Straw Bale Gardening for Low Back Pain

In this post, I’ll discuss two things I enjoy very much: helping you become and stay healthier through chiropractic, and gardening.

More specifically, let me introduce you to STRAW BALE GARDENING.

The idea is that you plant our tomatoes or zucchini, petunias if you like, or pretty well anything you would plant in the ground, directly into a straw bale. The benefits are: you can grow a garden over any type of soil, including the sandy conditions in Wasaga Beach, or even over a drive way if you so choose; there are few if any weeds growing in the straw to disturb your prize veggies (Caution! Use straw bales, not hay, as hay bales contain seeds); the straw retains moisture which lessens watering somewhat; it eliminates the problem of root nematodes and other soil born pathogens that can carry over in the soil and prevent tomatoes from thriving; and… here is the part that relates to chiropractic and your health … the straw bales raise your garden and requires less bending a stooping! There is also less tilling, hoeing, and weeding, and ease of harvest. ****That is great for those who have low back pain, disk injuries, and arthritis****

To begin, lay the bale with its cut ends up (string parallel to the ground) and condition your straw bales over a ten day period. The recommended procedure is to sprinkle a ½ cup of cheap fertilizer (30-0-0) over each bale on days 1, 3, and 5, then water thoroughly. On days 2, 4 and 6, water. Days 7 through 9 use a ¼ cup of the fertilizer plus water. On day 10, apply one cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer and water. Use the least expensive fertilizer available. By the end of the conditioning period, the straw inside the bale has begun to compost. Don’t be surprised if earth worms have made a new home and mushrooms are sprouting.

You can now plant directly into your conditioned straw bales by digging a hole large enough to take your transplants. If you are starting from seed, spread a 1 to 2 inch layer of soil over top to stop the seeds from falling into holes in the straw. As top soil often contains weed seeds, you may wish to use a sterilized mix. Space your plants as you would if planting in soil. (This method may not work well for corn as you can only plant one or two stalks per bale).  Because the composting process produces warmth, the roots will develop faster than normal leading to stronger plant growth and perhaps an earlier start for the gardening season.

You can use tomato cages to support your plants or let them sprawl. However, if you have a row of bales, secure a post at each end and string wires or fencing between them. Place your bottom wire about 12 inches above the straw bales and then each successive wire at 10 inch intervals to tie up your plants as they grow. The bottom wire allows you to use plastic sheet as a tent to protect young plants from cold spring conditions. When your bales are done in after a year or two, they can be spread out as mulch or compost and replaced with fresh bales quite easily.

Don’t forget to share the bounty with your bounty with your neighbours and tell them you got the idea from your chiropractor. Credit to Joel Karsten for his work in perfecting the technique and sharing it via www.strawbalegardens.com