skip to main content

Requesting Straw Bales/Compostables-Form Letter

11 years ago

Many times you can scavenge straw bales from businesses and individuals who use them in Fall displays or Halloween decorations. This is a terrific and easily stockpiled brown for composting and also makes a very good mulch for vegetable gardens.

Below is the text of a 1 page form letter I wrote to request this material. I printed up a dozen or so copies and keep them in the truck. Whenever I spot a "stash" I stop and look for the manager, make my pitch and give him a copy. The beauty is even if the manager is unavailable you can leave the letter for him and get to make your pitch without having to make additional trips back.

You can also use this method to "troll" other establishments for compostables like leaves, grass clippings, tree trimmer chips, juice bar leavings, farmers markets discards and so on. Just modify the text as needed to suit your request.

If you hit enough locations you will surely wind up with a number of reliable "suppliers".

Print this on side one of the page

Removal of your Straw Bales

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am looking to collect unwanted straw bales to use as winter mulch for a large garden. I would be happy to remove the bales you have on your display once you no longer have any use for them. I will also take away any unneeded corn stalks or pumpkins if you have them.

You can call me at the number below. Leave a message with your location. At your convenience, I will come by, gather up, and dispose of whatever you no longer have a need for.

Please post this note somewhere as a reminder.

Thank you for your time,
A.C. Wacko 555-123-4567

Print this on side two of the page in a large, bold font and centered at the top

Straw Bale Pick Up

555-123-4567

Tri fold the page so the large bold face shows.

Comment

Related Discussions
Straw bale from last year
Q
Comments (8)
La la la Lloyd, of course husbands are good for something! They're good for all kinds of cold weather things, like jumping the car or walking for gas. They're great for dirty things---like fixing the septic pump. Disgusting things are often right up their alley. Dangerous things. They're good for that. If I heard a murderer downstairs, I would send my husband down to check it out. They're great at that kind of thing. They're great for heavy lifting. Every fall when I have to get my boat out of the water, I wish I had me one. They're great with dead things---like mice. Or live things like mice. I wouldn't want you husbands to feel unappreciated.
...See More
It's hay bale time!
Q
Comments (6)
Robert, Did exactly that a couple of weekes ago - as soon as Halloween was through. I did get about 10 bales. Not as much as other years. Folks around here are getting wiser all the time... I let them rot for a year, but try to make their 'rotting' period work for me in the gardens, so I decided to extend a flower bed and used the bales on the back side to hold the lasgna contents in place. (This garden slopes down and away.) Behind this I am accumulating a huge mound of leaves.
...See More
Straw Bale Brugmansia ???
Q
Comments (18)
Karyn, I let my wheat bales "cook" for about 3 weeks, before I planted any veges. Wife planted annuals in between them (scabiosa's one) and the bugs didn't bother the veges at all. If you're in a hurry, there's the 10 day method, suggested by a pro in Dave's Garden. Days 1Â3: Water the bales thoroughly and keep them wet. Days 4Â6: Sprinkle the bales with 1/2 cup of ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) per bale per day, and water it well into the bales. Days 7Â9: Cut back to 1/4 cup of ammonium nitrate per bale per day and continue to water it in well. Day 10: No more ammonium nitrate, but do add 1 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer per bale and water it in well. Day 11: Transplant your plants into the bales. Using a spatula to make a crack in the bale for each plant, place the plant down to its first leaf and close the crack back together as best you can. Also, some are known to use it for another crop, like potatoes, once the strawbales decompose. For more references: www.nicholsgardennursery.com www.county.ces.uga.edu www.co.clay.mn.us Good luck Karyn.
...See More
straw or hay bale gardens?
Q
Comments (63)
I copied this from an article in a small rural newspaper while travelling. Not all new gardeners can count on cultivated soil for their plants. Some may be burdened by limited space or rocky ground. As a result, whether a new gardener or a veggie veteran, bale gardening may be the way to go. Growing vegetables in bales really works because bales provide the two things seeds need to grow. "For seeds to germinate, all you need is heat and moisture," said John Sims of the Farmer's Cooperative. In 2005, The Post published an article on bale gardening, and it has been one of the most frequently read articles at The Post Online. Tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, green beans, melons and a host of other plants grow well in bales. The Farmer's Cooperative, Southern States, and Danny's Builder Supply in Centre all carry wheat straw bales. To plant a hay bale garden, first, around 10 days before planting seeds, place the bales in a sunny location. Soak them with water for three days. On the fourth day, apply 5 oz. of fertilizer, followed by a couple more days of watering. On the seventh day, apply 2.5 oz more fertilizer, followed by a couple more days of watering. On the 10th day, apply a cup fertilizer and lightly water into the hay bale. On the 11th day, plant seeds by applying a three-inch layer of top soil or potting mix to serve as a bed. Each bale can hold two tomato plants, four pepper plants, six to eight cucumbers, three yellow squash or 12-15 bean seeds. Bales can typically be used for two or three seasons.
...See More

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

GREEN BUILDING Why You Might Want to Build a House of Straw

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Straw bales are cheap, easy to find and DIY-friendly. Get the basics on building with this renewable, ecofriendly material

GARDENING GUIDES Get on a Composting Kick (Hello, Free Fertilizer!)

By Matt Kilburn

Quit shelling out for pricey substitutes that aren’t even as good. Here’s how to give your soil the best while lightening your trash load

EVENTS See the Vermont House Where Rudyard Kipling Wrote ‘The Jungle Book’

By Victoria Villeneuve

The author penned many works here, including his children’s classic, which Disney has remade into a movie

DECORATING GUIDES Hemp, Hemp, Hooray! This Superplant May Be Legal Again in the USA

By Karen Peterson

Hemp products are durable, sustainable, antibacterial and much more. Will the plant finally get the status it’s due in the States?

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Build a Raised Bed to Elevate Your Garden

By Danyelle Mathews

A bounty of homegrown vegetables is easier than you think with a DIY raised garden bed to house just the right mix of soils

LIFE Simple Pleasures: Put Pen to Paper

By Laura Gaskill

Note writing a lost art? Not when you have a nice selection of papers, a dedicated spot and the right frame of mind

FARM YOUR YARD How to Grow Vegetables in Containers

By Annie Thornton

Get glorious vegetables and fruits on your patio with a pro’s guidance — including his personal recipe for potting mix

GARDENING GUIDES New Ways to Think About All That Mulch in the Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Before you go making a mountain out of a mulch hill, learn the facts about what your plants and soil really want

HEALTHY HOME 6 Tips From a Nearly Zero-Waste Home

By Melanie Loftus

Lower your trash output and increase your quality of life with these ideas from a mom who did it to the max

EDIBLE GARDENS Summer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard

Sponsored

NME Builders LLC

2 Reviews

Industry Leading General Contractors in Franklin County, OH