Straw is generally more common in grain producing states or areas where the straw is actually the waste product that farmers use for bedding for animals. I think people tend to use sawdust pellets or wood shavings more as bedding for animals here in Florida since straw isn't as cheap or available.

What is it you need the straw for? Perhaps with that info, people may be able to think up some alternatives.

Here is a link that might be useful: www.TCLynx.com

I checked your page and there is no hint as to what town you live in Central Florida encompasses a VERY large area. I am raising ducklings and went to the feed store (Trading Post) here in Vero. I knew they had straw as I buy it for Halloween decorations then put it in the garden. They had some loose and bagged it up and let me have it for free.

I am located in Altamonte Springs. I would be using the straw for mulch, sheet composting, a base layer for some grow tables, future animal bedding, etc. I was even considering trying my hand at some cob projects. I can think of many ways with which I could use straw.

What's wrong w/ rotted hay? - I don't have a problem w/ seeds sprouting, if I leave the bales to rot before spreading.

I buy the 'coastal hay' from a local feed store.

The hay would be fine for the composting, mulching, grow tables etc. Straw is often better for animal bedding but it would depend on the animals and the situation. I'm not sure about the cob.

Good luck in your search.

I'm located near Mount Dora.

Here is a link that might be useful: www.TCLynx.com

I have to mention that some of my bales of strw actually GREW during Halloween.Yep a nice green lawn on top of my decorations for the pumpkins to enjoy. Now I set them aside for a year to rot.
My son Is also extremely interested in building a cobb house someday.Don't forget to visit dumpsters and recycling bins at nursing homes etc for newspapers.They add alot to the garden also.

Is the germination of seeds in the hay such that it would present a weed problem when used as mulch or cold composted?

I have a prob in my garden and have been pulling and pulling since I do nt use chemicals but I do have a torch and may resort to that(moving straw aside of course)

Straw and hay can be purchased at feed stores. There is one in downtown Sanford.

Straw and hay can hold seeds the same as most any sort of mulch material. How clean or seedy it is will depend on when/how it was harvested as well as how it was stored (seeds can blow/fall onto it.) Since it is so humid here in Florida and often rainy seeds germinate well near the surface of a bail. Some people actually make bails of straw/hay into raised bed gardens by simply planting into them.

As to weed seeds germinating in a mulch layer, if you make the mulch thick then it is easy to uproot small seedlings by raking or stirring the mulch a bit and at least most weeds are really easy to pull from deep mulch.

Here is a link that might be useful: www.TCLynx.com