The cut grasses lie on the ground before they are collected. Collection only works if the grass is dry. A rake can be used to “fluff” the cut grass, but it’s better to try for a dry day. If you suffer from serious hay fever, this might be a good stage to watch from afar.
The hay is cut on dry days by a hay conditioner. If the ground is wet the machinery leaves ruts which leads to erosion and uneven ground. Uneven ground is costly because of the wear and tear on the machinery.
The uncut hay is made up of various grasses including Fescue, Clover, Orchard Grass and Little Bluestem. At Coal Creek we have been cutting cool season grasses for hay. Some say it would be ideal to have some warm season grasses to cut as well. Some farmers cut hay more than once in a season, depending on location…
While it’s challenging to be “trapped” quarantining, it’s also a blessing. We’ve been able to spend time hiking and bird watching on the Cumberland Plateau. As Cumberland bird observers, we have noticed that there are so many birds on the farm. With that knowledge, we have been diligently working to create habitat for native and…
How to Cut Hay Part 1 | First Cut Hay How to Cut Hay Part 2 | When to Cut Hay How to Cut Hay Part 3 | Cut Grass Hay Fever How to Cut Hay Part 4 | Hay Cutting Machine How to Cut Hay Part 5 | Cutting Hay by Hand How to…
While we can’t literally look out our backdoors to see vast swaths of nature….still, living on the Cumberland Plateau, there is so much to appreciate. We’re a biological hotspot of diversity and there’s the water. Paddling… we love it. Here’s an example of one day on the creek. Here’s a story I wrote about the…
Don’t get me started on invasive species like phragmites being introduced in South Florida. We have had to make some hard decisions on the farm: poison the bugs killing our Hemlocks or release zombie beetles to eat the tree-killing beetles… it’s an ongoing battle. In Maryland they are trying to turn an invasive issue into…
Coal Creek Farm has rolling hills, flowing water, flora and fauna, and clear cuts. Such beauty contrasted with such abuse. For years, as I drove by those clear-cut trees, I was troubled by the look of it. I knew that the land couldn’t be put into productivity and wasn’t providing much in the way of…
This country has so many beautiful places such as South Florida’s Everglades. Such places should be respected and protected and enjoyed. Each beautiful place has its own unique place in ecology and each needs its own “friends.” The thing is that government can’t do everything. We must all do our part. That means private landowners…
Those who live a more rural lifestyle are probably handling this “stay at home” situation better than people who live in cities and neighborhoods. There’s always plenty of work on a farm, but still… the kids aren’t in school… they don’t have their friends and their usual activities. Distance learning and online schooling may be…