Straw Bale Gardening - Joel Karsten

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$821
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
no
Recipient Type
Libraries
Status
Completed
Start Date
April 2016
End Date
April 2016
Activity Type
Education/Outreach/Engagement
Counties Affected
Pipestone
Pipestone
Project Overview

Joel Karsten's presentation on Straw Bale Gardening will be twofold. He will focus on gardening without the use of herbicides, insecticides or fungicides and without weeding. People will learn how to utilize decomposing straw bales to make gardening convenient and fun. He will also discuss how straw bale gardening can enhance the aesthetic nature of gardening. Many gardeners spend the entire growing season using plants and flowers to create a work of art.

Project Details

15 participated

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota for 2013 Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 4
2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$821
Other Funds Leveraged
$475
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Those who use straw bale gardening to supplement their food source will gain valuable skills on how to become more efficient. By taking an active role in their own livelihood, they can show the community that they work hard for what they have. In addition, straw bale gardening as a whole can decrease the community's global footprint in terms of food acquisition while providing a hobby for some. Educationally this program will enhance participants' understanding of where their food comes from and will strengthen later in the summer when we host a harvest event to teach people how to preserve the fruits of their labors. Participant evaluation and anecdotal responses will be collected.

Measurable Outcome(s)

-Beyond the initial excitement from participants, it is hard to tell the long term impact of this program since typical gardening doesn't even start for another month in our region. However, we did have several participants tell us they were definitely go

Source of Additional Funds

The radio and newspaper provided free advertising - $75.00
Friends of the Library provided promotion, refreshments, setup and tear down - $100
The local nursery provided vouchers for free straw bales - $300.00

Project Manager
First Name
Jim
Last Name
Trojanowski
Organization Name
Plum Creek Library System
Street Address
290 S. Lake Street, P.O. Box 697
City
Worthington
State
MN
Zip Code
56187
Phone
507-376-5803
Email
jtrojanowski@plumcreeklibrary.net
Administered By
Administered by
Location

1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN 55113-4266

Phone
651-582-8200