Our procedure for cutting, curing, and stacking hay on our homestead, Anarchy Acres. Visit AnarchyAcres.com to find our blog and learn more about the heritage wheat of Wisconsin.
I've been farming all my life, and putting up loose hay for a good part of that. This is the first video I've seen where there wasnt one thing with which I could disagree. Excellent job!
We use our hay for our Grass-Fed Gardens and for our Orchards in Ohio. We are slightly more automated as we mow our hills with a VenTrac Tough Cut mower. We then wait one or two days before hand raking and taking our hay to the gardens where we do continuous composting according to the Ruth Stout method. We keep the hay around our trees and in our Raised Beds 6-8” deep. The hay keeps the weeds from growing, protects the ground from baking in the Summer Sun, and nearly eliminates the need to water our crops. As our farm is 2 hours away from our home, we choose to not have animals as they would interfere with our “Retiree” no responsibility lifestyle. We do have an additional 18 acres of hay that is cut and bailed by our neighbor for livestock feeding. Our gardens actually like spoiled or moldy hay so it fits nicely within the framework of what you are doing. By the way, we no longer plow or Till at all. We mark off an area and spread 8” of hay or even wet grass on the field in the Fall. By Spring the Micro-herd of worms, bugs, bacteria, etc. have done their work and our Ohio red clay is ready for planting. The depth of good soil increases each year so we are using our hay to feed the micro herd so they can create good soil. Roy. from KRoseVideo
Great video, I want to have a self sustained estate with my family and I was planning on only building/land expenses. Then I realized hay is recommended for winter and was getting scared off by the equipment prices I saw. Just good ol’ elbow grease works fine for me
I just came across you channel.. I'm in Wisconsin also, and I have a mini donkey ❤️ now I want to pull out the old pony harness and him him up! Great channel!
@@JasJul10finding your video 4 years on, and will be getting started ASAP! Going to be growing Timothy Hay for my guinea pigs! (hobby, not ag, 160 acre ranch)
Sir you are fantastic!! 👏😊 Intelligent, wise man to live like this in a productive and overall healthy, healthy, healthy way! All that air, sun and exercise, plus no doubt all your organic produce. Also working WITH the animals there must be so satisfying, even if the donkeys throw a few wobblers every now and then!! But you are right: hay is a BEAUTIFUL product. I had cut my own last year just from my large gardens for the first time with a scythe too. I then bailed it with a wheelie bin. I stored it in the garage over the winter, and the sweet smell of it was so beautiful every time I entered the garage for something, that I just didn't want to sell it! Eventually I did last April, when Winter had still not left Ireland, and there were quite a few anxious and grateful horsey owners who had just about run out. They swept it off me without hesitation. So, anyway, I highly commend your way of living: homesteading the old fashioned, healthy, manual ways, but executed and thought out intelligently and with discernment, which doubtless adds significantly to the overall efficiency.
Here in the UK trying to make hay is so frustrating - no wonder most farmers here have gone over to silage. Unfortunately we have a Met. Office that can barely now-cast and who's ability to forecast rain over a 3 day period is very close to zero. Thankfully they are absolutely certain what the weather will be in 20 years time 8-)=
One thing I've heard is that the measurement of an "acre" began as the area a person could cut in a day with a scythe. Just a trivia item ;) Have you thought about tree hay?
Thanks! I make enough hay on my rented fields to feed my animals. However, I still can't feed them from hand-cut hay off the homestead exclusively. I hope to keep increasing the amount of hay I make on the homestead, until it's a 100% closed system. But I need to improve the quality of my grass and mix in some clover to maintain the fertility. Goals!
So how many acres do you cut by sythe?if you had a barn for storage,would just mound it up or set up a pole up in loft.best have a ramp for that,to drive your wagon into it
What brand of scythe did you end up with? I've not seen an Austrian style with that long swooping fore-grip like that. Very nice! Also, the pole stacks are great, but you can make them "easier" to deal with if you put mortises through the pole and slide some horizontal bars through the thing. The cross bars don't fit tight and the whole thing is easy to take down so you can store it in the barn. Very old technique I learned from a 1950's era black-n-white film shot over in Germany, iirc.
Have you looked into Regenerative Ag? Not only will you improve your soil health, you will improve your yield. Look up Understanding Ag here on CZcams for many facinating and informative videos.
