Aireyholme Farm has been hard at work hay making.
The creation of dry hay is an elaborate process, involving a sequence of operations each requiring specialised machinery. These stages are: mowing, tedding, raking, and baling.
The procedure begins with cutting the grass, which is then left in the field for several days, depending on the weather conditions. During this period, a swathe-turner or tedder is employed to turn the grass, partially drying through exposure to the sun.
In bygone days, prior to the advent of new fangled equipment, hay making was a task of immense labour. The hay, gathered loose from the fields, would be transported on the back of wagons to the rick yard. Here, agricultural labourers would meticulously construct haystacks. These structures, often surpassing the size of a cottage, were vital, for the hay served as winter fodder for the livestock.
Once sufficiently dried, the hay was assembled into large mounds known as haystacks or hayricks. This traditional method of storage has been practised for thousands of years.
The creation of haystacks has often a collective effort, involving the entire community. Their construction was not merely a necessity but an art, requiring expertise to ensure that the hay was kept dry and preserved from spoilage and rot.
Now, of course, the hay will be made into bales.
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