We have had a wonderful mix of sun and rain this spring.
I'm not complaining, because it makes for perfect gardens.
However....
it really messes with bringing in the hay.
We need 4 days (at least of warm weather, slight breeze and no rain to make hay.
Friday we decided to give it a go.
Four days of sunshine were predicted.
This year we were lucky enough to have someone cut the hay for us.
It took this haybine about a half hour to do a job that would have taken me about 3 hours.
And afterward....the smell of new mown hay...
wonderful.
If the color green has a smell, this is it!
We ended up with rows and rows of beautiful thick green hay.
Saturday and Sunday we tended the hay to fluff it and help it to dry out.
Yesterday I got busy with the rake and started to combine rows
to make room for the baler and wagon.
Raking each row flips the hay and allows the bottom to dry in the sun.
Sadly, for all the work we put into it, the hay still did not dry.
Our soil is still so moist from all the previous rains,
the hay just wouldn't dry,
Even more sad is the fact that today's weather is forecasted to be rain showers.
If we can get the hay to dry without molding in the next few days,
we may be able to save this field.
If not, the hay will be given to our neighboring dairy farmer to feed his cows.
I am learning that this is one of the hardest things about farming.
Despite all of one's efforts, if the weather is not in your favor....
well, the outcome can be much less than you'd hoped.
But on a brighter note....
Look what is being harvested right now.
Luscious, big, juicy strawberries!
Aren't they beautiful?
These berries are from the plants that I put into three of my garden boxes in early April.
Just wait until next year, when those 150 plants have multiplied!
WOW!
One heavenly bite of these tender berries, and all of my hay woes disappear!
Ok, well not all of my hay woes,
but the berries certainly help!
Comments
Berry's are looking yummy. Hope to get a big basket next week.
Enjoy the day..love your tractor!!
Your strawberries look "good enough to eat"..Beautiful..I'd be sitting in the garden with dipping chocolate or cool whip..They probably don't need that though..Either do I..Enjoy!!!
Todd... our new silkie rooster started out in the top of our barn, however he has decided that he would rather bunk down with the donkey gals at night. He and the other rooster at the barn tolerate each other well. The hens are staying within their yard these days as they were destroying all of the landscaping and flowers. Once Fall arrives they will be left out to wander. The bulk of our chickens in other houses are further away from the barn, and so they spend their days in the pastures and woods....and yes, there are two roosters in that gang that co-exist fine. The key is your rooster to hen ratio. They suggest one rooster for every 25 hens or so.
Lara