Hello, I'm wanting to haystack my alfalfa field but was just wondering how it's possible to keep moisture out? I have used tarps but they eventually get ripped and wind blows them off. Have watched other videos where they build a pyramid and a base to keep the hay off the ground but not sure how to keep the rain from damaging the crop. Thanks!
You gotta time it well. You gotta cut it then set it to dry for a couple days then put it in a barn or shelter of some sorts. Then immediately begin the battle against rodents, terriers dogs and barn cats both were literally bred for this reason. Traps if you don't have cats or digs
@@theredsmuggler5230 Thanks for getting back. I think you may have misunderstood my question and yes, I got cats, dogs and tarps so rodents are never a problem but what I really wanted to know is if you actually leave your haystack out year round or you store it in the barn after leaving it out for a few days? Watching your video makes me think you make your hay pyramid and leave it uncovered and that's what they do in certain countries but I don't know how they get away with it as rain and snow are inevitable and will damage the hay. I got my neighbor to bale it for us but I'm wondering if I can cut, dry and stack it myself and be self-reliant but not sure about moisture.
That’s why the shaping is important, so that the water comes off. The hay keeps itself dry. Cover them with plastic is usually a bad idea, it stays damp in there and the hay spoils.
How much hay do you lose to moisture keeping it in piles like that? I want to start growing my own hay but I don't have a barn to put it in - I'm only on about 2 acres minus a large septic field.
I lose next to nothing. The donkeys graze on the stacks this time of year, and at night time I’m careful to rake up the loose hay and throw it in their stall. The exposed “cap“ of the stack is the least palatable, but they do eat it eventually.
I’m just a beginner, is hay perennial in Wisconsin? Also is your hay made out of ( Alfalfa rye ?) I’m from mn and looking to grow hay and just learning thank you in advance!
They are available on the Internet pretty easily now. Here in the US, Scythe Supply, Scythe Works, and One Scythe Revolution are all good suppliers of scythes and scythe instruction.
How do you keep that hay stack dry!? It will still get rained on and you need it for winter. I'm in upstate NY so same weather as Wisconsin I'm on 6.25 Pastured acres
In other replies he said he leaves it outside and not covered by a tarp or anything. He Said the top gets weathered and the animals don’t like that part as much, but they eat all of it.
What is the name of that tool you used to cut your hay!? Couldn't make out what you said. And where can I find one of those ? My small tractor cuts grass only and cuts it too short even at highest level
1st generation homesteaders here - great video, thanks.
battling wetlands before i can begin but i love my fellow aspiring homesteaders.
I've been farming all my life, and putting up loose hay for a good part of that. This is the first video I've seen where there wasnt one thing with which I could disagree. Excellent job!
No one cares
@@customdronefishing590you cared enough
I love that you are using the donkeys to work around your farm.
My family stacked hay like this into the 1940's on a small farm in middle Tennessee.
My Grandfather taught me to cut hay with a scythe. We put it up in stacks, but never used a pole in the center.
In România mountains people do this for hundred of years!
Is exactly the same.. Good job
We use our hay for our Grass-Fed Gardens and for our Orchards in Ohio. We are slightly more automated as we mow our hills with a VenTrac Tough Cut mower.
We then wait one or two days before hand raking and taking our hay to the gardens where we do continuous composting according to the Ruth Stout method. We keep the hay around our trees and in our Raised Beds 6-8” deep.
The hay keeps the weeds from growing, protects the ground from baking in the Summer Sun, and nearly eliminates the need to water our crops.
As our farm is 2 hours away from our home, we choose to not have animals as they would interfere with our “Retiree” no responsibility lifestyle. We do have an additional 18 acres of hay that is cut and bailed by our neighbor for livestock feeding. Our gardens actually like spoiled or moldy hay so it fits nicely within the framework of what you are doing. By the way, we no longer plow or Till at all. We mark off an area and spread 8” of hay or even wet grass on the field in the Fall. By Spring the Micro-herd of worms, bugs, bacteria, etc. have done their work and our Ohio red clay is ready for planting. The depth of good soil increases each year so we are using our hay to feed the micro herd so they can create good soil.
Roy. from KRoseVideo
Wow so happy I found you. so articulate and clear!
Great video, I want to have a self sustained estate with my family and I was planning on only building/land expenses. Then I realized hay is recommended for winter and was getting scared off by the equipment prices I saw. Just good ol’ elbow grease works fine for me
elbow grease will get you into an early grave
.. HAY IS BEAUTIFUL .. Wonderful Instructive Video ..
