Gardening in Straw Bales - Page 2

Worth1 · November 27, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

I just had the idea of selling bales of straw with two established dwarfs in them. It would make an eye-catching market display. I could deliver the bales locally.

I thought this would be a good place to throw out the question: in US dollars, what do you think the value of such a product would be? I was thinking $40-50, but I would be interested in anyone else's thoughts and comments.

The trend in gardening is convenience over thrift. I think people would pay a premium price to have a garden without having to do hardly any work.

You may be right I tend to think thrift and it is a downfall when pricing something.
Worth

Aerial · November 27, 2015

Cole, you're a quick thinking business man. A display of delicious tomatoes on live plants on straw sure will draw a lot of eyeballs. Fun... Good luck and ka-ching!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

I just had the idea of selling bales of straw with two established dwarfs in them. It would make an eye-catching market display. I could deliver the bales locally.

Deborah · November 27, 2015

Cole, I'd buy something like that in a heartbeat ! Great idea !

jillian · November 28, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

I just had the idea of selling bales of straw with two established dwarfs in them. It would make an eye-catching market display. I could deliver the bales locally.

I thought this would be a good place to throw out the question: in US dollars, what do you think the value of such a product would be? I was thinking $40-50, but I would be interested in anyone else's thoughts and comments.

The trend in gardening is convenience over thrift. I think people would pay a premium price to have a garden without having to do hardly any work.

What a splendid idea! I have a neighbor who is retired and used to have a garden. For health reasons he is unable to do very much of it anymore. He would definitely love something like this, I might just have to make one for him....I have not tried the straw bale method yet but I have read about and watched videos.
There are lots of folks I think this idea would appeal to, such as those who are physically unable, have no garden space, and those who are just too busy! I think $44.00 is the magic price

IronPete · November 28, 2015

I think its a great idea, Cole! That said, it is also easily copied. Maybe think out a roll-out strategy that doesn't leave you with a hundred extra baled plants if the idea doesn't pan out. Just a suggestion.

Pete

BigVanVader · November 28, 2015

First off Cole; very good idea, I would start where you feel comfortable and if the response is good then increase the price. The delivery I think would get time consuming though knowing people will want to talk and then probably call you for questions etc afterwards, which is fine if you enjoy that kind of thing. Just weigh the negs/positives you know.

Secondly, I have experimented with straw bale growing and it worked fairly well for me. I think it could be really good if you set up drip to water it. I had trouble keeping mine watered enough, but take into account it was over 100 and no rain for nearly 2 months that year. Plus I am pretty lazy when it comes to a these sort of things often convincing myself that "nobody watered plants before we came along, they'll be fine" or "I'm just weeding out the weak ones"

On a side note I find wheat straw to be the best mulch I have found for conditioning the soil and attracting earthworms so regardless of weather you decide to continue straw bale gardening you are still investing in great mulch/compost.

Gardadore · December 2, 2015

Cole,
It sounds like an interesting idea but one must consider a few things. A bale should be "perked" - allowed to break down internally so you can plant the tomato seedlings in it. This requires that the bale be watered heavily, fertilized with a nitrogen fertilizer to hasten the break down, or left over the winter to decompose inside naturally. The bale becomes basically unmoveable due to weight from all the water. If you have equipment to lift the pre-planted bale onto a truck then it would be fine.
One way around it might be to provide the bale, fertilizer. potting mix and plants, set it in place with the instructions and have the new owner water them, let them break down and plant in them. It takes 10-12 days in the spring or early summer for the bales to be ready for planting.
I can't speak to a fair price. Here a bale is $5.00. I grow my own tomatoes, but the fertilizers and potting mix add to the cost. If you are delivering then that adds cost.
The beauty of the bales is that after the initial set up, they are easy to maintain. The most work for me is the watering, feeding and staking or tying up as the plants grow. There is no weeding and little bending which makes them ideal for people with back problems or even in a wheel chair.
Good luck with your plan! I'll be curious how you handle the weight problem if you pre-plant them for delivery!

drew51 · December 3, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

On a side note I find wheat straw to be the best mulch I have found for conditioning the soil and attracting earthworms so regardless of weather you decide to continue straw bale gardening you are still investing in great mulch/compost.

