Roller-Crimper

[Tim Harrigan]

http://www.leafpile.com/TravelLog/Romania/Farming/MakingaHaystack/MakingHaystack.htm

It has been quite some time since I built ricks by hand, but when I did, I used a method similar to what you see here. I did not build as high as these, just what I could reach from the ground. I would cut a pine or conifer tree that had branches all the way to the ground, limbed it, but left the branch stubs extruding about 12 inches or so. I would stand it in the ground where I wanted the stack, pile some slash at the base to keep the hay off the ground, and then start building the stack one large hay fork at a time in a circular pattern around the stack, building the height as you go. I layered the hay as I went to add stability. The branch stubs support the hay in the pile preventing it from settling too much and aiding air movement through the stack. Lightly rake the exterior of the stack to orient the stems in a downward fashion to improve shedding water. A plastic cap is optional on a well-built stack.

As when stacking a hay wagon with loose hay that stays on the wagon all the way back to the barn, the placement of each fork is important, it is more than simply a random pile. There are many other ways to use tripods, various frames, trellises, etc to get the hay off the ground. I agree with Bob, a good quality, sharp and well balanced scythe is important, as well as taking some time to learn the craft. At some time in the future I will start doing this again.

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