Many thanks
I just came across you channel.. I'm in Wisconsin also, and I have a mini donkey ❤️ now I want to pull out the old pony harness and him him up! Great channel!
Thank you.
@@JasJul10finding your video 4 years on, and will be getting started ASAP! Going to be growing Timothy Hay for my guinea pigs! (hobby, not ag, 160 acre ranch)
Sir you are fantastic!! 👏😊
Intelligent, wise man to live like this in a productive and overall healthy, healthy, healthy way! All that air, sun and exercise, plus no doubt all your organic produce. Also working WITH the animals there must be so satisfying, even if the donkeys throw a few wobblers every now and then!!
But you are right: hay is a BEAUTIFUL product. I had cut my own last year just from my large gardens for the first time with a scythe too. I then bailed it with a wheelie bin. I stored it in the garage over the winter, and the sweet smell of it was so beautiful every time I entered the garage for something, that I just didn't want to sell it! Eventually I did last April, when Winter had still not left Ireland, and there were quite a few anxious and grateful horsey owners who had just about run out. They swept it off me without hesitation.
So, anyway, I highly commend your way of living: homesteading the old fashioned, healthy, manual ways, but executed and thought out intelligently and with discernment, which doubtless adds significantly to the overall efficiency.
Thanks. That wonderful smell of fresh hay never grows old! Every year when I re-experience it I am just amazed
Fantastic! Thank you. We have 2 acres and plan to do this. Bless you
Thank you. Seeing the haystack being made was very informative. One of the best videos that you have made.
Thank you!
Beautiful kids working. So nice
This video is awesome! Thank you
Here in the UK trying to make hay is so frustrating - no wonder most farmers here have gone over to silage. Unfortunately we have a Met. Office that can barely now-cast and who's ability to forecast rain over a 3 day period is very close to zero. Thankfully they are absolutely certain what the weather will be in 20 years time 8-)=
Awesome video.
wow, awesome information! Thank you for the explanation.
You are so cool!! I have so much grass around and have gone at it a bit but want to get serious. Awesome work!
Thanks for sharing awesome video 🎉
Great video
Thank for this video very informative
Good video! Thanks
This was nice to see and learn about, thank you. 😀
I didn't know you and going to follow.
You’re welcome!
Good info, anarchy acres
Thanks for your video
Immediately subscribed after watching
Love your donkeys!
Nice video friends
very interesting
Thank you
One thing I've heard is that the measurement of an "acre" began as the area a person could cut in a day with a scythe. Just a trivia item ;) Have you thought about tree hay?
We’re gonna try making tree hay this year. Lots of wild apple trees around…
Thanks a lot
Most welcome
Great information, thank you!
This is great!! Do you have a video about taking a wild field full of weeds and rocks and turning it into a hay field?
Love those donkeys at work. I'll bet training them was a lot of effort.
Very nice! Thank you. The haystack is how you store the hay or after a while you have to put it into the barn?
Really great video! For the pole stack do you cover with a tarp to keep out of said rain or is it good in the weather once stacked?
I don’t think a cover is a good idea. I did it once and the hay developed mildew underneath. Best to let it breathe
So many scythes to choose from. Can you recommend exactly which one I need for grass hay? I'm about 6 feet tall.
Thank you Charlie!
Say, where did you buy that scythe??
Either Scythe Supply or Scythe Works, one of those places. They both have good online stores just Google it
I live on irish West Coast obviously very wet. Would hay keep like this in such a climate ?
Great video! Are you able to make all the hay you need for the winter or do you also have to buy some too?
Thanks! I make enough hay on my rented fields to feed my animals. However, I still can't feed them from hand-cut hay off the homestead exclusively. I hope to keep increasing the amount of hay I make on the homestead, until it's a 100% closed system. But I need to improve the quality of my grass and mix in some clover to maintain the fertility. Goals!
Thanks for the quick response! I hope to be able do the same one day for my animals! Best wishes to you and your homestead! Thanks so much! 😊
So how many acres do you cut by sythe?if you had a barn for storage,would just mound it up or set up a pole up in loft.best have a ramp for that,to drive your wagon into it
What brand of scythe did you end up with? I've not seen an Austrian style with that long swooping fore-grip like that. Very nice! Also, the pole stacks are great, but you can make them "easier" to deal with if you put mortises through the pole and slide some horizontal bars through the thing. The cross bars don't fit tight and the whole thing is easy to take down so you can store it in the barn. Very old technique I learned from a 1950's era black-n-white film shot over in Germany, iirc.
