http://chahdi.notlong.com URL to the technique. Most interesting! I will get a couple of bales of straw and give it a try with tomato plants. Reading the article I will improve slightly, or so I think, on the setup. I will put about four inches or more of compost on top of the straw and cover the straw with black landscape fabric sloping slightly inwards. This fabric will allow moisture to seep through, and tend to prevent evaporation., and inhibit weed growth due to lack of light. I don't need to do this since my conditions are more than adequate for ground planting, but it will make a nice experiment.