I had an idea today that I thought I would pass along to others. We were passing by one of those places that were set up specially for halloween in a department store parking lot when it occurred to me to wonder what they will do with all of the bales of straw they had as part of their display. Since halloween is Wednesday, hubby is going to ask them this week if they would like him to haul away the straw bales when they are done. I suspect that they have no use for them and will be happy to give them to him for nothing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and will let you know if we are successful. Let me know if anyone else is successful with this.

-- Colleen (Pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), October 28, 2001

Answers

Colleen,

Great idea! We receive straw and pumpkins from the local fire company after their halloween party. In fact, I picked them up today. Just have to pick off all the fake spider webs. We chop up the pumpkins and feed them to the chickens. I don't use any that are painted though.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), October 28, 2001.

Colleen- I was going to post a similar thread, but you beat me to it! In my case, last year I was able to get 17 free bales of hay from people who had used it for decorating. I do not use these for feed, and I'm not sure that is a good idea after they have been sitting out in the weather, but I use them for mulch in the garden and they are great.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), October 28, 2001.

I should have mentioned that we are putting in new blueberry bushes and are planning to use the straw for mulching the beds. Since the fruit won't be on the plants for several years, I expect any contaminants that might be in the straw will just go away as the straw decomposes.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), October 28, 2001.

Just a word of warning...I asked a friend at a retail store to save their fall decoration straw bales for me and she said I might not want them as they were required to spray them with a nasty fireproof chemical. Don't know if this is a universal practice but I'd make sure and ask when you inquire about getting them...hope it isn't the same there. Good luck, free mulch is the best kind (I've been shamelessly stealing bagged leaves from sidewalks for years.:O))

-- gilly (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), October 28, 2001.

you know what we do , around here they have a lot of steam threshing shows , we are able to come and pick up all the straw we want , and need , just by asking , we have hauled 9 wagonloads, and still have maybe 4 more to go , so for the price of gas on the tractor :)

-- Beth Van Stiphout (willosnake@hotmail.com), October 29, 2001.

Gilly, thanks for the warning. I have passed it along to hubby and he said he will check first before he accepts any straw. I never would have thought of that one.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), October 29, 2001.