Tendonitis in my right arm seems to be on the mend, thanks to cutting out the use of all power equipment! (Especially the weed eater.) The fields are lush and green and up to the top fence board. I've never had luck getting anyone to custom hay the fields and got to thinking that it was ridiculous to waste it all. So I've been out each day for as many hours as I can spare cutting hay by hand with the scythe.
For those of you that put up loose hay: Have you found that a particular method works best? And do you find that drying time is different for loose hay versus baled? Someone posted plans for cheap drying racks made from 2 x 4s and nylon rope for quick breakdown. They pile the hay on and cover loosely with tarps against the weather. I'm thinking of trying this. The ventilation in my shed isn't adequate for hay storage. Figure you could even leave the stacks in place and uncover one by one as the animals eat through them. Any tips or suggestions or factors I might have failed to take into consideration?