a stunning application.

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CSDesign llc

12 years ago

We did not back it with anything in this application. We have on some of our projects where the client had concerns, but we have had the soil tested and have investigated any leaching issues and have found no reason for concern.
This was a fun project with a visionary client and is really beautiful in the winter with just cover crops.
It sounds like you have quite a bit of steel around your house, we have been working with corten in the landscape longer than anyone in the northwest and would be happy to discuss a project with you.
Thank you for the compliment!

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Comments (7)

Alyssa
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you! The house is pretty new and there are still lots of projects to finish before I get a real garden. I'm growing everything in straw bales this year - ugly but effective. This is certainly an upgrade I intend to keep in mind and it is good to know there is someone local with experience!
dolaimo
11 years ago
I love what you guys did for this garden. How thick is the steel you used by the way?
Ama Dann
11 years ago
Alyssa, I just love your garden bales. Have you "hollowed" them out I am most keen to use bales as we do baling on the farm. We cant grow veggies in the ground, we have free range chickens and cute little "field mice" that wreak havoc on our plants and veggies. Bales could work, we could cover them with very fine chicken mesh. I just like your idea.
Alyssa
Original Author
11 years ago
Hi Ama -

I used this information from Washington State University. The straw bales are first conditioned to start them breaking down, then I put some soil on top (about an inch) to make it look a bit nicer and so that I could direct sow some of my flower seeds. For larger transplants, you tear open a hole in the bale and pop them in. Soaker hoses work best for watering since a faster application will run out of the bale too quickly.

I have NEVER had better luck with my tomatoes staying blight free or producing so much.

I hope it works out for you!

WSU straw bale garden PDF
Ama Dann
11 years ago
Oh thank you Alyssa, really am going home this weekend to let my hubby know. How long does the conditioning take and do you "use" anything to speed up the conditioning process.(If so, what should be used & is it eco friendly). I love the idea of using bales for many applications. I once saw a building program on TV and they build houses with bales, something they used about 400-500 years ago (which are still standing to this day!) Makes for great insulation and strong. I think they had to use a fire retardant and then "caged" the bales in a frame & wire mesh, then gently blasted cement mix over it. Built a house in no time! We have wheat and barley bales, which we sell as fodder for horses and as we are in a "wine growing" (yes, that's what we call it, imagine growing wine!) anyhow, the vineyards use the bales as mulch for the vines. Also used for growing mushrooms! seating at coffee shops and great for barns and we have a lot of outdoor musical evenings in the area, the people love the bales, they last as well. Oops, that was a Geography and some History thrown in. BTW we live in The Cape Province, South Africa. thanks once again for your help, glad to hear you have great tomatoes! mmm.. does that sound ok?
Alyssa
Original Author
11 years ago
Sounds like you've got a lot of space and a lot going on! I use a local winery as a source of pallets but my yard is only about 40'x25'.

You do add something to the bales to kickstart the decomp. I'd click on the link I provided because I'm not any good at remembering chemical compound names - there might be other ways to start this process but I'd imagine they'd take longer. The process took about a week of conditioning and then another week to cool off before we planted in them.

Good luck!