Garden space saver

Hi everybody,
New here. I just wanted to share something I just found in a book. To save a ton of space in your garden or raised beds.......plant pumpkin, squash, zuccini, etc by doing the following:
set a bail of staw on the ground, cut side up, and soak it with water for a couple of days. Punch two holes in the top about the size of your fist, 4 or so inche deep. Make them 2' appart. Fill the indentations with a good mix of compost. Now plant your seeds in the dirt and you have an instant raised bed squash garden.

Tim

it sure could work, but in our area straw is just NOT available..and hay is full of seeds and going for an extreme price this year