As summer reaches its peak and fields ripple with tall grasses, it becomes clear: it’s time to make hay while the sun shines. Long before tractors, balers, and mechanized agriculture, hay was harvested by hand—carefully, rhythmically, and in close relationship with weather, soil, and season.
This guide is for those who don’t have acres of land or heavy machinery, but still wish to cut grass, meadow, or lawn to provide winter fodder or bedding for animals. Making hay by hand is not a relic of the past—it is a living skill, well-suited to small farms, permaculture sites, and homesteads seeking resilience and self-reliance.
Why Make Hay on a Small Scale?
Hand haymaking is ideal for:
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Homesteaders without tractors or balers
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Small livestock keepers (sheep, goats, rabbits, poultry, horses)
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Meadow management and biodiversity preservation
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People interested in low-input, low-impact land care
Beyond practicality, cutting hay by hand reconnects us with one of humanity’s oldest agricultural arts, cultivating attentiveness, timing, and respect for the land.
Types of Hay for Livestock Nutrition
Understanding different types of hay allows small-scale growers to meet animal needs using diverse landscapes rather than monoculture fields.
Grass Hay
Grass hay forms the backbone of winter feed and is well suited for most livestock.
Common grasses include:
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Timothy
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Orchard grass
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Fescue
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Ryegrass
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Native meadow mixes
Grass hay provides fiber, minerals, and steady energy without excessive protein.
Alfalfa Hay
Alfalfa is a legume hay, rich in protein and calcium, ideal for:
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Dairy animals
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Pregnant or growing livestock
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High-energy working animals
Because of its richness, alfalfa is best fed in moderation or blended with grass hay.
Tree Hay (Leaf Fodder)
An ancient practice nearly forgotten, tree hay involves cutting and drying leafy branches for winter feed.
Common species include:
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Willow
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Ash
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Mulberry
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Poplar
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Hazel
Tree hay adds:
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Trace minerals
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Medicinal compounds
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Dietary diversity
It is especially valuable for goats and sheep and plays an important role in regenerative silvopasture systems.
Cutting Hay by Hand: Learning the Scythe
The scythe is one of the most elegant and efficient hand tools ever created. When properly fitted and sharpened, it allows the mower to cut wide swaths of grass with minimal effort.
Benefits of Scything
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Quiet and meditative
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No fuel or machinery required
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Precise cutting around trees and uneven ground
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Encourages correct body mechanics
Learning to scythe is not about force, but rhythm and flow—letting the blade do the work.
Drying and Turning Hay
Once cut, hay must be dried carefully to prevent mold and nutrient loss.
Key steps include:
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Cutting during dry weather
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Spreading grass thinly for airflow
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Turning hay with a fork or rake as needed
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Timing removal before rain
Sun, wind, and patience are the haymaker’s greatest allies.
Storing Loose Hay for Winter
Traditional hand-cut hay is often stored loose, rather than baled.
Storage options include:
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Hay lofts
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Barns and sheds
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Hay stacks or cocks
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Covered outdoor ricks
Loose hay retains structure and aroma when stored properly and allows small producers to harvest exactly what their land provides.
Hay Meadows, Biodiversity & Beauty
Hand-managed hay meadows are ecological treasures. Delayed cutting allows wildflowers to set seed, supporting:
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Pollinators
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Birds
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Soil organisms
As Monty Don once said:
“If I’m honest, the thing I am proudest of is my varieties of wild flowers in the hay meadow.”
Haymaking done thoughtfully becomes a form of land stewardship, balancing productivity with ecological health.
Voices from the Field
This tradition lives on through farmers, land stewards, and educators who continue to practice and teach small-scale haymaking, including:
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Anarchy Acres
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Jim Kovaleski
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Tap o’ Noth Permaculture Farm
Their work shows that ancient methods still belong in modern landscapes.
A Cultural Practice Rooted in Time
Haymaking has inspired poets, farmers, and philosophers alike.
“Let us make hay while the sun shines.” — Proverb
“A song with the smell of sun-dried hay…” — Walt Whitman
The scent of drying grass, the steady sweep of a scythe, and the satisfaction of storing winter feed connect us to generations who lived by the same seasonal rhythms.
Keeping an Old Skill Alive
Making hay by hand is more than a method—it is a relationship with land, animals, and time. For small-scale farmers and homesteaders, it offers independence, resilience, and a deeper understanding of the landscapes that sustain us.
May your hay dry well, your meadows thrive, and your winter stores be full.
