How to Make Hay with a Scythe
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- onescytherevol... - I kept the mowing segments very short, since there are other videos on that. I focused more on the tedding and turning of the hay, to give a real-time sense of the amount of work involved with that aspect of haying.
The timing didn't work out, to show how to set up the pyramid haystack frame. Hopefully next summer. In the meantime for more info on haystacks see my blog at www.onescythere...
I work about 3 acres. I put up 2-4 tons of hay and straw per year. I only have ducks and geese at this point, and they eat mostly grains, but they do eat out the finer bits in the hay, and poop on the rest. Their eggs are definetaly bigger and the yolks oranger, when they get to eat my scythe cut hay. The used bedding is composted and put back on the garden beds. I am currently growing out rare heritage grains in these beds, with the hope of someday soon being able to produce my own grains.
I always get admonished about how much hard work it is to keep a farm, but I will say it anyway: this vid inspires me. I wish for a life where the skills and crafts needed for survival (growing food, spinning cloth, making own clothing) ARE the way of life, as they were for millenia for most people. Most city dwellers just count on the supermarkets always being there to go buy stuff from. One day they might not be, and those who have learned the art of producing, not mere consuming, will survive
This is a man that clearly has it made in life. He works hard but he works for himself, and what he has is his. It's obvious he enjoys his life. I doubt he would trade it for a "wealthy" mans life.
Great video.
There's a real good chance this man was either a stockbroker in New York city, or a trust fund baby in an earlier life, and maybe still. What he is doing is fine for a hobby, but he would starve to death trying to make a living this way. All real farmers know this and they are chortling up their sleeves when they see this video. I know I am.
@@bruceparks3124 Actually what you say are "real farmers" have to farm on such a large scale to pay for their machinery and equipment. They are caught in an endless cycle that they can't break free of because they have been trapped by commercial companies that roped them into farming this way. It's like someone who is just working their job to have or keep insurance, but they are utterly trapped and a slave to the system. So I don't think they are chortling as you say and i urge you to find one and ask them. I bet they would trade their life for the one in the video anyday.
@@crob8240 This is an interesting line of discussion/debate. We all recognize the debt trap associated with typical commercial farming, but is it really possible to make a decent living as a small-scale farmer using sustainable methods like cutting hay with a scythe? It looks like there are some people who make the small scale work for them by supplementing their income with youtube, online classes, books and so forth, but what if one does not have the inclination or skill set to do the on-line work? Are there examples of small scale farmers who can pay their bills and have a little left over for a rainy day?
@@bjenns_skog Yes. One great example is Jim Kovaleski look him up he makes a great living small scale.
@@crob8240 Nice. Thank you!
I had no idea making hay was so involved, or took so long. What a city girl I am!
Thanks for sharing.
I love this video. Thanks for not trying to "dress it up" with music. The sounds of the birds and water fowl are great. And how can one not just love the trusty dog that comes tromping through to check it out? Ahhh... Someday.
Steven Hendon I was thinking the same thing!!! I love the sound of birds and the scythe and the rake. it is very peaceful!!!
The best vid on UA-cam so far which shows the basic process of making hay. I was particularly interested in the number of days required for curing which this vid showed (~2days). Thank you, Botan Anderson!
Yes, it's a matter of scale. One scythe is good for 3-5 acres. Machinery is very expensive for farming very small acreage.
What state are you in?
What type of hay is it?
Do you sell hay?
I know it's alot of work for you, but I found this very relaxing.
I felt very content myself.
LKDisney It looks a lot like kayak paddling. Very zen-like when you get into a rhythm and just focus on that. I'd guess Botan is a little surprised when he hits the end of the row.
I love this video. I watch it over and over. It relaxes me to watch it. And I am gearing up to buy one and work on my 1/8 acre alfalfa field. Thank you for showing how this can be done without a mower with gas! I see the comment below asking questions about calculations, but for me the physical energy put into this is priceless and too meaningful to "calculate." I can see why he would want them though since he is in school and would like to see the difference and maybe be able to put qualitative analysis with quantitative data. Anyway, love love this! I want a scythe so badly.
incredible, wow thank you for taking the time to share all your hard work and to help the rest of us who cannot afford all the equipment for haying. God's Blessings
love it, i love how the geese came out to get at the bugs turned up by the spreading of the hay
Thank you very much for this documentation. I do hay with scythe as well, but I found your system of drying it very interesting and effectiv, not using a hayfork at all. To transport the hay from the field on a tarp is a good idea too, I almost use a wheelbarrel for it, but I'm not convinced of my system. Thanks for the inspiration!
