Hay the old fashioned way!

[Gluttonforpunishment]

Pointless post but I have a new found respect for farmers of yesteryear. I have just hand turned, with a pitch fork, 1/2 acre of hay. Absolutely shattered!

 

[Archangel]

Strewth.
Satisfying thing to have done though. What you need to do now is sit down with a pint of something cold as a reward

 

[Dry Rot]

Now get on and do the rest by hand! Hope you do not have too many blisters. A few more acres and you'll get into a rhythm and there'll be no stopping you.

http://www.scytheconnection.com/adp/hay/makeHay/makingHay.html

 

[pennyturner]

In the early '90s I took a train across Poland and saw in every garden a neat hay pole with a hay stack in progress.

I know it's possible, and admire the skill and acheivement, but why?

 

[Gluttonforpunishment]

Cutting it was a doddle, petrol powered Allen sythe but the turning it is hard work. Unfortunately if I want free hay off my spare land this is the only way, not accessible by farm machinery! Currently I'm on maternity leave (baby is now 5 months) so mugging here thought hay making was a good idea as at home to turn and cart it when the weather is right. Seriously bad plan!!! It will be stacked loose in my barn so no need to put it onto sheafs than goodness.

 

[Suechoccy]

Wow. yes I might be doing the same soon.... farmers round my way very busy with their own stuff and my acreage is tiny. One's offered to cut it for me...one other is going to see whether or not he reckons it's worth his time to bale.

Thanks for the link! That might be very useful later this week...

 

[TrasaM]

I'm not really ancient..no really but saving hay was how all and any sunny or dry day was spent doing when I was a child. I hated it with a vengeance. First it was shaken out so it would dry. It was then made into little stacks to continue drying and then made into bigger haycocks with a waterproof covering over the top and left for about a month before it was bought into the hay shed or made into an even bigger hayrick (sp?) near the barns. The land was pretty rocky so not machinery friendly hence the hand saving process. It also allowed the corn rake to nest and raise its chicks safely. People there now cut the grass early for silage and no more corncrakes crake.
I have very fond memories of how the hay fields looked and smelt this time of year with lots of wild flowers, bees and insects and the way the shadow moved across it when it as windy I have no fond memories of the hard work it generated for the very rebellious child which I was
Well done and hope you don't have too many blisters

 

[Enfys]

For a couple of years we cut our own hay, turned it (had a cutter and rake thank God) but after losing a mega crop one year because the contractor didn't turn up we hauled it in, loose, ourselves. 6 acres, so load it onto a 12' flat bed wagon, haul it home, unload it at the other end. Not happening again. I buy the damn stuff in now!

It is hard work, I think I would have given up at the turning stage. I hope you get a decent bit for your labours.

Here the Mennonites still do it all the traditional way, by horsepower, somehow they even have a horse powered elevator to load it onto the wagons.
It always makes me smile to see wrapped rounds in one field, and then beside it, stooks waiting to be collected.

 

[magicmoose]

Pointless post but I have a new found respect for farmers of yesteryear. I have just hand turned, with a pitch fork, 1/2 acre of hay. Absolutely shattered!

Never was a username more appropriate!!

 

[Gluttonforpunishment]

Oh magicmoose, that really made me laugh!

I just don't learn, these things always seem such a good idea at the time.

 

[Dry Rot]

I'm not really ancient..no really but saving hay was how all and any sunny or dry day was spent doing when I was a child. I hated it with a vengeance. First it was shaken out so it would dry. It was then made into little stacks to continue drying and then made into bigger haycocks with a waterproof covering over the top and left for about a month before it was bought into the hay shed or made into an even bigger hayrick (sp?) near the barns. The land was pretty rocky so not machinery friendly hence the hand saving process. It also allowed the corn rake to nest and raise its chicks safely. People there now cut the grass early for silage and no more corncrakes crake.
I have very fond memories of how the hay fields looked and smelt this time of year with lots of wild flowers, bees and insects and the way the shadow moved across it when it as windy I have no fond memories of the hard work it generated for the very rebellious child which I was
Well done and hope you don't have too many blisters

You are either from the west of Ireland or the west of Scotland!

