Straw bale gardening is a gardening method that allows people with limited mobility, poor soil quality, or limited space to grow plants. It requires only a few basic items to get started: straw bales, fertilizer, a trowel, water, and soil or compost. The bales must be conditioned for several weeks before planting by keeping them damp to allow for decomposition. Once conditioned, a variety of vegetables and flowers can be planted directly into the bales by making holes in the straw and placing seedlings or seeds in the holes. The bales require regular watering and fertilizing to sustain plant growth.