Ruth van Wijk

Ruth van Wijk has been cultivating gardens indoors and out for over 40 years.

After buying a house in 2006 built on sandy/clay ground, she sought out various techniques for soil improvement with disappointing results. Her fortune turned, however, upon discovering Joel Karsten’s book Straw Bale Gardens.

“Straw bales are the ultimate in container gardening”, says Ruth. “They create their own rich soil, generate warmth, and raise planting beds off the ground for easier access. And at the end of the growing season, they turn into marvelous compost. It doesn’t get easier than this!”