First Hay Field...Done!

Whoa.  What a day.  My farm assistant and I successfully baled our first hay field of the season, no machinery broken.  It was PERFECT conditions today.  I guess the true test is later this winter to see if the bales held or if they got moldy.  I don't think they will, maybe a few because there were a few wet spots.  But because haying is a community activity, we have to have it done by 4 o'clock (ideally).  Most farmers would have started baling around 2 o'clock today when the grass is surely dry.  We started baling at 11:30.  Fingers crossed!

It was pretty amazing.  I had been on the tractor for 2 hours already, when I came up over the hill and the community had pulled up in 5 different trucks, jumped out, and started piling bales together  What a wonderful sight, what a wonderful feeling.  People seemed really into it.  Lets hope that stays, as we have about 2,600 more bales to do this summer!  Today's count was 394 on about 5 acres.

I feel good.  I feel like a farmer, finally.  I mean I always have been a farmer, but there were big pieces I felt I was lacking - mechanical/equipment experience, full haying experience, proper fencing experience.  I am by far no expert, but it feel like it is all starting to come together a little bit at a time.  And this morning at 5:30 when I was walking through the field, I felt a pretty deep connection to the land and to the sun.  I've never had that before.  

Ok, off to bed.  Another early morning tomorrow.