How to gather a winter supply of hay with simple tools

Gardens and house/vehicle maintenance have consumed our time at Copperland Munising this summer. In the back of my mind, I knew we were behind on hay gathering for winter chicken bedding.

One sunny weekend day, Ken hauled out the mower and I retrieved the century old hand sickle. Working together, we cut and piled an entire winter supply of hay to dry.

Half of the hay is protected in the chicken tractor, which serves as a solar drier on sunny days. Plastic covers the hay at night and on rainy U.P. days.

The rest of the hay is dried inside the greenhouse, tucked into ropes strung along the roof.

Finally, dried hay is stuffed into recycled feed bags which hang on the coop wall until needed.

Thank God for his blessings, and for sunny days and hard-working partners.