This really works. Previous garden attempts were stymied by rapid weed growth due to location on the edge of a hay field. The straw bale gardening is pretty much weed-free and grew incredible vegetables. First year I did it, I had pumpkin, watermelon, 4 varieties of tomatoes, 4 lettuce varieties, cucumbers, green beans, eggplant, green onions and peppers growing with incredible bounty. I could not keep up with the production that 24 bales produced. I had it on a drip irrigation that watered bales daily. I heartily endorse this method.
In my school growing up, we learned to grow, tomatoes, lettuce, other greens. Now all we learn to do is buy. This man should be recruited by schools, and take these bales into classes and get kids learning how to grow things.
After three years of straw bale gardening, I've found it to be a great way of growing many plants such as tomatoes because of the way the bales retain optimum moisture (not too dry, not too wet even if I over water or if rain is heavy.) In fall the spent straw gets thrown into trenches that I dig in the middle of my raised beds. Kind of like core gardening, the composting straw retains moisture for next year's crops, feeds worms and decomposes nicely into soil. What I cannot bury in the trenches gets thrown on top of the beds as mulch. In the spring anything that hasn't broken down gets moved aside for planting or thrown into a traditional compost pile where it breaks down very fast.
I teach Joel's method here in Arkansas, and it is so good to be able to help seniors, disabled and working people be able to have fresh fruit and veggies right out their back door, I also grow a large straw bale garden each year and donate most of that produce to a local food pantry
You are very kind and generous with your comment, and may I say, “from your lips to God’s ears!” People think I’m nuts when I explain how we CAN end hunger without just giving money and food away but rather by solving the root of the problem by teaching instead.
We can only talk about people's happiness when they are full-bellied and secure, this is such a beautiful starting to point to help humanity move forward
It is daunting to think of 850 million people who’s entire existence is spent thinking about food. They don’t have much opportunity to contribute to society, only because their own hunger pangs continue daily.
I have been all over the internet today researching what I have to do to get my bale's ready. Actually found out about it from my independent news resource... Figured youtube would have someone that's done it and now I've found Joel who is like literally saving the world with it!
So very proud! I’m biased but what Joel has accomplished is nothing short of amazing! From figuring out a better way to garden in our backyard to finding an achievable, sustainable way to end world hunger... is nothing short of inspiring and amazing!
Bravo, bravo Joel! You are teaching people to fish (and catch a lot of them)! Such a simple idea that anyone can learn. You don't need to know a certain language, have a certain education, or live in a particular climate. Everyone wins! Think of the implications this simple concept could have worldwide? Amazing, simply amazing. Pass it on ....
One of our goals this year is to create a curriculum that elementary and middle schools can utilize. Once it is complete we will offer it for no cost to any school who’d like to have it. You are reading our minds, so please let me know if you remember any of my passwords I forgot!
Thank you Joel for bringing this to the forefront. I feel like if communities knew just how easy we could feed ourselves, more people would be watching this and trying it.
Wow, I am so happy to have watched Joel's TEDx talk on straw bale gardening. I've been straw bale gardening for years, but didn't know about Joel...I wish I hadn't missed out on so many of his contributions and his fight to end world hunger. Thank you, Joel Karsten!
We have a goal this year to write a more formal curriculum for grade school and middle school students. We will provide this to schools at no cost once we have it available. Great minds think alike!
So proud Joel is from Minnesota! Straw bale gardening is the best, have used it the last four years and each year I cut down on the amount I plant because of the abundance of crop I get.
I plan on building a second green house. I have lost 100 pounds in the last 3 years. I have your book and THANK YOU for the knowledge. It also helps with depression. I get to watch all the bees, butterflies and humming birds.
Nancy you are going to love my new book coming in the spring. I show you how to build a 7'x9' greenhouse for late winter/early spring for under $100, and you'll get free heat! Thanks for your comment as well.
I started straw bale gardening 3 years ago because I had no garden, and the soil was lifeless. Three years later I have incredible soil, teaming with life, from the now composted bales, and I couldn't be happier with this method. I'm going to keep straw bale gardening, along with other methods.
Yes, and when that local Cambodian guy taught 3000 other farmers, that is when a charitable organisation knows it has done it's job well. Also, getting the students to teach their parents was also a very smart play.
Cat Astrid it is a very fun way to garden. My favorite comments on our Facebook at Instagram posts are when people say, “I’m only upset that I didn’t discover this twenty years ago, I haven’t pulled a weed all summer, and I’ll never go back to planting in the ground ever again.”
I think the money saved is just not what we don't have to buy at the store, but gardening allows us a recreation, a hobby the fulfills time we spend by spending. This is a great concept.
What a great talk! I’m so happy with my bales - the very first year my first tomato was over 1lb!!! I am currently in a rental, and being able to garden without changing any of the owners’ landscaping was really nice - all the neighbors (we front a street where most of the dog-walkers go, and there is a Starbucks 4 blocks down from us, so EVERYONE went past our yard) as well as the landlords were just amazed at what I was growing. I got a late start that first year, and the second year I tried using the same bales again (it works, but FIRST YEAR BALES are vastly superior!!!) and I am so excited to do it again this year! My ten year old has a science fair coming up and the theme is PLANTS... so of course we are going to do a mini-straw bale, regular soil, and hydroponics to see how they compare. I’m super excited to get started... the only problem is that plants grow so fast and so tall in the bales that we have to be careful to pick something that will stay relatively short!
Started out 3 years ago with 15 bales and loved it. Following year I added another 15 bales. I am still amazed by the amount of produce I get. And much easier on the back.
I stumbled upon Joel Karsten's straw bale gardening book a few years ago and have been singing his praises ever since. My soil is shallow and rocky with no drainage whatsoever. Growing veggies in my straw bales is so rewarding and impossibly easy. Very little work for huge gains. It is inspiring to see Joel's message being spread worldwide...Win Win! Bravo Joel!!!
Faye I’m sorry to have just read your lovely comments now, but wanted to thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely note. You are so very sweet to do so.
