Haying

[KonaChick]

I learned to ski on Ward Hill - haven't thought of that in ages

[Pineedles]

A loafer rake, used in the mid-1800s, and obviously even later than that. Unless bclaker is around 160 years old.

[bclaker]

Originally Posted by Pineedles

A loafer rake, used in the mid-1800s, and obviously even later than that. Unless bclaker is around 160 years old.

No. I'm only 83. Here's a load of pictures of old farm tools:

https://www.google.com/search?q=farm...w=1390&bih=666

[BroadHopper]

Stop by the Ramblin' Vewe Farm on Morrill St in Gilford and you can see how hay is collected today. We don't have blowers to dry the hay, we wait until just the right time to harvest. At the time we store the hay, the hay is saturated with a natural flame retardent and fungicide. The flame retardent doesn't prevent burning but slows down the process.

[NoBozo]

When we got to the barn, a big "Claw" gizmo would come down from the peak of the roof of the three story barn and hook the loose hay off the wagon and take it Up and drop it in the barn.

Later in the fall, or maybe winter, Us kids would like to go into the barn and climb up HIGH inside the post and beam barn... and Jump down into the loose hay sometimes three storys below. The farmer didn't like us to do that and told us...IF we DID that..the cows would smell our human scent on the hay and wouldn't eat it.

After I grew up I figured the farmer was just concerned that when we landed in the hay.. we might land Wrong and be injured. NB

PS: In those days (Late 40s...) a Law Suit for injurys was not a big priority in most peoples minds.

[bclaker]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

When we got to the barn, a big "Claw" gizmo would come down from the peak of the roof of the three story barn and hook the loose hay off the wagon and take it Up and drop it in the barn.

Later in the fall, or maybe winter, Us kids would like to go into the barn and climb up HIGH inside the post and beam barn... and Jump down into the loose hay sometimes three storys below. The farmer didn't like us to do that and told us...IF we DID that..the cows would smell our human scent on the hay and wouldn't eat it.

After I grew up I figured the farmer was just concerned that when we landed in the hay.. we might land Wrong and be injured. NB

PS: In those days (Late 40s...) a Law Suit for injurys was not a big priority in most peoples minds.

When I was a kid in the 30's, a family moved to New York during the depression and the barn was left open. all of us kids would play in the barn. Someone had detacbed the rope used with the claw and tied it to the rail and we used to use it to swing from one hay mow to the other. I was lucky to be the last one to try it. The rope broke and I ended up straddling an 18 inch long peg used to hang harness. I was lucky not to do any damage.

[bclaker]

Originally Posted by KonaChick

I learned to ski on Ward Hill - haven't thought of that in ages

The Ward Hill I was referring to is a Southwest section of Haverhill, Mass. There were no official ski areas there, but both Charles' farm and Blackadar's farm had hills that we used to ski on as kids. Maybe you used to ski on one of them or maybe it was a different Ward Hill.

[KonaChick]

Originally Posted by bclaker

The Ward Hill I was referring to is a Southwest section of Haverhill, Mass. There were no official ski areas there, but both Charles' farm and Blackadar's farm had hills that we used to ski on as kids. Maybe you used to ski on one of them or maybe it was a different Ward Hill.

This one was in Shrewsbury MA. A lot or Ward Hills apparently

[Par Four]

They're still cook'in in Shrewsbury. You can't make the hill any taller, but they've broadened the operation a bit and the do a good job trying to maintain their snow base.

Wachusett is still the big boy in the area, and Marlborough's town operated hill stopped years ago. but for those of us nearby, it really is a fun little spot.

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by Par Four

They're still cook'in in Shrewsbury. You can't make the hill any taller, but they've broadened the operation a bit and the do a good job trying to maintain their snow base.

Wachusett is still the big boy in the area, and Marlborough's town operated hill stopped years ago. but for those of us nearby, it really is a fun little spot.

SO: You don't post much: What does this have do with Haying..?? Just wonderin. NB

[Par Four]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

SO: You don't post much: What does this have do with Haying..?? Just wonderin. NB

SO: You're correct, I don't post too often. You're also correct (nice streak you've got going there...), I guess it has nothing to do with haying... Merely a reaction to the prior poster's comments.

Look for a PM from me NoBose, I'd like to contact you off-list. Sometime the written words done quickly in a forum environment get misinterpreted, and I sure don't want to be part of any of that.

And... Ward Hill both uses AND grows hay ( so maybe a tiny little tie into the thread? )

[JerseyGuy]

The farmers in western Jersey where I live were "making hay while the sun shines" last weekend. Tractors and hay wagons were running up and down my road constantly.

[BroadHopper]

Recent weather suspend local haying

http://laconiadailysun.com/index.php...gged-13-haying