ATM the only purchases from my website are Corn Dollies and I didn't buy any straw last year because it just wasn't good enough.

One person has ordered 10 drops and a large horseshoe for her wedding - appropriately at Lammas (Aug. 1st).

Then people will be wanting some for Harvest Festivals etc. - so goodly straw will be needed from this year's harvest!

Hi Elaine,

Last year's harvest was very poor with all that rain, but this year is looking more promising.   Our local farm has already harvested the Timothy & Rye hay and providing this week is dry, the guinea pig hay will be cut.  Yes, really.....they have a couple of fields of lovely Conservation Grade Hay that is only sold for piggies and rabbits.

Last year the hay wasn't cut until September and the quality wasn't great compared to what they normally produce.  I hope that the straw harvest is good for you - do they cut it at the same time as grass hay?

Chrissie & 9 Gorgeous Guineas who eat lots of hay

Generally starting in July - though I did see some winter barley starting to change colour down in Dorset at the beginning of the month.

I buy most of my straw from Suffolk.

I hope you will get a goodly supply in to keep you busy over the winter. I've got my eye on some of your corn dollies, too.

Fingers crossed for you EJ. When will you know if the straw is good enough?

Probably by the end of next month Joy.

It looks as though the Suffolk place has stopped supplying, there's no longer a website, the owner was elderly when I met him a year or two back.

Fortunately there's another place in Staffs. which sells straw ready cut to length; I hate sorting and cutting my way through a sheaf of straw, I'd rather take my scissors into the field of growing wheat and cut straw by straw - it's actually quicker per 1000!!

Fingers crossed! I want a corn dolly!!!

Oh I do hope you are able to get a goodly supply EJ but it sounds as if things are looking rather hopeful 

P.S.  Kes & I love our corn dolly 

Quite a few fingers crossed then - thanks.

Unfortunately there'll almost certainly be a price rise!

What hasn't risen in price EJ.  My shopping bills are really beginning to sting now 

Yep, here as well! It is so noticable, not just the odd penny here or there.

This is the problem when you're selling handmade goods on a small scale - you can only buy in bulk if the raw materials have an indefinite or very long shelf life - Joe Public is going to be buying fewer luxuries, or cheaper ones.

I am certainly not buying luxuries (well, I didn't lash out on much previously).  What I don't want to do is impact the children so am having to get quite clever at budgeting.  The prices have risen noteably in a matter of weeks    It makes you wonder when it is going to level out again and the impact it will have on those that are already not all that well off.

It hasn't yet affected Jones' supermarket shopping yet, he's still buying the same things.

It does mean that if you're involved in selling that you have to keep an eye on what your competitors are doing.