Simple solutions for the WIN! I can't believe this isn't more common knowledge! Why isn't it!? Why are we not teaching this in schools?! In jails? In rehabs?! This is just too good!
Hearing about how this helped the Farmers in Cambodia through flood season was pretty incredible. What a difference you would have made to their lives with this. I'm feeling pretty inspired by all this.
I have legit never heard of straw bale gardens before- why is this more more commonly known? All that time I spend procrastinating from starting a garden because I would have to dig holes and make garden beds. This is incredible.
From your lips to god’s ears! We hope it becomes more widely known…we work every day to spread the word, but any help anyone can offer will be very appreciated.
Nowadays, with all the knowledge I don't think it's a big problem to overcome hunger. We only need 2 things: sharing the knowledge and desire of people to get this knowledge.
Understand however that “hunger” has become a business for many people. They push the existing architecture of supplying food via large private and government programs that pay their workers well from the money given to fix the problem. No more problem means no more jobs. It is very sad how resistant many are to actually presenting solutions.
So inspiring. Joel shares such an inspiring story and method in how the world can solve hunger, providing the gift of fresh food, grown right in our back yards.
I hope you’ll decide to give it a try. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it. There will be many nay sayers who will poopoo the idea, but trust me they will eat crow when you are eating tomatoes!
I'm really glad he made the distinction about hunger and malnutrition... I certainly had no idea that was the case and I'll bet not many other people would either.
The business of "big hunger" is like many other big business, profit oriented. The people who work for and run the very large "food aid" type enterprises are extremely well compensated. They are helping the poorest on earth, but they certainly are not working for free, and most "westerners" in the key roles within these large entities are VERY well compensated. If you think the distinctions about hunger vs. malnutrition were surprising, you would be really surprised if you saw the salaries of the leadership of "big hunger" around the world. If your job was to solve a problem that would then cause you to lose your job, would you work really hard to solve the problem, or would you realize how silly it is to put people into these diametrically opposed positions. Maybe offer them payment based on how much of the problem they solve or shrink each year, with a HUGE bonus if they can completely solve the problem at some point. Thanks for the comment Julie I am sorry I had to climb on my soapbox.
My neighbor, shortly after moving in and seeing me working in my small garden, related to me that "his grandma had always" planted her tomatoes in a trench of old straw on the farm and nothing else and she always had sooo many tomatoes. Growing up in the south I've heard plenty of stories about how so-and-so did this or that and it was a much better way than the way I was doing it. So I mostly ignored him and continued working my garden. A few weeks later in typical Baader-Meinhof fashion I stumbled upon an article on straw bale gardening written by one of the Master Gardeners of my local AG extension, and she of course referenced Mr. Karsten's work. I've had success with raised beds and hugel mounds / lasagna gardening on my hard Georgia red clay, and while it was too late last year, I inevitably did a ton of research of the straw bale method on various blogs and got Joel's book. Needless to say, by the time spring rolled around this year I was excited and ready to implement this new method of gardening into my space. It's May 1st and my bales are a few days out from conditioning and i'm feeling like plants are going in by the weekend. I'm doing a trellised run of four bales and an arched trellis of four bales run parallel in my limited space. Following Joel's method all of my bales are decomposing (running around 105F in the center of the bales with a meat thermometer) and sprouting mushrooms on the top and sides wonderfully \(◦'⌣'◦)/. I'm excited to see how they compare to my hugel mounds but I really have no doubt that this method will be successful. To note: My local box stores did not have any lawn fertilizers without herbicide or extended release (which I read on some blogs can extend the conditioning time.) Also my local feed store didn't carry the 34-0-0 fertilizer because "reasons" but did have the higher nitrogen urea 46-0-0 and with some expert conversion help amounted to using roughly half the amount suggested for standard fertilizers. WE SHALL SEE! I love the idea of this because it is an exciting gardening experiment that has had little financial investment. I hope to update with an amazing success story of a bountiful harvest.
Zacharia Barnwell I’m sure your garden was terrific Zacharia, I’d love to hear how things went for you if you ever read this. Thanks for you lovely post here. Best, Joel
I'm off work on leave and I've spent the last 4 hours looking up sustainable gardening... There are a plethora of videos to be found. I actually watched this one the whole way through AND I'm actually feeling like I could have a handle on this.
Next spring will be my 4th year gardening this way as well. Wouldn't garden any other way. No more weeding really sold me on it. What a pleasure to be able to pick some fresh tomatoes and hand it to the neighbors over the fence. My Dad, whose yard has no sunlight to grow vegetables, always marvels at my garden. And walks away with a bag of home grown tomatoes!
It is amazing how gardening can change a person. A healthier diet is important but the mental change is really most impactful. To know that you can grow your own food and quench that innate need that a human has to plant, nurture and then harvest from what was nothing, shouldn’t be overlooked. This may be even more important than the actual produce.
This methond changed the way I garden here in Michigan. It is just amazing and I've already purchased my straw bales for next years garden. Great job Joel. You are changing the world and lives of many people.
@@gyrokite I've e-mailed you a few times with questions and you gave me some thorough answers. I could see your passion for this topic in your replies. Through your time and dedication you've changed how many people garden and changed the lives of many people over seas. If there is a Nobel Peace price for gardening or empowering people, you surely deserve one. Puting the straw bales on raised mounds of dirt and using the hole that was dug to capture rain water to use for watering during dry months is brilliant!
Simply BRILLIANT Joel. Whilst not a gardener myself, I'm thoroughly inspired. Keep this up as world hunger may have an expiration date with this information from you and the Straw Bale Garden Method.
Thank you very much Geoff for sharing. I really do appreciate your support. The 16 minutes of your attention you offered me, is very generous and kind.
I heard Joel speak locally about 5 years ago and we have been gardening this way ever since. We just love it. Joel is right, this has potential to change everything.
Thanks for your support and I love your vision for teaching this in schools. We use middle schools in rural Asia to teach the SBG method, because the children go home and teach their own parents and grandparents. It reminds me of how recycling became commonplace in the USA. Start by teaching the kids and they taught their parents.
