By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

For many years I have always looked for something to do with all those bales of straw I see going to the landfills after Halloween.

In the past I have gathered what I could and used them for bedding for my animals or as mulch for my garden but there does exist another garden use.

This use can benefit every conceivable type of gardener from apartment homesteader to homeowner.

What could straw bale and gardeners without land have in common?

The answer to this question is straw bale gardening.

The most important aspect of this type of gardening is using the right type of straw. Do not use hay but instead use wheat. The reason for this is Read the rest of this entry »

By Michael Nolan

I have to be honest.

The first time I heard about this idea I choked on my Fanta and ridiculed the messenger.

How crazy does it sound, really? Growing tomatoes in bales of hay?

When I realized that it was in fact true and entirely possible, I swear I could hear the unmistakable strains of that all-too-familiar tune from Deliverance playing in my head. I felt even stranger when I realized that this isn’t anything new.

All it really takes is a line of bales placed in full exposure to the sun.For best use, the bales you use Read the rest of this entry »