The Italian method of stacking when they run out of space in the barn is by having a four meter pole sticking out of the ground with an umbrella type tin roof that goes up via a pulley and a rope, being lowered as the hay is consumed and it's height gets smaller. Only the sides are protected by a tarp.
That is a happy dog - few dogs are as happy and as stimulated as dogs that get to go along on chores all day.
This is so helpful, thank you; it's amazing how much is being said with little to no words.
@KallyJones Yes, but always worry about it combusting in a barn. Keep checking your hay for several weeks after harvest. I know people that pile it loosely in one part of the barn, and keep turning it and checking it, until they are sure that no mold is forming. Once they are sure it's dry, they move it to a different part of the barn, and pack it down. With our hot dry prairie weather around the solstice, hay often is dry in 2 days. By September, it can take 3-4, or more days to dry.
Didn't realize how much work went into producing hay. Great video.
Great video! It really took me back to my childhood near farmland when sometimes they used the scythe to cut fallow land.
I loved the dog supervision..
I quit my job, sold my car+cell phone and some other things. Growing our own food now and thinking about home schooling the kids (no school now anyway). Also sold my sit own lawn mower/tractor and will do it with a small push mower and (lawn) and a scythe in the future. We and our children have some tough times ahead of us.
Thanks for posting this. Been researching growing some of my own hay. This was very informative. also love the peacefulness of the whole thing.
It takes me 5 days in total, around the solstice. 3 mornings (2-3 hrs) of mowing, and then timely tending for the rest of the time.
How many acres can you do in those 5 days? Weve recently been fortunate enough to buy 18 acres, and we want to do everything as low impact as possible, so would using a scythe on so much land be possible for 1 person?
Supremely useful, perfectly assembled video
I loved this, very quiet and visual, super helpful. Thanks for making this.
Thanks! This is educational for an urban gardener like me!
Beautifully done, my friend. Thank you for taking the time to put together an important bit of knowledge.
Gulland
this was like a much needed asmr video that i needed...one day I will have a nice plot of land..
I cover my pyramid haystacks with a 12"x12' yard-tarp to keep off moisture. I hang weights on the corners to hold the tarp down.
Fantastic, informative video. Thanks for the inspiration.
They have been stacking hay in Ireland like that for years!!!
Wonderful, thanks.
Thanks for this lovely video! I bought a scythe yesterday for my wildflower meadow, but I've to learn a lot ;) Greetings from Germany!
Looks peaceful out there. I'm a city boy and I wouldn't mind living like that for a change.
There is something very zen and peaceful about cutting grass or hay with a scythe.
Very idyllic, and very mesmerizing to watch.
I used to do this with my father when I was about 10 years old. Those were the days of bloodshot eyes and running noses (terrible hay fever) and very little sympathy. Hard days work.
Wow!! That was really enjoyable watching.. I have never seen hay cutting using a scythe.. I have helped out with hay bailing when I was a teen and that was fun but hard work. Thank you for this post.. :)
Those are my Pilgrim geese, in this video. Geese are pretty much vegetarians. They will eat worms, if they are on top of the ground, after a rain, but otherwise they don't hunt for bugs. They are mostly curious about how their territory has been expanded by my mowing, and they like to eat the tender young plants exposed by the scythe.
