Claressa

I have only have one growing season with a Straw Bale garden under my belt. Some mistakes were made, but I learned a lot from those mistakes. Much of last year was about locating the supplies for my garden, it was frustrating, but I did it. I now know exactly where to buy straw bales, the hardware, organic fertilizer, plant nutrients, etc. I live in a city where front yard vegetable gardening is allowed, as my garden looked strange and odd to others I started a Facebook page, StrawBale gardening Edmonton, to help explain things. My original intention was to have 4 or 5 bales in the back yard. Well those 4 or 5 bales quickly became 25 bales. 20 of the bales going in the front yard. One of the spin offs of my looking for supplies last year, was finding out about a wonderful program that my city offers once a year, called the Master composter/recycler program. I applied, and was accepted for this years training. Part of the training agreement is for me to teach 35 hours of workshops on composting and recycling to others. This Spring and summer the workshops will take place in my straw bale garden. This fall or next spring I’m in hopes to teaching at the community center a few blocks from where I live. To me both straw bale gardening and composting/recycling training go hand in hand.

A bit about me. I’m a long time professional massage therapist (19 years) who works from home. Due to a knee injury several years ago its not easy for me to kneel anymore. It was my searching for an alternative way of gardening that lead me to Straw Bale gardening. By no stretch of the imagination am I an experienced gardener with loads of gardening knowledge and wisdom. What I am is very enthusiastic amateur. Canning doesn’t interest me, but dehydrating does. This year I’m planning on having enough extra from my garden to dehydrate and put up for the winter. Actually if dehydrated food is stored properly it can easily last for 25 years.