Agrarian Nation
 

I've been a member of this group for five years now and I think this is, without a doubt, the best homesteading group on the internet.

One of my personal interests is in the old ways of farming, gardening, and so forth. I mean before 1900—before electricity and tractors came on the scene. With that thought in mind, I'm an old farm almanac collector. The old almanacs are loaded with insights and information that anyone with a homestead-focused lifestyle would find interesting, informative, inspiring and, in some instances, downright useful.

My original intention was to compile excerpts from the old New England agricultural almanacs into a book and title it the Small Farm & Homestead Advisor: 1825—1900. I started to do this and changed my mind. Now I am posting excerpts from the old writings every Monday and Friday morning to a web site I've started at www.AgrarianNation.com

The web site is an educational project that I am undertaking and there is no cost involved. I welcome you to come learn of the old ways from the old-timers.

Herrick Kimball
Moravia, NY

Looks good! :)

Hmmm... I see that I have mistakenly posted this in "Homestead Questions." I don't have a question. Sorry about that. But maybe it's appropriate in a general way since the old farm almanac essays and the advice given does answer questions. :-)

That was nice. I hope you keep it up!

You don't have to have a question to post here. Thanks for posting!

One problem with the old methods is they were quite labor intensive. A combine today can cut in say an hour what 3-4 field hands did back then for a longish day. One reason why farm folks typtically had large families - for the free labor while it lasted.

Locally it is difficult to find square baled hay. Reason: kids today aren't willing to do the labor.

Nice setup and will continue to check back. I'm particularly interested since that is, actually, the way I grew up. I've started a family blog ... very basic ... about things I remember on the ranch my grandparents homesteaded in the early 1900s.

SFM in KY
http://sharon-familymemories.blogspot.com

Herrick also runs the Deliberate Agrarian blog for those who aren't familiar with it. Herrick, I've been a reader for years and really appreciate your writing.

Not excactly.

Even back in the 80's when I was a kid doing custom cutting, baling and hauling, the majority of the hauling of the small squares was done with a New Holland stack wagon. Took one person to pickup and stack hay while sitting behind the wheel.

Large operations prefer the large bales. They are easier to feed, easier to stack/store, easier to transport on semi's, faster to bale. That's the reason for the change. Since the 70's it's been possible to cut, bale and haul/stack small bales without ever touching the hay.

Maybe for the big cattle operations it works for stacking and feeding. But here in KY when I got here 10 years ago the farms that were putting up hay for the horse people were still putting it up in small square bales and because they have to stack the hay in barns because of the much wetter weather here, they could not use the stack wagons they way they do out west.

However, over the last 6 or 7 years almost all of the hay farms have gone to the big round bales, including two that we used to buy from. Both of those said the reason they went to the big round bales instead of the small square bales was they could not find farm help to stack.

It depends on the situation, really. In some cases, it's better to use old methods for health and practicality, and in other cases, it's better to use more efficient methods of farming. For example, a local blacksmith could make me something, aethetically, that a welder could not.

I remember waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in the mid 60s around NE Kans, Poniphan Co, near SAT Joe, that it was getting hard to find help. Me and bro was kept as busy as we wanted to be. And at a whopping $1.25 an hr, we ate up all the work we could find.

[QUOTE=SFM in KY;5044688]Maybe for the big cattle operations it works for stacking and feeding. But here in KY when I got here 10 years ago the farms that were putting up hay for the horse people were still putting it up in small square bales and because they have to stack the hay in barns because of the much wetter weather here, they could not use the stack wagons they way they do out west.

Not that this has to do much with the OP but New Holland makes a single bale unload version. You pull up to the elevater and it unloads them one at a time onto you elevator to put them in the barn. Just kind of runs in reverse. They don't make a machine for stacking but at least it gets you that far!

I have gone back to the old ways as they are called. Tractor is parked and has been for over a year now. I use draft horses instead. I also use a lot of ME power. I cleared an acre field for oats with a bush blad on a sigh. Talking about machine can do faster then man is true but if you have that much to do then you are not homesteading you are farming commericaly. ANd if you are Homesteading and need the machines to get it done faster remeber this you have more time then money and if not dont, then dont worry about doing cause you will be dead by dark anyway.

What is the point of doing more with machines if you HAVE to do more just to afford the machines?

The old ways are more labor intensive, but for some of us we can't afford the equipment nor do we grow enough to justify the expense. I grow grain in 30 x 50 foot patches. I would like to grow more, but just don't have the space. So the old ways are of great interest to me because it does give me a way to grow and harvest on my budget and with my space confinements. Here we have no problem finding square bale hay and often can receive a discount if we pick it up "in the field". I have followed many a baler with my truck and trailer loading hay. Square bales are easier for us to handle also and store in the barn loft. I have nowhere to store round bales and no way to move them if I did. I figure all the extra labor I put in keeps me fit and in shape. My grandad worked mules on his farm and lived to be 90. My dad didn't do near the labor that grandaddy did and died at 58. Something to be said for hard physical labor, I guess. I think there is room enough for both new gadgets and the old ways, just depends on the farm and on the farmer. Bye the way Herrick love your blog and really really am enjoying the new site. Thanks for all your hard work and thanks for sharing. Blessings, Kat

I have a loose hay loader ive never used, and a square bale loader I havnt used in near 30yrs. I have a square bailer, tho its been down more years than up, or nearly the same. Ive sold my hay for many years, and so its been done up in round bales

Site content looks good, only suggestion I have is with the color scheme: its not easy on the eyes, especially the one point (quote from Baker Creek and below)you have red print on the brown background.

Yes, you can find someone locally to put square bales on the ground for you locally, but it is strickly your responsibility once it is pushed out the back of the bales. Has been $1.00 bale of general purpose hay left layng on the ground. However, one I know now whats cash in advance - and I don't blame them a bit.

I'm told back in the 60s, and perhaps even into the 70s, high school boys would get together and form haying groups. Some to load, some to move and some to stack, at so much per bale. At the end of the day they (and girlfriends) met at a certain place on Trace Creek, often with someone arranging at least one cold beer each.

Say you have five acres of corn planted by yourself. If you hire in a combine it can be done in very short order. What would you have rather had been in the first place?

Old Homsteader Lament:

Why is it is spend off of my time having someone do for me what I'd rather being doing myself in the first place?

Hi, Herrick. Nice to see you here on HT.

I'm a new reader of your monthly blogazine - I think you were recommended to me by Patrice Lewis at her Rural Revolution blog. I'm following Agrarian Nation as well. I think a fair number of HTer's will like your work.

I think finding the right balance is the key here. Having enough to "give Caesar his due" means you've got to produce a little more than you need.

If you desire to help others or be the local miller etc. you may need some more machines but you are exactly right about making more just to pay for more "stuff".

Find the right balance. And being a farmer is not a bad word. Lots of mouths still need to be fed.

Hey Herrick! I'm in Cayuga County too. You're site is very interesting.

Thanks everyone for your comments here!

I appreciate the positive feedback. It's nice to have you along on the historical journey right from the start

mnn2501... I'm sorry about the color scheme. I think you must be viewing the site on a web browser other than Firefox because I do not see what you are seeing. I didn't design it that way. I'm wondering how other people are seeing it? There should be no red printing on a brown background.

I like it and since DH and I are trying to do things like they did back in the day I'm sure we'll learn alot.

I use IE8.
I know Firefox users are loyal, but a whole lot more people use IE. I've taken a number of Web Design courses and the instructors always tell you to view your website in as many browsers as you can to make sure it works for everyone.
Something to think about.

PS I do love the content though.

Hi Herrick, glad you posted your link here. I am off to check it out!