I have been straw bale gardening going on my 6 th year and have had excellent fruits and so easy to do, no tilling, no weeding, no bending to the ground. Less water for it only takes one gallon water per bale a day, if it rains no need to water. I am a Certified Instructor for Joel Karsten now for 5 years. and teach straw bale gardening, I am in North Arkansas. I learned fro Joel Karsten and his book on how to have and grow in a straw bale of most vegetables. I am also 79 years old .
I need to let folks know that William is the admin of the largest and most active Straw Bale Miracle Garden group on Facebook. He has nearly 9,000 members and has become one of the foremost experts on Straw Bale Gardening in the country. His support has meant a great deal to my success as well. I owe him a large debt of gratitude.
The summer of 2018 was my 4th year of gardening by Joel's method, and I can attest to its ease and efficacy. At age 70, with physical disabilities, I simply would not be able to grow vegetables the conventional way, so I am profoundly grateful for his research and teaching. Minimal bending over, lack of weeds, lack of garden pests (except slugs), lack of necessity for fertile, rock-free soil--I can keep doing this indefinitely. The fact that the straw-bale method can benefit populations worldwide who suffer from food insecurity only multiplies its benefits. I am impressed by Joel's ingenuity and dedication and hope that his message reaches an ever-widening audience.
@@omkar2485 I continue to use Joel's method and keep refining my process. This past season I had a bumper crop of tomatoes. My main problem--and this becomes harder every year--is finding organic straw. If you use conventional straw, it may contain herbicide, which is literally death for the veggies.
We have picked up a whole bunch of first time gardeners over the past year. You are exactly correct about the importance of learning these basics of growing food.
Next spring will be my 4th year gardening this way. My straw bale garden is mostly in my front yard. My neighbors think I'm completely and totally nuts, but the city is fine with it. There is so much bounty at harvest time that I share with several of the families in my community. The fun part of my garden is watching people drive by, come to a screeching halt, get out of their cars come over and stare at my garden. HaHaHaHa, if I have time I'll go outside and have a conversation with them. Its a great way to garden I highly recommend it.
Hasn't this man got a great way to him, this is the way teachers need to be, kind, emotive, sharing. Yes I am going to try this (when I am allowed out again).
This was so good! I've been wanting to start a garden for so long.. This really is so much fun and to think of how affordable food would be for so many communities!
todd frank let me know if you have any questions when you get started. It is very simple once you get the bale preparation completed. That part isn’t difficult either, but it is precise.
I've only been able to do one straw bale garden so far. I am impatient and tried to rush it, so I was disappointed with my results. THEN I took up the bales in the Fall and had the most amazing crop of sweet potatoes ever. Some were the size of footballs and all of them were just as tender and small ones. I will definitely be doing straw bales in the future. This is a great answer to food insecurity. One of the main nursing initiatives being addressed around the country. Mr. Karsten's method and his work around the world to end hunger are a wonderfully simple answer to a global problem.
To be hungry for a few hours seems like the end of the world sometimes for us in the westernized world. When cronic hunger grips a region of the world, all productivity stops, the focus of every human is on food, and every waking hour it consumes everyone. Not education, not working, not self improvement or bettering ones self, just hunger. And the pangs that accompany it steal the ambition of those who suffer. Hunger really is the worst of all diseases and yet it is 100% curable and preventable!
I'm going to get into this next spring. My raised beds are just too much work. Meant to do this last spring but it got away from me. This year for sure. Great ideas!
I just got his book today and cannot wait to read it and start my straw bale garden in my front yard. It looks like so much fun. This Ted Talk is excellent! What a brilliant idea to help people have healthy vegetables and fruit!
I am speechless. I can't believe I've never heard of this before and I want to know why. Brilliantly put together talk here and beyond informative, this could be life changing for some!
It is amazing to see how exactly that...life changer...it is for so many. Especially older folks who thought their gardening days were over but now they are back in the game! And they love to share what they know about it, so they are great ambassadors.
Empowering others to become self sufficient using a simple and inexpensive method of strawbale gardening. Fantastic presentation and an even better message!! Way to go Joel!!
This sounds similar to composting, yes? We have 2 composts, 1 for our scraps and 1 for our grass and bush clippings. Both get turned every day until they're sludgey then added to our garden. We love it!
This is essentially a static compost. Note in the talk how people can make their own bales. This would be like putting your grass and brush clippings into a bale. Works great! Try it, and you'll see what I mean.
I'm a believer! I never had the confidence to grow vegetables until straw bale gardening, and now I'm planning my year 6 garden. Growing my own tomatoes has allowed me to make and freeze my own specialty pasta sauce, which I could never afford to make with the price of tomatoes. Thank you for sharing your simple gardening method!
He is proud, but he also wishes he could somehow reach more people. It is sad that the TED talk about the guy who makes beatbox sounds with his mouth has 40 million views, but I have 427k. Maybe I should mix in some juggling or hula hooping or something to get more views! I'd have to learn to juggle and hula hoop first, so that's not going to work. Thanks for the comment Leo, I appreciate your support.
A friend sent this to me, and I really love this. I sent to my parents as they love gardening. I can actually visualize how you can do this and make it look quite stylish too.
Thanks for doing the research Denis. I realize it is a bit weird at first, but once you understand the biology and the science involved it really does make perfect sense.
Just awesome, just freaking awesome. This should be in tons of schools teachings kids to grow for themselves, and this guy would be an amazing teacher for them, AWESOME!!!
Never heard of TEDx Talk until I received Joel’s email today. I attended his presentation here in OKC back in January 2018. After the presentation I followed his methods and started my own garden and have had great success. I used Bermuda grass bales, and in Spring of 2019 will use straw bales, because they are less expensive and to determine if they’re better for growing and easier to maintain.
Well said!! An excellent explanation of so many consequences caused by the lack of FRESH fruits and vegetables around the world....including our own backyard! AND an excellent solution! Thank you!
Gardening became all the rage this past spring with everyone stuck at home. Funny also that a guy couldn't buy a canning jar all summer, as people decided to give that a try as well. I love it!
