Straw Bale Gardening Class to be Held at 4H Center

Ever wonder what straw bales are used for?

Well, a free class through the Montgomery County Penn State Cooperative Extension and 4H Center will show that the bundles of straw can make for very good gardens.

The class will take place April 27, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Montgomery County 4H Center, which located at 1015 Bridge Road, Suite H in Collegeville.

Linda Hoade is the Montgomery County 4H Educational Outreach coordinator for both the center’s School Enrichment and Horticulture programs. She is also the teacher for the Straw Bale Gardening Class.

“I call them the outdoor classrooms,” Hoade said.

Hoade said that the Montgomery County 4H Center started offering Straw Bale Gardening classes nearly five years ago, when she about them through the work of gardener and author Joel Karsten.

The approximately hour-long class will feature a Power Point presentation, through which Hoade will provide the step-by-step process of making a straw bed garden. She said the process is simple and would accommodate novice gardeners and greatly benefit seasoned ones.

“Holes could be dug in the middle for potting mixtures or placed at the top, near the edges,” Hoade said. “And, it will hold moisture as the straw decomposes.”

After a two-week treatment of high-nitrogen fertilizer, Hoade said that the decomposing straw will be all that is necessary for the plants to thrive, in addition to which heat will be retained within the straw bale.

She said the best part of the straw bale gardens are that they only last a year, allowing novice gardeners to decide whether or not to construct a raised flower bed or more complex gardens the following planting season.

In the spirit of recycling, Hoade also points out that the straw bales could be left out over the winter to fully decompose, so that in the spring, gardeners will be greeted with ready-to-use potting mix.

“If you want a one-year project, you can try this for $50,” Hoade said.

As the Montgomery County PSU Extension and 4H Center Educational Outreach coordinator, Hoade said that the straw bale gardens are especially beneficial to schools and youth organizations.

“It’s a great science project,” Hoade said.

According to Hoade, students can see the progress of the seeds they plant, and record the projects for their classes’ data collection. Students will also be able to see how different fruits and vegetables grow, which Hoade said is good for nutritional education.

Every January, the 4H center accepts applications to award 10 grants to county schools and youth organizations. Hoade said that the $50 grants can purchase four bales of straw, potting mix and seeds.

The April 27 Straw Bale Gardening Class is free and open to the public of any age, however, registration is required.

For more information, contact Linda Hoade at 610-489-4315.