Haying

Getting the hay in this year took forever. It was a particularly bad growing season for hay (cloudy, humid, rainy) and the cutting season was much the same. Many people, our suppliers included, didn't get their first cuts in until August and we got our hay in September! The quality of the hay is fair given the circumstances but the end product is more of a maintenance food rather than a growth food.
In any case, the day we pulled the hay off the field came suddenly and thankfully I've got great friends that came to help out. Erin and Justin came on the first collection day and we got all the hay off the field while my neighbour Gordie drove his truck and trailer. Things went rather well in the field and we got the big wagon tarped off before the rain hit. Later on, Gordie drove myself, Justin again, and another pal from work, Kevin, back and forth between our farm and Aspen Croft as we loaded the loft with the remainder of our winter feed.

A mid-August photo of an attempt to bring the livestock to more quality forage on and around the septic field during a poor growing season. The kids here learn very quickly that their parents are quite right when they warn, "Don't touch the electric fence."