Just recently I became interested in strawbale gardening and have been planning a project next season to raise hot peppers between a double row of strawbales. When I went to check out the local retail suppliers the price had doubled from last year when I purchased half a dozen bales for mulching. We are talking $6.00 per bail, which is with the large quantity discount!!! Maybe this isn't a good time of the year to be purchasing strawbales. Would appreciate any suggestions as to how, when, or where to purchase strawbales at a more reasonable price.
Strawbale Prices!!!
Ask about any straw/hay that has gotten wet.
Or check with some of those who had bales out for Halloween displays and want to get rid of them.
Keep us posted and welcome aboard.
Kent is right. I just got 25 bales of "moldy" hay (which I prefer to straw) for $2 a bale. Got it from the man who sells me hay for my cows. The usual price is $3.50, $3.00 for moldy, way down from the last two years. Cows seem fond of moldy hay, maybe it adds flavor :). Anyway, this time I said I wanted it to grow tomatoes, and the price dropped. Of course, I also agreed to bring some tomatoes later this summer....
The funny thing is that this hay is less moldy that most of what I've bought before, and 3 bales were diverted to the cows for "treats" and bribery. The bales are VERY heavy, and solid enough to jump up and down on. I think they may have been baled with dirt included. Which is, of course, fine with me :)
So, my advice is to look for "hay for sale" ads in the classifieds, check Craigslist and such. and ask anyone you know who uses hay for feed. Even feed stores may sell you "off" hay, cheaper, if it's been wet or compromised in some way. Just ask if it's had herbicides used to grow it.
Good luck, I'm very happy to be back to "baling" this year, after a dismal time with last years' garden.
Margo
I don't know about your area; but here in central Alabama, Lowes has wheat straw year round for $4.50
a bale. Also, catmad's right about the old hay. You should able to pick up some bales that have been rained on for not too much money. And like Kent said, if you're lucky enough to find somebody's old Halloween decorations, you can probably get those just by asking. I got 6 bales last Saturday by doing that. They completely fell apart when I picked them up and by the time I got home I had a truck bed full of loose hay. I stuffed it all into a big wire cage.
Not sure exactly what I'm going to do with it.
I may use it for sweet potatoes or cucumbers, something vining.
Problem is we are in cattle and horse country and either hay or straw draws premium prices. Can't believe what you pay for hay. It's is the premier crop here and haloween left overs have long been used up. I'm still trying to find a less expensive source but hay or straw are typically stored under covers or in hoop houses. Maybe I will get lucky and find a reasonable source.
we pay 8 for hay and 6 for straw.. have you asked about straw, in some areas it is cheaper. (i live in a heavy poultry area)
there is also the landscape bales - probably not unlike the moldy or old hay. some lolal farms sell xtra large bales to be used by landscapers and construction for stormwater control, and to me for 5 - i don't use it for feed, and never had reason to ask the difference. make a few calls and make sure you ask, you may get lucky.
-joe-
Here in the urban areas straw goes for $5 per, if you get out into the rural areas you can get it for $3 per bale.
Paul
I'm having the same problem. We have a lot of farmers around here, but apparently many of them don't want to mess with it. Too little profit, I guess? I paid $6.50 last year, but that was from a garden store in the city. I'm seeing good prices on craigslist, but those would involve at least an hour drive one way. Maybe I'm just not talking to the right people. I'm having my brother look into it. He knows some farmers.
That's a good idea to mention what you're growing! I'd gladly trade some veggies for a lower price.
I know what you're getting at with the question about the time of year. I vaguely recall - back from my 4-H days - that you could get it cheaper right after they cut it because they'd rather get rid of it then than have to put it up in storage? Something like that.
" I'm seeing good prices on craigslist, but those would involve at least an hour drive one way."
Ask if they'll deliver. If you're buying 20 or more, they might, and around here it runs about $.50 per bale. Might be worth it, might not...
Nice. That's affordable.
Any straw balers out in Seattle area? Not finding much out here on craigslist except someone who will deliver 300+ bales. Looking for others who found solutions or might be interested in buying together.
amethyst have you tried out in the green valley area past Auburn? I used to live there but haven't been in many years. That whole area could be paved over by now. But we used to get all of our vegetables, strawberries etc. out there. Have you tried anyone around that had Halloween displays using straw bales.? Even over here in NE corner of the state I have a difficult time finding them. At least for a reasonable price. Feed stores have them. Have you tried that? Don't know what area you are in.
I have been lurking here for a long time and just have to share a thought here. The ground in my yard won't even grow weeds so bale gardening has been a lifesaver for me.
Thought I would build permanent beds and save money - hah have you priced lumber lately?
Sometimes you can get old hay for free if you offer to clean up a barn for a farmer just before haying time in your area (How I have managed for the first couple times) but even at $5.00 per bale for straw here it sure beats not being able to garden.