There is something inside of human beings that experiences a satisfaction from planting a seed and growing a plant, that we then consume, that is hard to explain. It gives a feeling of accomplishment that cannot be achieved any other way. Gardening fills our souls with something special, and I wish only that everyone could experience it.
Thanks for your comment Jasmine, I am so glad you recognize the need for people to grow food themselves, it is key to a healthy, happy, and free existence everywhere around the world.
I had to use local hay bales. Didn't work as good as straw but here in far South Texas it was only thing that I could get. I had them right next to patio so I could access them easily. I think this would be great for someone that is confined to a wheelchair and has room close to the patio. The bales are now the basis for the planner that is growing some beautiful flowers
Adam Mayhew send me your address by email or messenger Adam, and I’ll send you a complimentary box of our BaleBuster to get you started on your first garden.
David Hanson I appreciate that you went outside of your comfort zone. I love TED talks for the exact reason you’ve expressed. I appreciate that you took a chance and gave me 17 minutes of your time.
This really works. Previous garden attempts were stymied by rapid weed growth due to location on the edge of a hay field. The straw bale gardening is pretty much weed-free and grew incredible vegetables. First year I did it, I had pumpkin, watermelon, 4 varieties of tomatoes, 4 lettuce varieties, cucumbers, green beans, eggplant, green onions and peppers growing with incredible bounty. I could not keep up with the production that 24 bales produced. I had it on a drip irrigation that watered bales daily. I heartily endorse this method.
In my school growing up, we learned to grow, tomatoes, lettuce, other greens. Now all we learn to do is buy. This man should be recruited by schools, and take these bales into classes and get kids learning how to grow things.
Agreed! So important!!
@@geoffdeeprose9469 thanks!
What a saving grace for those flood ravaged farmers, they would be so grateful.
The method continues to spread in much of Asia. Especially those areas prone to flood and drought.
More and more floods are happening all around the world. This is gold. Sharing right away.
After three years of straw bale gardening, I've found it to be a great way of growing many plants such as tomatoes because of the way the bales retain optimum moisture (not too dry, not too wet even if I over water or if rain is heavy.) In fall the spent straw gets thrown into trenches that I dig in the middle of my raised beds. Kind of like core gardening, the composting straw retains moisture for next year's crops, feeds worms and decomposes nicely into soil. What I cannot bury in the trenches gets thrown on top of the beds as mulch. In the spring anything that hasn't broken down gets moved aside for planting or thrown into a traditional compost pile where it breaks down very fast.
I teach Joel's method here in Arkansas, and it is so good to be able to help seniors, disabled and working people be able to have fresh fruit and veggies right out their back door, I also grow a large straw bale garden each year and donate most of that produce to a local food pantry
Well, Joel looks like a real hero that can save the planet!
You are very kind and generous with your comment, and may I say, “from your lips to God’s ears!” People think I’m nuts when I explain how we CAN end hunger without just giving money and food away but rather by solving the root of the problem by teaching instead.
We can only talk about people's happiness when they are full-bellied and secure, this is such a beautiful starting to point to help humanity move forward
true!
@@caroldendy851 🧐
It is daunting to think of 850 million people who’s entire existence is spent thinking about food. They don’t have much opportunity to contribute to society, only because their own hunger pangs continue daily.
I have been all over the internet today researching what I have to do to get my bale's ready. Actually found out about it from my independent news resource... Figured youtube would have someone that's done it and now I've found Joel who is like literally saving the world with it!
You’re kind comment is appreciated and gave me a chuckle. Please help spread the word!
So very proud! I’m biased but what Joel has accomplished is nothing short of amazing! From figuring out a better way to garden in our backyard to finding an achievable, sustainable way to end world hunger... is nothing short of inspiring and amazing!
Bravo, bravo Joel! You are teaching people to fish (and catch a lot of them)! Such a simple idea that anyone can learn. You don't need to know a certain language, have a certain education, or live in a particular climate. Everyone wins! Think of the implications this simple concept could have worldwide? Amazing, simply amazing. Pass it on ....
Thanks for your encouragement Nancy, you're right when you say, "everyone wins," they do, and lets hope the idea continues to spread.
I really think we should install this in every school across America and teach ALL the kids to grow their own food!
And in prisons and the like!
Schools everywhere. It is an actual life skill
One of our goals this year is to create a curriculum that elementary and middle schools can utilize. Once it is complete we will offer it for no cost to any school who’d like to have it. You are reading our minds, so please let me know if you remember any of my passwords I forgot!
Thank you Joel for bringing this to the forefront. I feel like if communities knew just how easy we could feed ourselves, more people would be watching this and trying it.
From your lips …. I sure hope you’ll try it and that will get you hooked and that will spread it to all of your friends and relatives.
Joel Karsten you are a credit to the human race.
He really is!
Wow, I am so happy to have watched Joel's TEDx talk on straw bale gardening. I've been straw bale gardening for years, but didn't know about Joel...I wish I hadn't missed out on so many of his contributions and his fight to end world hunger.
Thank you, Joel Karsten!
Thank you Sharon for leaving such lovely comments. I appreciate your support very much.
Love this
I am so inspired by the lot of you!
As more and more farming regions are becoming suspectable to flooding, we need to be sharing this ground raising tool! Brilliance!
yes true!
This talk is a gem, and should be seen by everyone, and a great project in our schools too.
We have a goal this year to write a more formal curriculum for grade school and middle school students. We will provide this to schools at no cost once we have it available. Great minds think alike!
So proud Joel is from Minnesota! Straw bale gardening is the best, have used it the last four years and each year I cut down on the amount I plant because of the abundance of crop I get.
I plan on building a second green house. I have lost 100 pounds in the last 3 years. I have your book and THANK YOU for the knowledge. It also helps with depression. I get to watch all the bees, butterflies and humming birds.
Nancy you are going to love my new book coming in the spring. I show you how to build a 7'x9' greenhouse for late winter/early spring for under $100, and you'll get free heat! Thanks for your comment as well.
I started straw bale gardening 3 years ago because I had no garden, and the soil was lifeless. Three years later I have incredible soil, teaming with life, from the now composted bales, and I couldn't be happier with this method. I'm going to keep straw bale gardening, along with other methods.
