Freecycle!

Go to freecycle.org and ask. You might find someone there who has some they no longer need. Try craigslist too. Perhaps some local feed store or farm, if there are any near you?

Good luck!
:)
Dee

Nowadays, it seems that most "burlap" isn't the old-fashioned jute or hemp, but is made of some variety of plastic in an off-white color. We have gotten seed and lime in the new style. I much prefer the less obtrusive brown of the old style and I'd rather use natural materials for winter shrub screens so that if it escapes it will rot. Just wanted to let you know so that you can word your Freecycle or Craig's List request to make clear which kind you want.

Good point, nhbabs. I don't buy lots of stuff in burlap bags, so I didn't think of it, but you are probably right. It does seem that plastic has replaced lots of things now, especially packaging, so it may be more difficult to find honest-to-goodness burlap sacks.

Several years ago I used burlap to erect screens around some plants (and was actually thinking of digging it out again to use this year again). I don't remember exactly where I got it, but I seem to recall that it was one big sheet, not bags. Perhaps I just bought some at a fabric store?? Sorry I can't remember more details for you Evonne. But good luck to you - and let us know where/if you find some!

:)
Dee

A few years ago I bought burlap in rolls at Agway to screen shrubs. Not expensive, but still not free.

Claire

For reference: DH just got some burlap at the local agway. A roll of 26 feet was ~$16 if I am remembering correctly (and he told me correctly!) That works out to less than $2/yard. I don't know the width. HTH

I have the rolls of burlap, but they are a pain in the neck. I guess I should have done something though. We had quite an ice storm.

I got them at Building 19 last year - $1.00 each!

I did a search for Building 19. We apparently don't have them in CT. Thanks for the tip though! I would have definitely done $1.00 eath! :) I finally put the burlap rolls on my plants, but could still use a few more. I will keep an eye out!

I bought mine from Ebay and they were inexspensive. I grew up near a bean packing shed and tried to contact them for bags, no luck so far. In the mean time I did container gardening with them and the roots grew through the bag into the soil! It will be great for my sweet potatoes. Any food that is put in a burlap bag is one that is not dried. Research the growers of root vegetables. Good luck.

For compost I use the paper feed bags. For covering your plants, the burlap is a great idea.

I have tons of burlap bags sitting in my basement - from buying rice in bulk at the Indian grocery store. I have no idea what I will ever use them for. But I can't bear to throw them out.

Same goes for the nylon 10 lb onion bags - have no idea what I will ever use them for, but can't bear to throw them out. They are in a pile in the basement, next to the burlap bags.