So all in all the actual planting and gardening with the Straw Bales was successful but obviously location, location, location has something to do with it. The New Beginnings was happy with the second crop that I planted when the bales were broken down but the location in the front of the garden near the road wasn't very attractive. If I do this again, likely it will be in an area that is more out of the way, or structured in boxes and definitely saved from being burrowed into by the gophers. That Second crop of Tomatoes and Peppers was much more successful and saved from the gophers because David the head gardener, consistently fed them with Fish Emulsion and the gophers left the bale tailings, at that point, alone. The crop, I might add, out did his other Tomato and pepper beds :)