This is so awesome to hear!
Glad to have a fellow SBG advocate on the comments. I appreciate your stopping by and leaving such sweet and kind thoughts about your experience.
Gee, the work he did in Cambodia is so great, he presented an all-round solution to so many issues for those farmers.
Yes, and when that local Cambodian guy taught 3000 other farmers, that is when a charitable organisation knows it has done it's job well. Also, getting the students to teach their parents was also a very smart play.
This looks practical, but fun too. I used to have a garden with my dad growing up. It was fun.
Cat Astrid it is a very fun way to garden. My favorite comments on our Facebook at Instagram posts are when people say, “I’m only upset that I didn’t discover this twenty years ago, I haven’t pulled a weed all summer, and I’ll never go back to planting in the ground ever again.”
Couldn't be more pleased that UA-cam suggested this video! I've been looking for ways to be more sustainable and this is incredible.
I hope you’ll give it a go this year, and if you do, don’t be afraid to reach out if you have questions.
I think the money saved is just not what we don't have to buy at the store, but gardening allows us a recreation, a hobby the fulfills time we spend by spending. This is a great concept.
I think this way of growing food could benefit sooooo many people, not just those in countries where malnutrition is an issue but everywhere.
What a great talk! I’m so happy with my bales - the very first year my first tomato was over 1lb!!! I am currently in a rental, and being able to garden without changing any of the owners’ landscaping was really nice - all the neighbors (we front a street where most of the dog-walkers go, and there is a Starbucks 4 blocks down from us, so EVERYONE went past our yard) as well as the landlords were just amazed at what I was growing.
I got a late start that first year, and the second year I tried using the same bales again (it works, but FIRST YEAR BALES are vastly superior!!!) and I am so excited to do it again this year!
My ten year old has a science fair coming up and the theme is PLANTS... so of course we are going to do a mini-straw bale, regular soil, and hydroponics to see how they compare. I’m super excited to get started... the only problem is that plants grow so fast and so tall in the bales that we have to be careful to pick something that will stay relatively short!
Started out 3 years ago with 15 bales and loved it. Following year I added another 15 bales. I am still amazed by the amount of produce I get. And much easier on the back.
I stumbled upon Joel Karsten's straw bale gardening book a few years ago and have been singing his praises ever since. My soil is shallow and rocky with no drainage whatsoever. Growing veggies in my straw bales is so rewarding and impossibly easy. Very little work for huge gains. It is inspiring to see Joel's message being spread worldwide...Win Win! Bravo Joel!!!
Faye I’m sorry to have just read your lovely comments now, but wanted to thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely note. You are so very sweet to do so.
Simple solutions for the WIN! I can't believe this isn't more common knowledge! Why isn't it!? Why are we not teaching this in schools?! In jails? In rehabs?! This is just too good!
We are working on a curriculum for grade school children right now. This framework could then easily be adapted to other groups.
@@Strawbalegardens That is fantastic news to hear!
Hearing about how this helped the Farmers in Cambodia through flood season was pretty incredible. What a difference you would have made to their lives with this. I'm feeling pretty inspired by all this.
Thank you for your kind comments, and I’m very excited that you’re inspired by the talk. I hope you’ll share it with others.
That got me too! It's epic!
Such a big deal! Joel is a legend, no doubt about it.
I have legit never heard of straw bale gardens before- why is this more more commonly known? All that time I spend procrastinating from starting a garden because I would have to dig holes and make garden beds. This is incredible.
From your lips to god’s ears! We hope it becomes more widely known…we work every day to spread the word, but any help anyone can offer will be very appreciated.
Nowadays, with all the knowledge I don't think it's a big problem to overcome hunger. We only need 2 things: sharing the knowledge and desire of people to get this knowledge.
Understand however that “hunger” has become a business for many people. They push the existing architecture of supplying food via large private and government programs that pay their workers well from the money given to fix the problem. No more problem means no more jobs. It is very sad how resistant many are to actually presenting solutions.
What a practical way he developed this method. And crazy to think it wasn’t thought of before this. Simple solutions are often the best
So inspiring. Joel shares such an inspiring story and method in how the world can solve hunger, providing the gift of fresh food, grown right in our back yards.
Thanks Lori for your kindness and help in spreading the word.
Joel is a legend. How good is this!!
I've never heard of straw bale gardening, I must learn more! No weeding sounds ideal, my back and knees would be so grateful!
Yes I feel this too!
All I can think about is how incredible a raised straw bale garden would be
I hope you’ll decide to give it a try. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it. There will be many nay sayers who will poopoo the idea, but trust me they will eat crow when you are eating tomatoes!
this is one of the best ted talks i've seen.. this is the sort of thing that's going to save the world. sharing right away!! so incredible.
Stan you are too kind! Thanks for the support and for sharing.
isn't it the best
I'm really glad he made the distinction about hunger and malnutrition... I certainly had no idea that was the case and I'll bet not many other people would either.
The business of "big hunger" is like many other big business, profit oriented. The people who work for and run the very large "food aid" type enterprises are extremely well compensated. They are helping the poorest on earth, but they certainly are not working for free, and most "westerners" in the key roles within these large entities are VERY well compensated. If you think the distinctions about hunger vs. malnutrition were surprising, you would be really surprised if you saw the salaries of the leadership of "big hunger" around the world. If your job was to solve a problem that would then cause you to lose your job, would you work really hard to solve the problem, or would you realize how silly it is to put people into these diametrically opposed positions. Maybe offer them payment based on how much of the problem they solve or shrink each year, with a HUGE bonus if they can completely solve the problem at some point. Thanks for the comment Julie I am sorry I had to climb on my soapbox.
My neighbor, shortly after moving in and seeing me working in my small garden, related to me that "his grandma had always" planted her tomatoes in a trench of old straw on the farm and nothing else and she always had sooo many tomatoes. Growing up in the south I've heard plenty of stories about how so-and-so did this or that and it was a much better way than the way I was doing it. So I mostly ignored him and continued working my garden.
