SG556: Joel Karsten Helps Farmers in Cambodia and How Straw Bale Gardens Solves the Toughest Growing Challenges

Straw Bale Gardens Cambodia

Joel pioneered his now popular method of Straw Bale Gardening almost 25 years ago. The author of Straw Bale Gardens, Joel receives letters from grateful gardeners from around the globe. Cambodia’s agricultural challenges are many including yearly flooding and drought with temperatures in the summer well over 100 degrees. In April of last year, Joel was invited by the Korean Trade Partners (KOTRA) to Cambodia to teach Straw Bale Gardening using plentiful Rice Straw. By mitigating challenges and leveraging the ingenuity of the agricultural community, Joel’s method is increasing self reliance and improving food security for Cambodians.

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SG543: Day Two Highlights from the 2016 Garden Bloggers Fling

Day 2 of the 2016 Garden Bloggers Fling Minneapolis 300

Today, I’m sharing my insights and commentary on the beautiful gardens featured on Day Two of the 2016 Garden Bloggers Fling in Minneapolis. Day Two brought the garden bloggers to the western suburbs of Minneapolis where we visited gardens featured on the 2016 Carver-Scott Extension Master Gardener Garden Tour as well as other special venues that were even new to me. These gardens showcased great design principals as well as a few special tricks and tips that I found especially inventive and adaptable. Day Two was jampacked with gardens and the itinerary of each of the locations and all of the blog posts about Day Two can be found in the links below.

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SG517 Straw Bale Gardening (Part 3 & Wrap Up)

Straw Bale Gardens Part 3

Interested in starting a Straw Bale Garden this year?

In this week’s episode (SG517), I continue my chat with Joel Karsten about Straw Bale Gardening in warmer climates, direct sowing in Straw Bale Gardens, growing vegetables in Straw Bale Gardens, and the inspiration other gardeners have discovered through Straw Bale Gardening.

All this and more on the wrap-up of our Straw Bale Gardening interview with Joel Karsten.

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The Steps to Successful Straw Bale Gardening Episode SG516

America’s Straw Bale Gardening expert and author Joel Karsten has helped thousands of gardeners with his breakthrough method of gardening. In this week’s episode (SG516), I chat with Joel Karsten about the specific steps to successful Straw Bale Gardening. It all starts with a process Joel calls conditioning and he shares his formula on the show today.

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SG515 Straw Bale Gardening Pioneer Joel Karsten

Straw Bale Gardens Part 1

In this episode of Still Growing…(SG 515), I feature life-long entrepreneur and Straw Bale Gardening pioneer Joel Karsten.

Twenty years ago, Joel Karsten had a brilliant idea.

When he could find no academic support for his idea of using straw bales as a substrate to grow vegetables, he returned to his childhood home on a farm in Southwestern Minnesota. In a show of support, Joel’s Dad welcomed him home with a whole hayrack full of 50 straw bales.

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