I'm kinda cheap so I go around and collect thrown out bales used for Halloween decoration. It was a good year for that. I use them for mulch, although it was such a good year I have 2 bales of excellent looking straw, I don't really need, so straw bale gardening it is!

Deborah · December 4, 2015

If I saw for sale those little bales used for fall decoration planted with Tiny Tim or Red Robin I'd buy them on the spot. Just for fun !

Cole_Robbie · December 5, 2015

Thanks for the heads-up about the weight. It might be smarter to use mini-bales for that reason.

Gardadore · December 5, 2015

I never thought of using mini bales since I always need the full size bales for two tomato plants. But I can get the half bales if I really want them. That would be much easier to move but it will still be surprisingly heavy no matter what. Probably two people could move them fairly easily. Certainly worth a try and they would be cute.

I'll never forget helping a friend learn about straw bale gardening. She dutifully prepped her two bales but not in their final resting place because she hadn't decided that yet. When she was ready and tried to move them she was shocked. Somehow she and her boyfriend worked them into place but she never did that again!! Now she starts them I'm place!

LoreD · December 19, 2015

We have a countdown until Craig's book is released.

Only 10 more days!

November 27, 2015	#18
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	Cole, I'd buy something like that in a heartbeat ! Great idea ! __________________ "The righteous one cares for the needs of his animal". Proverbs 12:10

November 28, 2015	#20
IronPete Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Charlottetown, PEI, Canada Posts: 302	I think its a great idea, Cole! That said, it is also easily copied. Maybe think out a roll-out strategy that doesn't leave you with a hundred extra baled plants if the idea doesn't pan out. Just a suggestion. Pete __________________ Thanks; Iron Pete "We can agree to disagree."

December 4, 2015	#24
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	If I saw for sale those little bales used for fall decoration planted with Tiny Tim or Red Robin I'd buy them on the spot. Just for fun ! __________________ "The righteous one cares for the needs of his animal". Proverbs 12:10

December 19, 2015	#27
LoreD Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 306	We have a countdown until Craig's book is released. Only 10 more days! __________________ Its not what you get to keep in life, its what you get to give away.

November 28, 2015	#21
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	First off Cole; very good idea, I would start where you feel comfortable and if the response is good then increase the price. The delivery I think would get time consuming though knowing people will want to talk and then probably call you for questions etc afterwards, which is fine if you enjoy that kind of thing. Just weigh the negs/positives you know. Secondly, I have experimented with straw bale growing and it worked fairly well for me. I think it could be really good if you set up drip to water it. I had trouble keeping mine watered enough, but take into account it was over 100 and no rain for nearly 2 months that year. Plus I am pretty lazy when it comes to a these sort of things often convincing myself that "nobody watered plants before we came along, they'll be fine" or "I'm just weeding out the weak ones" On a side note I find wheat straw to be the best mulch I have found for conditioning the soil and attracting earthworms so regardless of weather you decide to continue straw bale gardening you are still investing in great mulch/compost.

December 2, 2015	#22
Gardadore Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Saylorsburg, PA Posts: 261	Cole, It sounds like an interesting idea but one must consider a few things. A bale should be "perked" - allowed to break down internally so you can plant the tomato seedlings in it. This requires that the bale be watered heavily, fertilized with a nitrogen fertilizer to hasten the break down, or left over the winter to decompose inside naturally. The bale becomes basically unmoveable due to weight from all the water. If you have equipment to lift the pre-planted bale onto a truck then it would be fine. One way around it might be to provide the bale, fertilizer. potting mix and plants, set it in place with the instructions and have the new owner water them, let them break down and plant in them. It takes 10-12 days in the spring or early summer for the bales to be ready for planting. I can't speak to a fair price. Here a bale is $5.00. I grow my own tomatoes, but the fertilizers and potting mix add to the cost. If you are delivering then that adds cost. The beauty of the bales is that after the initial set up, they are easy to maintain. The most work for me is the watering, feeding and staking or tying up as the plants grow. There is no weeding and little bending which makes them ideal for people with back problems or even in a wheel chair. Good luck with your plan! I'll be curious how you handle the weight problem if you pre-plant them for delivery!

December 5, 2015	#25
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Thanks for the heads-up about the weight. It might be smarter to use mini-bales for that reason.