philmayfield 6,115 Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 After all the hot dry weather we’ve had it’s started to rain. Guess what - the contractor is cutting our hay! At least I don’t get involved these days and it doesn’t cost me anything. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted July 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 Just been walking through the new mown hay. The rain hasn't messed it up fortunately. It smells wonderful. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,599 Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 Phil, does someone come over to pitchfork it into a hay wagon as in the old days, or is it in baled. Sounds lovely - I can almost smell it from here… Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 Margie, he's probably got a Haywain on it's way as we speak, complete with a couple of pitchforks and a flagon of cider. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted July 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 I do have the traditional pitchfork but it’s all done mechanically now with a big round baler. It really is idyllic here, walking through the new mown hay on a summer’s evening. No holidays abroad for me, I’ve got everything I could wish for on my own doorstep. A pub within walking distance, an excellent farm shop four miles away, Southwell five miles, Newark with a Waitrose ten miles. I bought a new shirt for £9 at the farmers’ shop in Newark this afternoon and I picked up a few bottles of the finest ales from the Milestone Brewery in Cromwell. Tonight fish and chips! Is heaven like this? 1 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted July 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 1 minute ago, Beekay said: Margie, he's probably got a Haywain on it's way as we speak, complete with a couple of pitchforks and a flagon of cider. It used to be like that ‘when I were a lad’ but we have to move with the times and I’m too old for humping hay bales, stacking them in sevens and then carting them to the shed in the tractor loader bucket. I just watch others doing it now Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 You really ought post some pictures of this idyllic scene, so we can share your enjoyment. Without giving any details of course Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted July 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 Just imagine a field of golden, newly cut hay, the field surrounded with trees, the wooded Trent hills in the distance. I’ve just sent pictures to our son and daughter on WhatsApp but I’ve never beeen successful in posting pictures on this site. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 I'm on WhatsApp, do you want me number? (Could pick up some ideas for paint projects). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted July 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 You can pm me if you like Barrie. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 Not quite the Trent or hayfields,but just finished me planter. 5 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 The other side. Can't do multiples on me tablet. 4 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted July 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 Reminds me of my canal boating days. It was only a long weekend though! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 End shot, it's the only way I could get it in. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IAN FINN 807 Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 Are you going to mass produce them Beekay if so drop a few off over Canada. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 Thank you Ian. It's only a little planter that I've been working on this week. Monday and Tuesday was like painting with treacle, but I persevered. It's always nice to get encouragement, and thanks to you too PP. Had to soak the planter first as it had a paper design on it. Scraped it off and started again. (Wonder how much the postage would be to Canada?). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nonnaB 4,894 Posted July 26, 2022 Report Share Posted July 26, 2022 Not quite haymaking in this sense but near us we have quite a lot of fields and the grass is always being cut , dried and round baled. As more fields have done growing corn they are replaced with vines so really we dont get to see many bales ....only grapes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nonnaB 4,894 Posted July 26, 2022 Report Share Posted July 26, 2022 Barrie when it gets a bit cooler ill have a walk and take some pics for you. There are some beautiful views near us. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted July 26, 2022 Report Share Posted July 26, 2022 I don't think anyone around here is haymaking yet, it's way too dry and too risky taking tractor and implements into the fields, the place is a tinder box just waiting for someone to hit some flintstone. Normally, first hay is cut and bailed in late May, but was pretty poor this year, so most hung on a couple of months, now it's a fire hazard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted August 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 After a period of over two weeks of the cut hay lying on the ground I’ve just heard the sound of the hay being turned. Maybe it will even be baled before nightfall. Watch this space! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plantfit 7,580 Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 Lovely stuff BK, just love seeing the things people do with their time and keeping the little grey cells active, much better than sitting in front of a tv or newspaper, life is far too short for that Rog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,134 Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 Cheers Rog., much obliged for the compliment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ayupmeducks 1,730 Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 The hay is cut after the dew has "burnt off" then it is tedded with a tedder, ie tedder is a large rotating fork that piles the cut grass into rows ready for the baler and usually done the second day, at least that's what my neighbours do. The large bails are then collected and stored either in a barn or outside with a tarp covering them ready for winter feed by cattle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,115 Posted August 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 It’s been turned and rowed up now so I guess it will be baled tomorrow. No chance of any rain here for days. Looks like a fair crop. In the past, with the smaller bales, we’ve had around 200 but I don’t know how that equates to the large round bales. At least I won’t be stacking them in this heat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.