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Halloween Haul

19 years ago

I've often read with envy other composters descriptions of all the free for the taking compostables they find. Well its finally my turn! One of those upscale markets just opened in the neighborhood with a beautiful display of pumpkins and straw bales. Yesterday they put out a sign that said "free pumpkins." Well I asked about the straw bales and the produce manager said he would be happy if I took all 12 of them...so today my hubby and I loaded up the pickup with 30 pumpkins and the 12 straw bales (took 2 trips...its a small pickup). I spent the afternoon smashing pumpkins and filled up one of my pallet bins with just straw and pumpkins. Will that be sufficient for compost? I've never composted with just straw as a brown. I still have 11 more bales to use...maybe I was a little too greedy. I have another almost empty pallet bin but was planning on saving it for all of the soon to fall leaves. Any ideas on what to do with all those other bales? Thought I might try using them for compost containment if I can find a place out in the back somewhere.

Comments (13)

  • 19 years ago

    Congratulations! Sounds like a score to me. I hope that it composts well for you, keep us posted and let us know how it does.

    I have found that straw (I am sure that there are several different kinds) does not break down as readily as leaves even if it is shredded. I do not know anything about your area, lot, room etc, but if it is not in the way, you might use the bales for a cold frame or make another bin out of them and use them when they do break down. Just a thought.
    Bill P.

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks, Bill. I hadn't thought of a cold frame. (Well I'm really not sure what a cold frame is!) I live in Central Calif and it doesn't get too cold, but I am considering making a bin out of them as I usually acquire more leaves than my bins will hold.

  • 19 years ago

    I use bales as a veggie garden seat and work (potting) table. Straw & hay for mulch. Straw for compost pile foundation and top. A little straw mixed in finely chopped materials to aid with aeration. They dont break down fast for me as I do 2 or 3 week tumbler composting, but doesnt bother me. And they will be used as browns when I run out of last fall's leaves. If I run out of straw/hay, then it is newspaper.
    The bales often contain strange weed seeds. I like to have the bales sit for a year before breaking them up.

  • 19 years ago

    All those volunteer pumpkin seedlings should be interesting.

  • 19 years ago

    I am so jealous. I feed my chickens spoiled pumpkins . It really makes for dark orange yolks. Pumpkin seeds are a great vermifuge (wormer) Then I have the chicken droppings to ad to my garden. You will probably get a lot of baby pumpkin plants, especially in a warmer climate.

  • 19 years ago

    Somebody here uses the bales as lasagna gardens. I think just bales and pee, then plant things right in the bales. You could search for the thread I suppose.

    If I had extra bales I'd likely make a bin out of them. Then the bin itself will eventually compost. Should be a fun experiment.

  • 19 years ago

    This afternoon I placed 4 of the bales to form a square and will use that as an extra compost bin. Now just 6 more bales to go! I plan to use some of it for mulch and any left will probably come in handy next summer when I run out of leaves. Thanks for ideas. I may even try planting in one...don't know about the pee though. Maybe coffee grounds would work?

  • 19 years ago

    Experiment a little. You need a source of N.

  • 19 years ago

    I've been watching for free pumpkins, too, but I want to process them for the freezer! I've done it before, even though "carving" varieties aren't supposed to be as tasty as those marketed as "pie" pumpkins--I had great pumpkin all winter for all sorts of recipes. I hate thinking of that excellent food going to the dump!

  • 19 years ago

    http://www.gardenlen.com/straw_bale_garden.htm
    Nice link for haybale/straw gardening
    I also once saw a page where a women made all her gardens with hay and never needed to weed.
    I will look for it.

  • 19 years ago

    awesome. I would LOVE to have those bales - and more - i could build a bin like you did (square, 4 bales) - could also put them out where i want to kill the grass (and do lasagna gardening)....man....

  • 19 years ago

    I went out to check on the progress of the straw and pumpkin bin today. (I had also dumped a bag of Starbucks grounds into it.) I was amazed at the decrease in size over just a few days, and the pumpkins are all warm gushy and mushy deep inside, just composting away! My husband says he thinks The Rat Family that we got rid of last year might be back to take up residence in that cozy bed and breakfast that I've created for them...pumpkin scones and Starbucks coffee and a warm bed...what more could a rat want?

  • 19 years ago

    Ohh, I've been trying to come up withn an idea for a cold frame for seed starting in the spring, the bales of hay are a great idea!

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