The following suggestion won't help you source anything in the short term but it could help the burden on your wallet. Do you have the space to grow your own plants to be used as mulch, or do you have existing un-cultivated areas of fast growing vegetation that is able to bounce back from being cut back? (eg. grasses, bushes, plants in the dock family, comfrey, asters etc.)
http://www.greenshireecofarms.com Zone 5a in Central Ontario, Canada
I Have 2 allotments but being new to all this I dont really know. I wanted to have a go at synergistic gardening so have to convert disused allotment then build the mounds then mulch so maybe. I am located in the midlands in the uk??? Good point though maybe for future use any suggestions to what would make good mulch and Thanks Wendynogs
Ms. Hazelip reported using wool as the initial mulch on one of her gardens. You might ask people who raise sheep if they'd be willing to part with some; another forum-goer reported that wool would cost more to process than the going rate for processed wool, and global commodity trading might mean that holds true where you live also.
As others have pointed out, pasture-raised sheep are often better for the environment than certified-organic corn, so even if the operations in your area are not organic, the product might be closer to your intent than organically-grown straw.
"the qualities of these bacteria, like the heat of the sun, electricity, or the qualities of metals, are part of the storehouse of knowledge of all men. They are manifestations of the laws of nature, free to all men and reserved exclusively to none." SCOTUS, Funk Bros. Seed Co. v. Kale Inoculant Co.
I have a bunch of raw wool fleeces left over from the 600 pounds I bought to insulate my roof. I used it as mulch around our single plum tree and it helped greatly with the vetch control. Thought I was going to get around to cleaning the 200 pounds remaining but....it's so much work. Totally using it for mulch!
Well, if you have loads of cash, it's pretty easy. I found that the local "nickel ads" are loaded with that sort of thing. Google can be a big help too. Call the local extension office. The local organic nurseries can often set you up - just call them.
What about trying a post on kijiji for spoiled hay/straw? You could score some stable bedding, or the tonnes of rotting hay bales out there in farmers fields.
http://www.greenshireecofarms.com Zone 5a in Central Ontario, Canada
Hi Wendynogs, I'm in leeds in the Uk. There's a local horse/pony charity near me where you can help yourself to manure and leave a small donation, but at the same time there are piles of used straw with the manure. You could try something like that?
Good night. Drive safely. Here's a tiny ad for the road: