The Things You Need To Know

The things you need to have or know for hay making, in no particular order:

• Light colored, loose fitting and tough clothing.  
• In regards to clothing, there is no such thing as too old or too decrepit.  There is also no such thing as fashion.
• A plan
• An ability to revise, alter or  completely abandon said plan at a moments notice.
• A sense of humor.  This is especially important for anyone possessing a Y chromosome.  I'm not picking on you guys, but this is by far the one thing most often lacking, especially when the plan falls apart.
• The plan always falls apart.
• No matter how hard you try, you can't control everything.
• Things will go wrong.
• Equipment will break.
• The weather dictates and rules everything.
• It is not helpful to swear or scream at the help.
• It is sometimes helpful to swear at equipment, just don't get them confused and be sure to see above re. sense of humor and adaptability. 
• A decent pair of leather gloves.
• An acceptance of the fact that if you are the unfortunate possessor of cleavage, you will come home with a great deal of hay in that cleavage.
• Never tuck your shirt in.  If you do, any hay not captured by said cleavage and accompanying undergarments will be funneled directly into one's underwear.
• A hat and ample sunscreen.
• The sunscreen will insure that even more hay will stick to your body.
• You will be blowing hay dust out of your nose for the foreseeable future.
• Drink as much water as you can.  It still won't be enough.
• Dunking one's head in the water trough is perfectly acceptable.  The cows won't mind.
• You can agonize, scrutinize, revise, debate, argue and change your mind about when to cut the hay as much as you want, but once it is cut, there is no going back.  You are committed.

The hay is all cut.

We thought we would be baling some of it today, but it just wasn't ready so it is going in tomorrow.   Tuesday is going to be the really big hay day.  Just in case anyone out there is contemplating starting their own farm and would like to gain some experience in this most crucial aspect of farm life or if anyone would like to experience the joy of hay making, feel free to stop by (just as long as you are ready to work:).  Here is what's on offer:

• Hard labor in the full sun of the hottest weather of the year.
• Itchy hay in unmentionable places.
• Good company.
• Bug bites.
• The satisfaction and reward that comes with having hay in the barn.
• Sunburn and/or heat prostration.
• Good food when the work is done.
• Dehydration.
• A bra full of hay (if applicable).
• The intense, almost transcendent bliss of going home to a cool shower at the end of a very long, hard, hot, anxious, hopefully rewarding day.