I blame you all!

I have been reading the different papers and the alfalfa hay is running anywhere from $7 to $20 per bale. My local feed store is $12.50.

Jeanette

I heard here that the hay prices may be going down, no one is buying it... I hope so

Once the grass starts growing that should ease up on the need for the hay I would think. But, it is going to be a long time before that happens here.

Jeanette

I heard there is a big abundance of straw bales in the wheat producing states and the straw will be cheap. But that won't help me because I don't like straw. You guys who do may make out like bandits come Spring.

awwww, and I was just going to try alfalfa. Jeanette

Hey Guys! Well I got my first 8 bales today! I was sooo very lucky to have a friend that has access to a Hay storage barn. they have to cull out the oldest "Bottom" bales from last year that have gotten wet. So guess whos getting them ??? I am so lucky! They were going to destroy them!!!!
We did find though, that we had to restring a lot of them. This isnt as easy as it sounds. So a couple might not be as tight as could be but I am willing to make do. I wont be preparing them for at least another 3 weeks, the wait is going to be awful, I cant wait to get started. this will give me time to gather in at least another 20 or so bales, and finish my bale area.

A lot of work, but just think of all the money you are saving, plus it sounds like you have a start on decomposing the hay. Wonderful!!

Jeanette

Eafaula: good deal on the hay. Everyone who has used hay/grass bales have been very pleased. That extra boost from the natural nitrogen in the hay seems to be a big plus.

I'm still sticking with straw, mainly due to the high price of hay in my area vs the straw.

Oh Yes! I was extremely happy to get the bales! Especially when I found out that Straw was going to be at the least, $3.75 a bale and Hay $10.00. I have a "Tradin" Budget!!

Congrats on your great score. I'm still looking for bales.

If you cannot restring them just use as mulch for other - layer with newspaper over lawn and you will have new garden bed in a few months. Google 'lasagne bedding'

Well, I recently got my first harvest off the bales, and am going to be getting more this weekend.

From 6 bales, with bush beans planted on them, the first harvest was a nice big bucket of green beans. There are also enough beans left that I am expecting another two or three good harvests over the course of the next few weeks.

The snap peas will be ready for harvest this weekend, and, if I can keep my husband and I from snacking on them straight from the vines, I'll post the results. These were on 8 bales in the back and 9 in the front (although I expect little from the front - it appears that the peas were irresistable to the local cats, who kept laying on them so they didn't grow very well).

The brachia are all happy. The three broccolli plants are still producing florets, although they should be dead by now, so I haven't had the heart to pull them out and put something else on that bale. The cauliflower is making huge heads, so even though they are out of season for the year, I'm leaving them alone to see how big they get. The brussell sprouts have started to show little sproutlings, and the cabbage is large and curling into heads.

And the cucumbers are making nice leaves, and growing like crazy after a bit of a late planting and an arguement with something that ate a couple leaves.

And then there are the huge tomato bushes that are already 4 feet tall, producing tomatoes, and smelling like ... well, I don't know, but I like the smell of tomato plants and I can scent them all over the yard. And the tomatoes are growing in last years bales!

So, overall, I'm not only a convert, but proseletyzing the joys of bale gardening. I've convinced my father to try it. He's 89 years old and doesn't move so good any more, although he loves gardening. He's also convinced a couple friends up where he is, so suddenly there was a massive run on straw bales in Maine where he is *snicker*. I've convinced a couple of co-workers that it's the easiest way in the world to start a bed, and a couple of friends that they want to try it.

So, I blame you all for my wonderful obsession. And my husband thanks you for the easy way to grow tasty veggies.

Always glad to hear good news like this.

Keep up the good work, and keep spreading the word! :-)

We need pics of this great success. Congrats and happy snacking.

Well, if it ever stops raining this weekend, I'll see about a picture or two. If it ever stops.....

Congratulations ... I am so jealous! Hmmmmmm, fresh beans already!

Ok here is my first attempt at it, not bad, I got two tomatos already. The wind carried my second plant out of there...

Here they are

Keep that puppy fed and watered! :-)

Have you ever seen anything so healthy and green?

That looks great. What kind is it?

lovely! Mouth is watering for fresh maters!!

Beefsteak... I cant wait till they get big, I am wanting Fried Green Tomato's... They are a favorite of mine, along with Fried pickles...

You sound like a southener eating like that!

Spent some growing years up in your neck of the woods, but California by birth, Cowgirl by choice... ;}

And American by the grace of God!!!