A few weeks later in typical Baader-Meinhof fashion I stumbled upon an article on straw bale gardening written by one of the Master Gardeners of my local AG extension, and she of course referenced Mr. Karsten's work. I've had success with raised beds and hugel mounds / lasagna gardening on my hard Georgia red clay, and while it was too late last year, I inevitably did a ton of research of the straw bale method on various blogs and got Joel's book.
Needless to say, by the time spring rolled around this year I was excited and ready to implement this new method of gardening into my space.
It's May 1st and my bales are a few days out from conditioning and i'm feeling like plants are going in by the weekend. I'm doing a trellised run of four bales and an arched trellis of four bales run parallel in my limited space. Following Joel's method all of my bales are decomposing (running around 105F in the center of the bales with a meat thermometer) and sprouting mushrooms on the top and sides wonderfully \(◦'⌣'◦)/. I'm excited to see how they compare to my hugel mounds but I really have no doubt that this method will be successful.
To note: My local box stores did not have any lawn fertilizers without herbicide or extended release (which I read on some blogs can extend the conditioning time.) Also my local feed store didn't carry the 34-0-0 fertilizer because "reasons" but did have the higher nitrogen urea 46-0-0 and with some expert conversion help amounted to using roughly half the amount suggested for standard fertilizers. WE SHALL SEE!
I love the idea of this because it is an exciting gardening experiment that has had little financial investment. I hope to update with an amazing success story of a bountiful harvest.
Zacharia Barnwell I’m sure your garden was terrific Zacharia, I’d love to hear how things went for you if you ever read this. Thanks for you lovely post here. Best, Joel
Update?
I'm off work on leave and I've spent the last 4 hours looking up sustainable gardening... There are a plethora of videos to be found. I actually watched this one the whole way through AND I'm actually feeling like I could have a handle on this.
Next spring will be my 4th year gardening this way as well. Wouldn't garden any other way. No more weeding really sold me on it. What a pleasure to be able to pick some fresh tomatoes and hand it to the neighbors over the fence. My Dad, whose yard has no sunlight to grow vegetables, always marvels at my garden. And walks away with a bag of home grown tomatoes!
Love straw bale gardening. As I age it is so much easier to garden using this method.
Never stop thinking of such simple solutions!
A wonderful man doing a wonderful talk that does so much good😌 😍 🥰
Harriet Gomez you are very kind, I appreciate your supportive comments very much.
This is why I love Ted Talks, gems lots and lots of gems, and now I want to try this and see if I have a green thumb.
Magalie Goulet thanks for checking out the talk. If you need any advice or helpful hints please reach out, we are always available.
@@Strawbalegardens thank you. I will
Honestly can't believe this is the first time I have ever heard of this method. Sharing right away!
Thanks for sharing the talk, we continue to recruit converts every spring. Hope you’ll give it a try.
I am starting gardening this year! I won't save the whole planet, but surely my family would start eating healthier!
My garden has been a nice addition to our meal prep. After this I think I would like to use it more practically
And have cures for sun burn and the like!
It is amazing how gardening can change a person. A healthier diet is important but the mental change is really most impactful. To know that you can grow your own food and quench that innate need that a human has to plant, nurture and then harvest from what was nothing, shouldn’t be overlooked. This may be even more important than the actual produce.
This methond changed the way I garden here in Michigan. It is just amazing and I've already purchased my straw bales for next years garden. Great job Joel. You are changing the world and lives of many people.
Thanks for the nice comment, I appreciate it. You will be on the nice list this year for sure!
@@gyrokite I've e-mailed you a few times with questions and you gave me some thorough answers. I could see your passion for this topic in your replies. Through your time and dedication you've changed how many people garden and changed the lives of many people over seas. If there is a Nobel Peace price for gardening or empowering people, you surely deserve one. Puting the straw bales on raised mounds of dirt and using the hole that was dug to capture rain water to use for watering during dry months is brilliant!
@@CountryFarmBoyUSA You are very nice to say that. Best to you and yours this season!
Simply BRILLIANT Joel. Whilst not a gardener myself, I'm thoroughly inspired. Keep this up as world hunger may have an expiration date with this information from you and the Straw Bale Garden Method.
Shawn Sawyer you are very kind Shawn to leave a comment. One day when you retire I’ll come to your estate and set up a lovely garden for you!
I love this Joel, its such an old idea (growing our own food) with a new sustainable way. Congrats!👍👍👍
Your encouragement is much appreciated.
Wow! This is the way of the future for so many communities! Sharing right away! Amazing stuff.
man, thanks for sharing! didn't expect to see ya sittin here haha. this is so good.
Thank you very much Geoff for sharing. I really do appreciate your support. The 16 minutes of your attention you offered me, is very generous and kind.
I heard Joel speak locally about 5 years ago and we have been gardening this way ever since. We just love it. Joel is right, this has potential to change everything.
Wow! This is incredible. We need more people like Joel! I feel like his books should be used in schools. This is a way forward for so many people.
Thanks for your support and I love your vision for teaching this in schools. We use middle schools in rural Asia to teach the SBG method, because the children go home and teach their own parents and grandparents. It reminds me of how recycling became commonplace in the USA. Start by teaching the kids and they taught their parents.
I have been straw bale gardening going on my 6 th year and have had excellent fruits and so easy to do, no tilling, no weeding, no bending to the ground. Less water for it only takes one gallon water per bale a day, if it rains no need to water. I am a Certified Instructor for Joel Karsten now for 5 years. and teach straw bale gardening, I am in North Arkansas. I learned fro Joel Karsten and his book on how to have and grow in a straw bale of most vegetables. I am also 79 years old .
I need to let folks know that William is the admin of the largest and most active Straw Bale Miracle Garden group on Facebook. He has nearly 9,000 members and has become one of the foremost experts on Straw Bale Gardening in the country. His support has meant a great deal to my success as well. I owe him a large debt of gratitude.
