That's the way to go for sure. I also shed up news paper (not the shiney stuff though) and much with that as well. Recycle and reuse.
Wheat straw is brought in by the big round bales on 18 long flat bed trailers.30 to 40 bales at the time to use in the compost at Monterey Mushroom plant.I ask why straw and was told it is hollow and composts faster.Straw or Hay does attract all kinds of things rats ,snakes and for sure black widow spiders and other types of spiders and beetles and bugs.I have planted strawberries and spread it under my plants.The straw bales are turned into the other things to be composted by huge stingers everyday.(machines for turning large amounts)
Palm Tree, why not setup a rain barrel system to collect some free precipitation from your house? I built one last fall for around $30 in parts from Lowes. I followed the directions almost exactly from this show on HGTV:How to Build a Rain Barrel. The exact part numbers are listed with that video. The hard part is finding the 55-gallon plastic barrels. I linked two of them together with a short PVC pipe at the top center. I have around 100 gallons of water (free). I'm planning on trying some straw bale tomato gardening this year because I have limited space and think I can better utilize my garden arch trellis I built last year (also for $30 in parts). I don't need to walk under the trellis, so I think I have found a good place to do it. I think the bales should go up against the raised bed so as to limit any shadows cast to the other side of the trellis where I will likely have cukes and beans growing again this year.
Hi there GardenJedi THanks for the idea - that is the plan for this year. BTW your garden looks lovely. AND welcome to the Stew -I see that you are new.
Welcome to the stew, an thanks for the link. Your garden is lovely, I see you use cattle panel for arches. aren't they great. I use those to for my climbing beans an plan to make a tunnel of butterbeans this season.