Thanks, the snath is homemade and my own peculiar design. Not sure what brand the blade is, I bought it online and I don't recall the particulars.
@@JasJul10 That's mighty fine woodwork! You should offer those for sale.
💚🤘🏿
Have you looked into Regenerative Ag? Not only will you improve your soil health, you will improve your yield. Look up Understanding Ag here on CZcams for many facinating and informative videos.
Here's a link so you can find Understanding Ag channel quickly czcams.com/channels/Qk96t4pMertgPRHe6D73qA.html
How much hay do you get off your 4 acres?
For how many days we can give this?
Do you leave the hay in the field
interesting
Hello,
I'm wanting to haystack my alfalfa field but was just wondering how it's possible to keep moisture out? I have used tarps but they eventually get ripped and wind blows them off.
Have watched other videos where they build a pyramid and a base to keep the hay off the ground but not sure how to keep the rain from damaging the crop.
Thanks!
You gotta time it well. You gotta cut it then set it to dry for a couple days then put it in a barn or shelter of some sorts. Then immediately begin the battle against rodents, terriers dogs and barn cats both were literally bred for this reason. Traps if you don't have cats or digs
@@theredsmuggler5230
Thanks for getting back.
I think you may have misunderstood my question and yes, I got cats, dogs and tarps so rodents are never a problem but what I really wanted to know is if you actually leave your haystack out year round or you store it in the barn after leaving it out for a few days? Watching your video makes me think you make your hay pyramid and leave it uncovered and that's what they do in certain countries but I don't know how they get away with it as rain and snow are inevitable and will damage the hay.
I got my neighbor to bale it for us but I'm wondering if I can cut, dry and stack it myself and be self-reliant but not sure about moisture.
Where do I get a good scythe
Do you sell the seed?
So is this left outside in the elements until needed in the winter? Or brought into a barn?
Yes, the stacks stay outside until the hay is needed. If there was space in the barn, I would not bother with the stacks.
How do you keep the hay stack dry during the fall/winter? Do you cover it somehow?
That’s why the shaping is important, so that the water comes off. The hay keeps itself dry. Cover them with plastic is usually a bad idea, it stays damp in there and the hay spoils.
Sir, what is name of this grass
How much hay do you lose to moisture keeping it in piles like that? I want to start growing my own hay but I don't have a barn to put it in - I'm only on about 2 acres minus a large septic field.
I lose next to nothing. The donkeys graze on the stacks this time of year, and at night time I’m careful to rake up the loose hay and throw it in their stall. The exposed “cap“ of the stack is the least palatable, but they do eat it eventually.
@@JasJul10 Thank you for the response! Love the farm name by the way!
Is it OK to put a tarp over it till winter or will that cause it to mildew?
I don't think a tarp is a good idea. I have used them in the past, but it always seemed to spoil a lot of hay through mildew.
What was the tool called you used to cut the tall grass?
It's called a scythe. There is a good facebook group to help people who want to use a scythe at facebook.com/groups/643393295735728
What do you use to record your videos?
I think this was recorded on a Nikon D750, but it could have been a Canon 70D. I've owned a couple different HD DSLRs.
I’m just a beginner, is hay perennial in Wisconsin? Also is your hay made out of ( Alfalfa rye ?) I’m from mn and looking to grow hay and just learning thank you in advance!
Most hay is made from perennial grasses. Occasionally I make hay from oats and field peas, which are both annuals.
thanks, man
Can you do this with using a lawn mower?
It’s difficult, because the grass blades are so short from a mower. But you can try it just won’t stack very well
Where did get that scythe?
They are available on the Internet pretty easily now. Here in the US, Scythe Supply, Scythe Works, and One Scythe Revolution are all good suppliers of scythes and scythe instruction.
I’m allergic to hay
Good thing you aren't a horse! :)
@@KB4QAA Hay kills the hell out my nose
How do you keep that hay stack dry!? It will still get rained on and you need it for winter. I'm in upstate NY so same weather as Wisconsin
I'm on 6.25 Pastured acres
In other replies he said he leaves it outside and not covered by a tarp or anything. He Said the top gets weathered and the animals don’t like that part as much, but they eat all of it.
What is the name of that tool you used to cut your hay!? Couldn't make out what you said.
And where can I find one of those ? My small tractor cuts grass only and cuts it too short even at highest level
A Scythe
Scythe Supply or Scythe Works. (On line).