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Horticulturist and author Joel Karsten joins Sally to share how “straw bale gardening” went from a DIY workaround on compacted soil to a worldwide method feeding families, inspiring school programs, and winning design festivals in France. We cover the science, the practical how-to, and the humanitarian impact of growing food where soil, space, or drainage make gardening tough.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- The origin story: The college grad with terrible soil.
- How it works: Why “conditioning” bales (nitrogen + water + time) kickstarts composting, warms roots, and becomes living soil.
- Straw vs. soil, for real: Fewer weeds, less bending, faster spring growth, better disease break, surprising water retention (and the #1 mistake: overwatering).
- Global ripple effects: Projects in Cambodia and the Philippines where bales on mounds and floating rafts help families grow fresh vegetables despite floods and droughts.
- Kids + curiosity: Worms, microbes, and school demo gardens that turn science class into lunch.
- Legacy threads: Sally’s mom’s first bale garden, Norman Borlaug’s influence, and the quiet innovation behind our produce aisles.
- What’s next: Joel’s family tree nursery (windbreaks, fast-growing hybrids) and continuing to teach the method worldwide.
Key takeaways:
- Advantages stack up: Early harvests (warm roots), fewer weeds, better drainage during rains, less disease carryover, and accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities.
- Don’t drown your bales: They hold moisture well. Water deeply but not constantly, let gravity and biology do their thing.
- End-of-life bonus: Spent bales become beautiful compost for containers, beds, or top-dressing.
- Food security matters: Simple, low-tech setups (bales on raised mounds or rafts) can bridge monsoons, droughts, and long distances from markets.
Resources mentioned:
- Straw Bale Gardens (book series) by Joel Karsten
- University of Minnesota horticulture legacy & Norman Borlaug inspiration
💜 If this episode helped you see gardening (and food security) in a new light:
- Follow the show and leave a rating/review—it really helps us grow.
- Share this episode with a friend who swears they “don’t have good soil.”
- Tag us with your first straw bale harvest pics—we’re cheering you on!
