Burning and Raking the Field



Beginning to burn.

It's that time of year and we took advantage of a clear warm couple of days to get out and prepare the field.  J and the boys took the new spring harrow out and dragged the entire hay field.  Z did a lot of the driving with J on the back to coach him.  M and K following behind them in the golf cart picking up any trash that was kicked up with the harrow.
After dragging the entire field, J took the propane burner - with kids following eagerly behind - and proceeded to burn the tops of the field.  He also burned a lot of the brush in the section that hasn't been cleared.  He had to cut a second fire line because the fire jumped it in the wind.  It was fun to watch.  The kids had a wonderful time with their own little fire in the rocks.  And the dogs went wild chasing all of the voles that were forced across the field in the fire.

The field looks like it's waking up after the rake has gone through it.  And then the burning looks like it's dead.  Amazingly, these two things in conjunction will make the hay grow better than if we just left it alone.  It was nice to see the farm working a bit.

J decided to plow the side of the field as well - a part that hadn't previously been planted.  His dad was excited to see it happen and is thinking about planting a wheat that you bale early.  He says it makes a great cow hay.  We'll see.