Weed-Free Bale Gardens and Mushrooms

Vegetables
Written By Steven Biggs
Straw Bale garden expert Joel Karsten

Joel Karsten joins us to talk about straw-bale gardens and growing mushrooms.

Straw-Bale Gardening

In this episode we speak with Joel Karsten about straw-bale gardening.

He is the author of Straw Bale Gardens Complete.

We chat about:

  • Straw bale gardens as a way to grow in very wet conditions

  • Making non-straw bales out of other available organic materials

  • Trellising for straw-bale gardens

  • Making raised straw-bale gardens

  • Growing mushrooms on straw bales (spoiler alert: then you can grow veggies afterwards!)

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Steven Biggs

Recognized by Garden Making Magazine as one of the "green gang" of Canadians making a difference in horticulture, Steven Biggs is a horticulturist, former college instructor, and award-winning broadcaster and author. His passion is helping home gardeners grow food in creative and attractive ways.


He’s the author of eight gardening books, including the Canadian bestseller No Guff Vegetable Gardening. His articles have appeared in Canada’s Local Gardener, Mother Earth News, Fine Gardening, Garden Making, Country Guide, Edible Toronto, and other magazines.


Along with over 30 years working in the horticultural sector and a horticultural-science major at the University of Guelph, Steven’s experience includes hands-on projects in his own garden including wicking beds, driveway strawbale gardens, and a rooftop tomato plantation—to the ongoing amusement of neighbours.


When not in the garden, you might catch him recording his award-winning Food Garden Life podcast or canoeing in Algonquin Park.

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