The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Marketplace => Topic started by: johnmac on July 18, 2010, 10:56:40 am

Title: Square straw bales, near Blairgowrie. Perthshire
Post by: johnmac on July 18, 2010, 10:56:40 am
Hi all. My usual supplier of straw has run out... And the only other source I can find is a one tonne round bale which is wayyyyy too big! A couple of small rectangular/ square bales would be perfect if anyone local has sone spares they can sell me?

I will collect and pay top dollar! It's only got cleaning out my chicken coop!

Thanks, John.
Title: Re: Square straw bales, near Blairgowrie. Perthshire
Post by: old ploughman on July 18, 2010, 02:19:42 pm
Same problem all over the country I am afraid. H&Hound was talking the other day about £6 a bale for straw - cant see it getting to that but I would have thought £3 -£3.50 was likely with the low yields expected this time and the fact that all the barns are empty after last winter.
Title: Re: Square straw bales, near Blairgowrie. Perthshire
Post by: dizzy1pig on July 18, 2010, 03:52:47 pm
No straw around you, cause they used it all for the berries :D
which i used to pick....when child labour was not frowned upon and we knew the value of money
I had to get big bale, lasts for more than 6 months so need to look for it to often :wave:
Title: Re: Square straw bales, near Blairgowrie. Perthshire
Post by: johnmac on July 18, 2010, 04:10:29 pm
Who'd have thought... A national shortage of straw?!?? At the end of this summer I'll get a big round bale from the farmer and just store it in the garden with a tarpolan over it... It'll look a bit unsightly but it may be my only option?
Title: Re: Square straw bales, near Blairgowrie. Perthshire
Post by: dizzy1pig on July 18, 2010, 04:40:40 pm
cheaper in long run, thats all i do, and the wee birds love it great for nesting material :wave:
Title: Re: Square straw bales, near Blairgowrie. Perthshire
Post by: johnmac on July 18, 2010, 08:55:23 pm
Got a couple of bin bags full from a friends livery yard... Borrowed you might say!! :-)

I'll get a big bale once harvest comes!!
Title: Re: Square straw bales, near Blairgowrie. Perthshire
Post by: Anke on July 18, 2010, 10:06:38 pm
You can also use sawdust/wood shavings from your local sawmil, usually free of charge if you go and collect. Know a few poeple here use it for the horses too... but doesn't make good muck in the short term, needs quite a few years to rot down.

Also cut-open paper feed sacks and some dry grass on top will do in an emergency too.