the cheapest straw bales i've found, by far, are at Lowe's.
i raise chickens & use a lot in that endeavor. i'm using straw bales as the perimeter walls for a cold frame this winter, and i am wowed at how easy and effective it is. the best part - it will easily disappear when i'm done with it in a month or two.

i recently read elsewhere about raised beds with straw bale walls - sounds like a great idea to me - go for it! creating planting pockets in the tops of the bales is a clever idea.

i'm so glad someone told you about the pressure treated lumber.

welcome to home & garden ownership, and to the Carolina Forum! stick with us - you'll be informed, sometimes confused, and always amused :)
marsha

Hey Mike! What a great idea!! I just joined in here at the Carolina Garden Forum, too, and think this is a treasure of information. Happy Gardening!

i wasn't finished with you, afterall :) thought i'd pass along this link - particularly for the info on soil mixtures for raised veggie beds. even if you don't follow the square foot gardening method per se, there's some good, plainly-stated info here that should get you thinking.

Here is a link that might be useful: square foot gardening

Hi Mike! I am in awe. Only 26, bought your first house AND gardening. You should be proud. I'll be looking forward to following your gardening progress.

You have come to the right place to learn and share. The people that I have met here have helped me a great deal.