The summer of 2018 was my 4th year of gardening by Joel's method, and I can attest to its ease and efficacy. At age 70, with physical disabilities, I simply would not be able to grow vegetables the conventional way, so I am profoundly grateful for his research and teaching. Minimal bending over, lack of weeds, lack of garden pests (except slugs), lack of necessity for fertile, rock-free soil--I can keep doing this indefinitely. The fact that the straw-bale method can benefit populations worldwide who suffer from food insecurity only multiplies its benefits. I am impressed by Joel's ingenuity and dedication and hope that his message reaches an ever-widening audience.
Thanks very much for your comments, you are very kind to take the time.
now this sounds like a method I can handle...
wow thats so cool.
curious, how is it now?
@@omkar2485 I continue to use Joel's method and keep refining my process. This past season I had a bumper crop of tomatoes. My main problem--and this becomes harder every year--is finding organic straw. If you use conventional straw, it may contain herbicide, which is literally death for the veggies.
THIS! Is just flipping amazing. About time we all started to feed ourselves.
Thank you Gary for your kind comment. If only everyone grew one tomato, one cucumber and one pepper, it would change the way we all think about food.
I hope more people watch this and do this, we must help feed ourselves and teach others to do that too.
I've been watching gardening videos for the last hour and I came across this... I want to try it so bad!
We have picked up a whole bunch of first time gardeners over the past year. You are exactly correct about the importance of learning these basics of growing food.
Next spring will be my 4th year gardening this way. My straw bale garden is mostly in my front yard. My neighbors think I'm completely and totally nuts, but the city is fine with it. There is so much bounty at harvest time that I share with several of the families in my community. The fun part of my garden is watching people drive by, come to a screeching halt, get out of their cars come over and stare at my garden. HaHaHaHa, if I have time I'll go outside and have a conversation with them. Its a great way to garden I highly recommend it.
Thanks Claressa, you are very kind.
Now thats cool, though I guess not many can stop by now. I am seriously going to start doing this now, or as soon as the lock down is over.
He has such a wonderful charm, a man who seems to want to give for giving sakes.
He certainly does, a true gentleman!
Its a rare quality
You are very kind to say this. I appreciate it more than you know.
This is such a cool way of gardening, would love to see it on all the rooves of those big apartment buildings.
Sraw bale gardening has saved my back! I will never go back to ordinary gardening. That it could help with world hunger is a huge bonus.
Ha, it has saved mine too! Thanks Faith for your support.
Incredible. These are the sorts of movements that really can change how we progress forward
I appreciate your kind words and positive outlook.
It almost makes us rethink what is being taught in schools I reckon
The mother of invention is mother earth, love this.
Phil Lambrick I appreciate that you took your valuable time and gave up some of it to watch this presentation.
@@Strawbalegardens thanks for the awesome talk and idea, I love this straw bale gardening concept, 1 day I will do it...
Hasn't this man got a great way to him, this is the way teachers need to be, kind, emotive, sharing. Yes I am going to try this (when I am allowed out again).
juan salazar you are so kind, it means a lot, thank you Juan. Stay safe my friend, it’ll be over soon, and we’ll get back to work and rebuild again.
have you tried this?
Men like this, humble and kind are the real leaders.
@@therealmyyt yes you so right they are!
same here! this is so awesome!
This was so good! I've been wanting to start a garden for so long.. This really is so much fun and to think of how affordable food would be for so many communities!
We love to hear new gardeners inspired by this method. If you need any help or advice we are always just an email away.
Now this is a smart solution, I want to try this.
todd frank let me know if you have any questions when you get started. It is very simple once you get the bale preparation completed. That part isn’t difficult either, but it is precise.
agree todd, thanks
this is soooo coooooool!
I think this may be a new years resolution to do!
agree with that!
I've only been able to do one straw bale garden so far. I am impatient and tried to rush it, so I was disappointed with my results. THEN I took up the bales in the Fall and had the most amazing crop of sweet potatoes ever. Some were the size of footballs and all of them were just as tender and small ones. I will definitely be doing straw bales in the future.
This is a great answer to food insecurity. One of the main nursing initiatives being addressed around the country. Mr. Karsten's method and his work around the world to end hunger are a wonderfully simple answer to a global problem.
To be hungry for a few hours seems like the end of the world sometimes for us in the westernized world. When cronic hunger grips a region of the world, all productivity stops, the focus of every human is on food, and every waking hour it consumes everyone. Not education, not working, not self improvement or bettering ones self, just hunger. And the pangs that accompany it steal the ambition of those who suffer. Hunger really is the worst of all diseases and yet it is 100% curable and preventable!
I'm going to get into this next spring. My raised beds are just too much work. Meant to do this last spring but it got away from me. This year for sure. Great ideas!
Are you doing it this year or are you locked down, sorry want to see how this is for a regular person to do?
were you able to do it this year, or are you in lockdown and cant?
I just got his book today and cannot wait to read it and start my straw bale garden in my front yard. It looks like so much fun. This Ted Talk is excellent! What a brilliant idea to help people have healthy vegetables and fruit!
I'm definitely ordering it
I so appreciate your support. Please reach out if you have any questions as you progress.
I recently came across straw bale gardening, and have decided this is the way I want to continue vegetable gardening.
You won't regret it, I assure you. Reach out if you ever have questions.
Oh wow! 7:20 - make your own bale. This is real earthy stuff, I’m a bit excited.
I have, its easy!
I am speechless. I can't believe I've never heard of this before and I want to know why. Brilliantly put together talk here and beyond informative, this could be life changing for some!
It is amazing to see how exactly that...life changer...it is for so many. Especially older folks who thought their gardening days were over but now they are back in the game! And they love to share what they know about it, so they are great ambassadors.
Empowering others to become self sufficient using a simple and inexpensive method of strawbale gardening. Fantastic presentation and an even better message!! Way to go Joel!!
How mind boggling that something so cheap could be so effective. I honestly can't wait to try this
Same here this is fantastic
This sounds similar to composting, yes? We have 2 composts, 1 for our scraps and 1 for our grass and bush clippings. Both get turned every day until they're sludgey then added to our garden. We love it!
This is essentially a static compost. Note in the talk how people can make their own bales. This would be like putting your grass and brush clippings into a bale. Works great! Try it, and you'll see what I mean.
Ha, this is a neat talk and great idea, really is!!