My neighbour in the Hebrides was cutting his oats with a scythe. I suggested he borrow another crofter's binder. His reply, "Well, it does not make such a good job as the scythe". (Too many rocks!). I think crofters are pad grants now for farming this way as it does help the corn crakes.

I think if you'd a little grey Fergie with a front loader, making hay with tripods would be the way to go on a small acreage. As you've said, put it into cocks, then tripods, all with the tractor loader. Then borrow a small baler and fork the hay from the tripod straight into the baler at your leisure when it is dry. Or pick up the whole tripod with one of those old fashioned wide buckrakes and cart the whole thing to the barn where you have your baler set up. Tripodded hay is by far the best hay.

Sadly, it is the mower conditioner here, then a four rotor tedder, finally small bales after being rowed up, then through a flat 8 system and into the barn. Or round bales if the weather is dodgy. Or rounds of haylage if I chicken out!

 

[Rose Folly]

Goodness you bring back memories. We used to employ someone to make hay from our big field, but the orchard (2 acres) we did ourselves.

Remember waking with a cracking hangover, aged about 18, after a wonderful, inebriated Army ball, by my mother shaking me (6.30am) saying "Your father's got phlebitis again - he says you'll have to turn the hay"!

But the smell of hay as it was made in those days - you NEVER smell it like that now - and the wonderful blue-green colour, and the fact that it was NEVER dusty. We had old fashioned stables too, where you opened a trap door in the loft floor above each loose box's iron hay manger and just shovelled it down.

I do sometimes remember those days as I cram haylage into nets. But I couldn't face the turning these days.......

 

[TrasaM]

Dry Rot.
Well done! I'm from Connemara. Land with more rocks than soil in most cases although my father had somehow wrestled reasonable sized fields out of it somehow. Centuries of small subsistence farms with dry stone walls built from the stones they'd cleared from the ground. The hay was seldom dusty or mouldy and smelt wonderfull when freshly cut The corncrake is still absent though

 

[Cortez]

Yes, I remember the lads scything, turning and tossing the hay onto massive horse dawn wagons over 40 years ago in the west of Ireland. I don't think there are many people nowadays that have the strength or fortitude to do that, or the time............

 

[Dry Rot]

Dry Rot.
Well done! I'm from Connemara. Land with more rocks than soil in most cases although my father had somehow wrestled reasonable sized fields out of it somehow. Centuries of small subsistence farms with dry stone walls built from the stones they'd cleared from the ground. The hay was seldom dusty or mouldy and smelt wonderfull when freshly cut The corncrake is still absent though

I used to go to Connemara for summer holidays and stay with a man called Ronald Stevens who bred and flew falcons. I also knew a priest (Fr Martin O'Connor?) who kept pointers and bred Connemara ponies. (Do priests still do such things?). There was a fishing estate (Zetland Estate?) where we'd go to ring young merlins for The British Trust for Ornithology....But that must be at least 50 years ago! You've brought back a few memories!

 

[TrasaM]

I used to go to Connemara for summer holidays and stay with a man called Ronald Stevens who bred and flew falcons. I also knew a priest (Fr Martin O'Connor?) who kept pointers and bred Connemara ponies. (Do priests still do such things?). There was a fishing estate (Zetland Estate?) where we'd go to ring young merlins for The British Trust for Ornithology....But that must be at least 50 years ago! You've brought back a few memories!

Do you remember where the Zetland estate was ? There is still a Zetland house hotel in Cashel, near Roundstone. I don't recollect any of the priests in the parish I grew up in, near Clifden, being articulately interesting. Life has changed a grat deal there since the 1960s /70s.

 

[TrasaM]

Yes, I remember the lads scything, turning and tossing the hay onto massive horse dawn wagons over 40 years ago in the west of Ireland. I don't think there are many people nowadays that have the strength or fortitude to do that, or the time............

Horse drawn wagon! I wish. My father was scared of horses We did have Neddy the ass though and he had a little cart my dad made for him. He dragged drew and carried as required and the rest of the time would be seen with a slightly feral blond child riding him around bareback trying to make him gallop and jump
PS.. Donkeys have very bony backs.