Dude..huge respect from Ireland..u did a really good job...thanx for everything
Amazing how similar is the procedure in US and Slovakia. These days we have a hay fever here in the village, everybody in the pub is just talking about hay and, of course, weather :) You have nice, dense grass there. How many sorts of vegetals are mixed in your hay? Here I prefere the forrest meadow, there are tens of taxons, including juvenile trees. Not only grass. Our goats like it. Good luck
Thank you for sharing this wonderful ❤️ tutorial 👌 video 👌
Yes. On a blazing hot prairie afternoon, if left untedded too long, the hay on top can get too dried out and start to bleach out, and get extremely brittle. Herbs like clover leaves will then disintegrate if disturbed.
you inspire me I have now been making my own hay cut with a scythe
Not if the hay is dry enough. I do however remove the tarp during sunny weather, during the first month, to let it breathe while it's still curing. The hay may seem dry, but it's still "curing". A fresh haystack smells incredibly good, if allowed to breathe. It's very fragrant. After a month or so, it's fully cured, and the cover can stay on all the time.
That was just awesome to watch…thanks!
Great video, pleasure to watch and learn. Thanks Up loader.
Congrats on keeping this tradition alive. I just love the smell of the freshly cut grass baking in the sun while turning into hay. My family has about 10 acres that have to be cleaned 3 times a year using this traditional method and due to the rising prices in man hour labor we have to look into buying a grass cutter tractor or mower. Do you know of any that gets the same job as an old fashion scythe? Best Regards
I'd call this "How to make scythe-cut hay with a Hay Rake".
Great video
Scything is FUN!
The sounds were so relaxing xD
I just glanced at the views and noticed that 12 people don't like this video! Haahaha. What's not to like??!! It must be twelve different oil company CEOs who are sad you just made a bunch of gorgeous hay without burning a drop of fuel. You truly can never please everyone I guess...
Over 172000 people have now watched this vid . Be serious , what proportion of those do you think will ever go on to use one of these scythes in a serious way ?
great video, thank you verry much.
Thank you for sharing this video I might buy some land someday soon
cool method and very well explained! what a cool process
i really have this huge urge to pet that dog
if you visit the Est European contry side- It is still in use daily, actualy mainly in the hills. So not in the plain field. The Hay looks different there - lot of shapes, depend of the weather and altitude. Usualy had a stick in the middle for better support.
Maybe in your climate, but not here. The soil is quite damp here, and the hay reabsobs moisture from the bottom, if left on the ground too long without turning.
I don't think riding lawn mowers can cut long grass. Hay is usually made with longer grass. Most farm stores still sell hayforks, although only the heavy kind. I sell wooden hayrakes on my website.
Cool video, bit long but awesome 👏
It depends on day-length, and the weather. The hot, long days around the solstice here, will dry hay in a couple of days. Later in August it might take 3 days with ideal weather. By late September 4-5 days.
There are several kinds of blades. They all have to be sharp, BUT some are designed for dual-purpose use. The thicker, shorter blades are used for both mowing hay and brush. They are harder to sharpen and even then, do not cut hay as efficiently as a longer, thinner blade such as the Europeans use.
@tritolo18ok Gracie! Translation- "Compliments!! you have made me relive my best years,
I have made the same thing. for 30 years.... 30 years ago..... thanks of heart.."
excellent vid - Ta
im so amazed.....i dont know why
Thank you for the video!
Hey Botan,
Thanks for the great video! I have some questions as I am a student of International Sustainable Agricullture:
1. For what animals are you making hay? how many? Is hay sufficient for the winter or do you purchase off farm supplement?
2. Have you done cost-benefit calculations as compared to maybe a small mower and the price of fuel, etc compared to the time saved and ability to do other work?
Hoping you will respond as I'd really appreciate it!
-Vince
Fascinating. I really like this.
Tolles Video.
Schade das die klassische Sense inzwischen fast komplett von Motorsense und Co. verdrängt wurde.
Thank you for sharing. We have an interest in this.
very relaxing !
nature, birds, dog, geese, peace. I envy you
that's why one village has one combined harwester, few tractors and all peripheral machinery for those tractors.
we use the samy type of schythe.
point with early morning cutting was that dew acts as a lubricant, it's easier.
other than that, it is better to cut when photosynthesis is at it's highest, during the day.
The end product/storage looks like a giant cousin IT from the adams family with a rain hat on
Or a coconut
Oh my, I could almost smell the sweet smell of drying hay! I guess everyone has smells that remind them of certain things. To me, summer smells like hay & diesel fuel - I spent many a summer day driving the tractor for my brothers to load on hay bales.
tobacco barns smoking..