Thanks so much Mary. You are very kind to leave a comment.
lockdown ending almost time to try this
I'm a believer! I never had the confidence to grow vegetables until straw bale gardening, and now I'm planning my year 6 garden. Growing my own tomatoes has allowed me to make and freeze my own specialty pasta sauce, which I could never afford to make with the price of tomatoes. Thank you for sharing your simple gardening method!
This is such a cool and exciting way of growing things! I can't imagine how proud of himself he must be.
He is proud, but he also wishes he could somehow reach more people. It is sad that the TED talk about the guy who makes beatbox sounds with his mouth has 40 million views, but I have 427k. Maybe I should mix in some juggling or hula hooping or something to get more views! I'd have to learn to juggle and hula hoop first, so that's not going to work. Thanks for the comment Leo, I appreciate your support.
Can't wait to start our own straw bale garden. Thank you Joel, for impacting so many lives.
If you need any advice, please reach out, I'm always available.
A friend sent this to me, and I really love this. I sent to my parents as they love gardening. I can actually visualize how you can do this and make it look quite stylish too.
this is brilliant...
same friend I got it from I think, I just rarely open my gmail email.
You can garden during a pandemic!
what a lovely man, 3rd time I have watched this.
I love this too, and I really want to try it
Great talk! Very informative and inspiring. It's nice to see the face of the inventor of method that works so well.
Thank you Dorka, you are very kind.
I honestly couldn't believe this the first time I looked it up but I did some research and wow, this is so impressive.
Thanks for doing the research Denis. I realize it is a bit weird at first, but once you understand the biology and the science involved it really does make perfect sense.
Oh my goodness, this is so neat! I mean there is a lot of prep work involved but they stay good for so long! This seems like magic!
If you purchase bales, the prep takes about 45 seconds per bale for ten days then a few minutes to plant. It’ll amaze you how little effort it takes.
Just awesome, just freaking awesome. This should be in tons of schools teachings kids to grow for themselves, and this guy would be an amazing teacher for them, AWESOME!!!
Thanks for your enthusiastic support Jack, from your lips to god's ears! Spread the word for me will ya.
I learnt so much from this talk! I had no idea about the distinction between hunger and malnutrition.
Never heard of TEDx Talk until I received Joel’s email today. I attended his presentation here in OKC back in January 2018. After the presentation I followed his methods and started my own garden and have had great success. I used Bermuda grass bales, and in Spring of 2019 will use straw bales, because they are less expensive and to determine if they’re better for growing and easier to maintain.
Couldn't be happier this guy has done a Ted Talk on this. I've read his books and followed him for years and he's the best!! Congrats Joe.
You are very kind Alexandra, thanks for the encouragement.
Damn what a revolutionary! Thanks for the knowledge Joel!
Thanks for stopping by to watch and comment Becky. Now go plant a garden this year!
Well said!! An excellent explanation of so many consequences caused by the lack of FRESH fruits and vegetables around the world....including our own backyard! AND an excellent solution! Thank you!
Thank you for your comments Quilt and Digitize, I appreciate the encouragement.
Good people do great things, like this man.
Aliyah Rhodes you are very kind Aliyah.
@@Strawbalegardens you are very good
Amazing what you find in the middle of a pandemic.
Gardening became all the rage this past spring with everyone stuck at home. Funny also that a guy couldn't buy a canning jar all summer, as people decided to give that a try as well. I love it!
I’ve been strawbale gardening for 5 years. Previous to that I lost the battle with weeds every year. No more! My yield is great every year.
Thanks for your comment Maggie, keep up the good work!
you convinced me, as soon as I am allowed out again I am in...
wow. that's really impressive.
And, when we learn again to feed ourselves, we can live free and connect to nature. Great idea...
There is something inside of human beings that experiences a satisfaction from planting a seed and growing a plant, that we then consume, that is hard to explain. It gives a feeling of accomplishment that cannot be achieved any other way. Gardening fills our souls with something special, and I wish only that everyone could experience it.
@@Strawbalegardens How true that is.
This is a talk which will mean a lot to many, we need to control our OWN food source, this one of the answers to doing it.
Thanks for your comment Jasmine, I am so glad you recognize the need for people to grow food themselves, it is key to a healthy, happy, and free existence everywhere around the world.
what the world needs now, is love sweet love, and yes some healthy food... thanks for sending to me Jasmine.
@@Strawbalegardens you are very welcome, I am going to try this at home.
Sharing your wisdom gave me joy! Thank you from Australia.
Love this method of gardening AWSOME
Love this too.
Doing some quick research and I can see how valuable this could be to communities, especially those dealing with a lot more flooding than ever before
I had to use local hay bales. Didn't work as good as straw but here in far South Texas it was only thing that I could get. I had them right next to patio so I could access them easily. I think this would be great for someone that is confined to a wheelchair and has room close to the patio. The bales are now the basis for the planner that is growing some beautiful flowers
Pearre Davenport that’s great to hear straw bale gardening is perfect with people with disabilities
I lost count of how many times I have watched this video. It's very inspiring to see Joel taking straw bale gardening to the next level. God bless.
Brew City Gardener thanks for all you’ve done to promote the Straw Bale Gardens method. Your UA-cam videos are really great!
LOL then I am not alone, found this 2 months ago but I have to wait for after the lockdown to start mine.
Adam Mayhew send me your address by email or messenger Adam, and I’ll send you a complimentary box of our BaleBuster to get you started on your first garden.
@@Strawbalegardens cool, I am supposed to be moving, lol was. But I will be. When I get to California can I take you up on this?
@@adammayhew3673 absolutely, just reach out when you land in your new location.
When someone told me I needed to see a talk on gardening I thought - sure I do. But this is very cool a must see really.
David Hanson I appreciate that you went outside of your comfort zone. I love TED talks for the exact reason you’ve expressed. I appreciate that you took a chance and gave me 17 minutes of your time.
@@Strawbalegardens well spent 17 minutes thanks
lol I thought the same thing.
👩🏻🌾👩🏻🌾👩🏻🌾👩🏻🌾
I loved this video, what a great way to produce our own food.