Making Hay.

After all the excitement of our silver medal status, it was time to get back to work and make hay while the sun shines - literally. Time to mow our meadow grass on a rare sunny Saturday!  It's the same old gripe in so much as, all we read about is to have a trendy meadow area with NEVER a suggestion how to make use of it when its cut!   Even finding a power scythe to hire is a tricky business but, we turned to HSS Hire and, for the grand sum of £68.75 plus £10 each way for delivery & pick up, we found one!  I should mention the deposit of £300.00 returned when the equipment is returned.  Also, this year, I had to go into the depot and provide ID - a complete pain!  These are so rarely required not many hire companies stock them and I'm hoping that HSS won't decide to phase them out.  We've been down the strimming road and it just chops up the grass, strews it everywhere and renders it useless for anything but composting.  We like to make hay!  We use it for the chickens' nest boxes and we make garden kneelers by stuffing old compost bags with it and tying the tops.  We also have had previous successes and even won 3rd prize for our meadow hay at our local show!

All safely gathered in!

Anyway, having mowed the grass and turned it once, at the end of the day we lugged it into the garage and spread it out to dry knowing that heavy rain followed by more heavy rain would be its fate.  Yes!  I know I wasn't brought up to make hay by this method but: needs must!!  The garage doors can all be opened where drafts blow through freely and any morning sun shines in.  

Oh.  Just one more gripe to all you garden writers!  Now is NOT a good time of year to visit wild meadow gardens!!  Why?  Because all the rain has flattened the long grass and it looks horrendous!