My Garden 2014

[matt walker]

Here's a little update I filmed about a month ago and finally got around to editing. I wanted to get this up for you guys, since the things I learned using these techniques over these last few years are coming into play big time in the new areas I'm developing. So yeah, this is sorta a refresher for me, as I'm moving forward kinda quickly now with new areas and this helped me keep some stuff in mind...

[SilverFlame819]

Wow. I don't even know how you keep track of what's in all those! I'm jealous that you get to plant trees. Seriously.

[George Collins]

Awesome stuff.

[Mikimble]

Hey Matt,

Very nice garden and video. I'm looking to try hugelkulture at some point too. Have you ever tried straw bale gardening? I'm going to try it this year; just got some bales and started prepping.

If you haven't heard about it, check out these pics.
[url]
http://www.4042.com/4042forums/showthre ... 405&page=2[/url]


Mike

PS I'm definitely doing the tomato arbor.

[mannytheseacow]

Very interesting, Mikimble. I don't have any straw bales but I have oodles of straw bedding from the goats and sheep piled up from winter. It's laced with manure. Seems like it would be perfect to string across my beds and plant my warm vegetables into.

[matt walker]

Thanks guys. Mike, I haven't tried gardening in bales but I've done the deep straw mulch, ala Ruth Stout. My winters are too mild here to use straw over the winter season in the garden. The rodents set up shop and I had a terrible season after having straw in my garden all winter. Nonetheless, I have seen the method you posted and it is really intriguing. If I had access to straw bales I'd be giving it a try for sure.

[Lollykoko]

Mike, you have reinforced my desire to try straw bale gardening this year.

[Mikimble]

Hey Lolly,

I hope that is a good thing. I tried this years ago, but didn't prep the bales. I live on the top of a hill, so there's not much top soil to work with. This could be an easy way to grow more without all the work of creating new raised beds, which is how I have been gardening lately. I'm going to try the tomato arbor, and also try potatoes and carrots in the bales. I am going to prep my bales with earthworm castings from my worm farm. I'll keep everyone posted on how this turns out.

Mike

PS Matt, what kind of critters would be getting into your bales??

[matt walker]

We have really mild winters, so rodents would live in the straw over the winter and when spring broke it was a infestation. Mostly rats and voles.

[pa_friendly_guy]

What do you have to do to prep the bales ? Do you have to add some mulch or top soil to the top of the bale to get things started? Looks like an easy way to grow if you have the straw, or even if you don't have straw, it does not cost that much for a bale of straw. Much less work than digging rocks.