Free straw

I normally make a post like this in late Oct, but it is still relevant.  When I have been so motivated, I have picked up several pick up truck loads of free straw this time of year.  In the past I have hunted down the many Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas displays and hauled away their straw bales …with permission.  Even the wet bales have value for compost, mulch, etc.

i scored a dozen bales of fresh hay one year when my band played at an event that was running a hayride. When it was over, the organiser asked if anyone had a use for the bales and even offered to drop them off.

I am always glad to get cruddy straw bales. The older the better.

When I get fresh straw bales of unknown origin, it's my policy to rinse and then soak them thoroughly.

This reactivates all the soil bacteria and fungi, present as dust/spores in the dry bales, and assists in breaking down lingering traces of [TheChemicalThatDaresNotSpeakItsName]. I've never had a problem.

Bump

Now through the end of December is a good time to look for pumpkins and bagged leaves while you are looking for the free straw.

John said, In the past I have hunted down the many Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas displays and hauled away their straw bales …with permission.

Those decorative pumpkins in folks' yards can be used for both cooking and composting.  They can even be good animal feed.

Here is a thread on using Fall Decor Pumpkins:

https://permies.com/t/168071/Fall-Decor-Pumpkins-squash-excellent

And for improving soil with bagged leaves, pumpkins and straw:

Lila said, " It all just depends what is available for free where you are. I can get pretty much unlimited free pumpkins right now from local pumpkin patches.. I got a few truckloads for ourselves and our animals, but now am wondering if I should go get some more for composting, to go along with all the fall leaves I'll be collecting.  

https://permies.com/t/203631/Improving-clay-soil-cheap#1679423

I need some free straw for bedding. To build a animal shelter.

Tiffany Wilson wrote:I need some free straw for bedding. To build a animal shelter.

Welcome to Permies!

I would recommend checking out local social media marketplace postings. I've lucked out with people offloading Halloween décor or even folks giving away old but still decent straw/hay that they have no use for.

I buy poor hay for $3 per bale delivered (from a guy who uses no sprays) each fall because I don't have a truck yet. Free sounds better, but there's time, gas, effort, opportunity cost, etc so the price is worth it to me.

After wintering uncovered in the weather, they're nice and ripe! I can pick a spot for a new garden bed and line the bales up, occulting the grass and weeds underneath without the use of plastic (except the twine, I guess), then plant seeds and transplants right into the bales, then use them more broken down as mulch the following year.

Tiffany, welcome to the forum!

That is right, free straw can be found after Halloween.  These bales of straw or hay were used as Halloween decorations.

Bags of free leaves can also be found about the same way.  I have also heard that leaves make good bedding.

I like the suggestion by Timothy to check social media also check Craig's List.

I forgot to bump  this thread.  Yes I have been successful getting free straw from post Halloween through New Years.  Just look for displays using it and ask.   Stores, churches, and private homes often have displays.