Guess there's a believer out there in Oregon. LOL, good for you. Wish you would come out of the shadows and join us. How about pictures, growing suggestions etc. Always happy to hear about successes.
I got my beautiful haybales (delivered) for $4/bale! (Bucks County, PA)
Finally found some for $2.50 a bale, just five miles from where I garden. I think some of these farmers just get so busy with farming that they don't have time to post on craigslist that they have it. I'm glad he did, though. I'll be going to him every year.
Great buys you all. Are you getting 2 string or 3?
2. Never heard of 3. I'm just using it for mulch, though, so I don't need the extra support.
I am finding it really difficult to find 2 string any more. I talked to the lady at the feed store about it and she said the 3 string bales (half again as big as the 2) are easier for the big trucks to load and they don't sway in transport like the 2 string.
But they are too big for my space and heavier to handle. So, I am not getting any this year. That is straw and hay both.
Oh, they're bigger. I see.
Wow- they sound ideal, the 3 string larger bales. Is that just straw, or hay as well in your area, Jnette? I've only seen 2 stringers but, as I mentioned, I'm retieing my bales with 1 more string (on the 'unstrung' side) to tighten them.
Just got my hay (still have snow, but not much). The local feed store wanted 12.95 per bale as did a couple of other places. I checked Craigs list and found a farmer who had hay for 10.00. When we went to his hay shed, i told him I didn't want the better hay but would take form the edges that had some moisture problems and mold as i didn't want to ruin good cattle hay. When we settled up he dropped the price in half without my even asking.
Wasn't that nice. Good guy to deal with. Don't forget for next year.
Nope, too big for my use Suz. Where the 2 string are around 60 to 65 lbs. these are over 90. Im too old for moving those. And then if they are damp at all they are just that much heavier.
Gotcha- I wouldn't try it without help. Ah, well- my beautiful nut brown bales are calling me . . gonna do some planting this weekend.
DH just picked up 10 alfalfa bales for $10 each and they are larger and heavier than the ones we usually buy for $11-12 each (for horse feed). They still have 3 strings on them, but weigh 135 lbs each! Maybe if I can find those next year I could try hay instead of straw. There is always one more thing to buy to help with this process and I figure my veggies will have cost $10-15 lb.!
We bought straw bales at Lowe's for about 4.50 each. 18x18x42 (inches) I believe this close to the actual measurements. They are less than 24x24x48. Each bale is broken into sections (since I have raised gardens with compost and buried soaker hoses I broke my bales apart). I placed those sections on top of my composted soil. I have 10 - 3'x4' raised beds and I bought 8 bales. Filled them up and over a bit.
LOL, well QG, you will probably be catching up with the grocery stores by then. I keep saying you have to be rich to be a vegetarian.
Above my head is my copy of "the $64 tomato". I think he low-balled it...
bookdiva wrote;" Each bale is broken into sections (since I have raised gardens with compost and buried soaker hoses I broke my bales apart). I placed those sections on top of my composted soil"
I'll be interested to see what results you have. I'm thinking they will work as mulch for this year, and be incorporated into the soil as enrichment for next year? Is that the plan?
I'm looking for new ideas, too. Some of this year's hay bales are already pretty far gone, but some (which were cheap because they are full of dirt) look as if they will go the distance, and maybe more :)
Yes, I have a couple bales that are 'deflating'. I bought them all in Feb/Mar, but am continuing to plant in them. Have 2 more of the 16 left to put seeds into (beans and winter squash), but having to add a lot of soil/compost inside the 'shell'. All of mine had had some kind of dampness from rain when I bought them from the dairy, then beside watering them myself, we continued to have some rain till around April 22nd (later for us). The ones that are decomposed the most are the ones on the downhill part of my U shape and the water tends to drain that direction.
Catmad - Yes, that is the plan. We have very poor clay soil here. When I see earthworms I sing Handel's Messiah! I figure I can plant this year and allow the bales to decompose over fall/winter after harvest. I have leftover radishes, cilantro, arugula, and onions from last year so I did not cover those areas completely. I did have to water this evening since it stopped raining. I planted my sunchokes in a bed so I will see what happens there.
Bookdiva- I just posted regarding VermiComposting on the general discussion thread (http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1090531). It's fascinating and very inexpensive to get into, with a maximum return. You could really improve your soil to a huge degree. Check out: http://www.vermiculturenorthwest.com/castings.htm ; Christy (thee woman who writes this blog, is so knowledgable and open and helpful- hope it helps you.
I have great soil here, and I'm going for it!
Namaste- Suz
Suz,
Thanks. Yes, I know about vermicomposting. It was only a commentary on how bad this soil is. The first summer we rented a tiller and it broke in the soil. My husband has hand-tilled since. In the front yard I began lasagna gardening instead of trying to till. It has worked very well so far. We also built raised beds and have kept adding to the soil each year. I hope the straw will decompose well over next winter. I planted some leggy veggies today before the rain came down. I added compost to each hole so it will be interesting to see what happens.
Shawn