 

[mandwhy]

Well, it all sounds like good exercise! I say market it to yuppies as some sort of 'farming of yesteryear experience day'

 

[Enfys]

Saw this and thought of you bringing your hay in

(from: http://eyespopping.com/it-happens-only-in-india/ )

 

[Gluttonforpunishment]

Lol, hopefully it won't be that bad!!

 

[Nettle123]

Dry Rot.
Well done! I'm from Connemara. Land with more rocks than soil in most cases although my father had somehow wrestled reasonable sized fields out of it somehow. Centuries of small subsistence farms with dry stone walls built from the stones they'd cleared from the ground. The hay was seldom dusty or mouldy and smelt wonderfull when freshly cut The corncrake is still absent though

My family farm in Galway, I remember them making hay by hand 40 years ago. Even my Grandma would be out helping with the hay and building the haycocks. It had to dry quickly as there was seldom a lengthy period without rain, lol.

 

[TrasaM]

My family farm in Galway, I remember them making hay by hand 40 years ago. Even my Grandma would be out helping with the hay and building the haycocks. It had to dry quickly as there was seldom a lengthy period without rain, lol.

About the right time period age or gender allowed no get out. It really was a case of make hay whilst the sun shone. Being little I was used to tramp the hay down when the cocks were being made. I even have very early memories of a the thrashing machine coming around when the oats or barley was done. Now that Was exciting

 

[Nettle123]

About the right time period age or gender allowed no get out. It really was a case of make hay whilst the sun shone. Being little I was used to tramp the hay down when the cocks were being made. I even have very early memories of a the thrashing machine coming around when the oats or barley was done. Now that Was exciting

TrasaM, did you ever have to help with cutting turf on the peat bog?, that was back breaking work too.

I must admit I find haymaking an overrated pastime thes days. We used to make our own but it was such hard work we buy in now. I love to see those old steam driven combine harvesters at County Shows.

I remember one wonderful haymaking when our Farmer Friend brought along half a dozen YFC lads to stack for us as a storm was approaching. They did a great job and I expected them to get stuck into the cold cans of lager. Unfortunately they all asked for pop and to my eternal shame they had to make do with large glasses of tonic water or ginger ale. I make sure I always have pop now especially as the Shearer is due shortly.

 

[Brightbay]

About the right time period age or gender allowed no get out. It really was a case of make hay whilst the sun shone. Being little I was used to tramp the hay down when the cocks were being made. I even have very early memories of a the thrashing machine coming around when the oats or barley was done. Now that Was exciting

I helped with the haymaking (turning and stacking) in Kerry about 40 years ago. It was half way up a mountainside, and afterwards, me and the cousins (it was their farm) used to go and jump in a giant cistern of water to cool off I know it's one of those things where your memory fools you, but summers seemed to be long enough and hot enough back then to make hay that way. Now, we don't seem to get three dry days in a row

 

[TrasaM]

TrasaM, did you ever have to help with cutting turf on the peat bog?, that was back breaking work too.

I must admit I find haymaking an overrated pastime thes days. We used to make our own but it was such hard work we buy in now. I love to see those old steam driven combine harvesters at County Shows.

I remember one wonderful haymaking when our Farmer Friend brought along half a dozen YFC lads to stack for us as a storm was approaching. They did a great job and I expected them to get stuck into the cold cans of lager. Unfortunately they all asked for pop and to my eternal shame they had to make do with large glasses of tonic water or ginger ale. I make sure I always have pop now especially as the Shearer is due shortly.

Lots of the neighbours would one along and help to get the hay in. That used to be nice . I didn't mind helping to spread and turn the turf but I didn't have to do it very often. That was usually my brothers' task.

I'm hoping to buy a place near to where I grew up and it's got some land .. I Will Not Be Growing or Saving Hay lol.

 

[Perce]

last year I had so much grass I decided to have a go at making a little hay. I bought my scythe, which I adore, and scythed, turned, etc. then made 16 home made bales. I loved the scything and once I'd got the knack, did it at a reasonable pace , and left a very tidy lawn behind it. The turning was hard work but do-able. The hardest, and most time consuming, was the baling. I used a rectangular shaped plastic bin and baler twine. It was very satisfying. Unfortunately the hay that I spent ages making was eaten much more quickly.