There was a thread on the "Experimental Gardening Forum" a few years back about gardening in straw bales found here Straw Bales. Although I have not tried the technique I always kept it in mind in case someone with a handicap asked for ideas on how to garden. This may be of help to you.

I also read of a gentleman who used this technique that gave more information found here Straw Garden. He used chemical fertilizers, but I am sure you can find a way around this if you desire. Good luck with your adventure...

Blutranes

Ashli,

You can definitely do that. If you google 'straw bale gardening' you will find a good wealth of information.

I once saw an article of a gentleman who lived in an apartment in Toronto and wished to garden. His building was surrounded by asphalt, so he took a couple of small wagons, placed bales on them and planted flowers. I remember that some of the plants were sunflowers.

In the evenings he would tuck away the wagons next to the building, but in the daytime when folks were at work and they had taken their cars out of the parking lot, he would move the wagons to the sunny parking spots.

I created a raised bed this fall, using bales of hay/straw as a background. I will be planting in those bales come the spring, just poking holes, placing a bit of dirt, and placing the plants. Could be interesting!

Seems that people have made it work pretty well. I guess you'd have just compost at the end of the season. I tried it out and it didn't work for me, but I didn't use as much fertilizer etc. and soaking as the people that have really experimented with it. I grew a couple tomatoe plants in one and got a few fruit.

heh heh- I hope this doesn't turn into another 1/2 finished compost thread... kuzz that's what you'd be growing in- LOL :)

g'day ashli,

yes you can use the bails to form the edge, and you can split the bails into biscuits and do the same thing.

anyhow see my web page and see how i did mine.

the seasons greeting to all

len

Here is a link that might be useful: len's garden page

Biscuits? Is that when a bale of hay or alfalfa is divided into maybe 6 different squares. In the US those are 'flakes'. I think biscuits sounds so much better!