"Bale of straw"

Just watched a show called “Growing a greener world” and dude was growing tomatoes. Well, he had bales of straw lining his driveway and planted tomatoe plants in them. I’m assuming it’s just like growing in coir. But wondering, has anyone on here grown this way?

Never seen growing in bales. I grow potatoes in straw, but not bales, it is loose rotted straw and they grow up through it.