Thanks Botan. Love your creativity with the hay stack. Do you find the scything relaxing, boring or something else? Thanks Again. David
Nice Work.
that took him the whole day to do! I don't think I'm cut out to be a farmer lol
this is good as long as your not doing 300-400 acres worth then you want tractors and utes to do the work
@michealomainin Yes, and they even cover them with little tarps on top.
Thank you, I've been wondering how to do this.
Wish I had the flat land for this.. acreage on a mountainside is far less to work with. I've yet to be able to scythe up or down a 45 degree slope.
onescytherevolution.com/1/post/2011/07/can-you-mow-on-steep-slopes-with-a-scythe.html
I've seen several places where you can order that kind of scythe and blades but I need a 20+inch grass blade for an american style scythe. I have three american style snaths that was gave to me by my grandfather and he included several brush and ditch blades but not a single grass blade
Спокойная работа.
Does moister condensate under the tarp? Referring to the last picture on the video.
I was thinking the geese would find lots of bugs to eat in the cut grass, but it was hours later so that was no longer true. Had the dog been around during the cutting process it would have been very pleased to chase any mice that were forced to run out from the trimmed area.
Very cool! How much hay can you make like that in one cutting? Not sure how you would measure that - acres, square feet, poundage? Thanks for the great informational video!
What we call an Acre is the old English word for a days labor W/a Scythe.
Was it dry enough after day 2 to not worry about it combusting?
Great video. But can you keep the hay in a stack like that untill winter without getting mould in it. It must be getting a lot of moist for the air. And how about snow. Doesn't it?
@Scythesman8 what do u do if it gets too dry like that? just toss it out?
great vid please make more.what are you feeding with it?thanks for sharing.
@Twisted86 To get a scythe like the one that I am using, you have to mail-order it from someone like me. I sell them at One Scythe Revolution
Thanks. I will do this on the small pice of land I farm on my Friends land !
nice vid. cool to see how to cut grass without any fuel except food.
Do you have to wait for it to get very tall for this to work well?
Sparrowhawk No, you can mow very short grass with a scythe. For very short lawn grass, it's best to have a very sharp blade and to mow early in the morning while the dew is still on the grass.
How many acres do you work? Do you do the work yourself? Is this how you feed your livestock??
do you have to worry about rain or snow getting into that stack or is it fine like that?
Excuse but on a cow it is necessary to mow with such rates whole summer .In Russia it do quicker and much
Hi, I've just started to learn how to scythe. Watched a few videos but still can't get my cutting as low as in your video. I think the blade may not be sharp enough, but it may also be technique. Do you have any tips? I mow ok, about 190m2 per hour but the cut grass is still 6inches odd long. Some grass seems to be easier to cut than others, I particularly struggle with the lusher, thicker leaved grass, the scythe seems to just pass through it without cutting. Any help appreciated.
beautiful
I doubt any American could do much with a scythe today as we are a very weak people. Work is a dirty word to most! When I used a scythe as a kid I was in excellent shape. That's why our young men make the best soldiers. You gain muscle fast when your young. It's an art form and you have to relax as you move forward. When this tool was used, limestone came in 80 pound bags. Grain 100 pound bags. cement 100 pound bags. hydraulics weren't part of the scene. No power steering. Chain saws were heavy and expensive. We used a two man saw. I never heard of a coffee break. You came off the field at noon and had a hot meal. One farm I worked on, the wife had to wash the clothes by hand for me, and she had three kids as well. In the back room was an old wringer washing machine with a copper tub. I worked on the rusted agitator for several days using mystery oil and giving it a wack. Finally, it started to move and the wife finally had a machine to wash the constant pile of clothes. I don't recall her ever complaining about her lot in life. I've hear girls today say they wouldn't marry the guy if she didn't have a dishwasher. One of the first chores the farmer would have me do was milk a cow by hand. Gosh was that painful. Your forearms would be aching and they'd swell and be hard as a rock! FARMING WAS A GREAT LIFE IF YOU DIDN'T MIND WORKING! Today it's all machines.
Totally agree with everything you're saying there. People are too lazy in their minds. There are lots and lots of ways we can use manual tools and labour to get things done, keeping ourselves fit and saving fuel (and time) as well.