So here we are on Groundhog Day. Tom went in to the farm supply store, and there was no hay. And there will be none till Friday. We have Nebby the donkey and eight sheep who need hay twice a day. Tom drove out to visit a farmer from whom we bought our raw milk for years and years who now raises meat cows. He said he didn't have any extra at all. He said because of the drought last summer there was a scarcity of hay all over. But his daughter's partner has some hay and he gave Tom her number. In the meantime I called a feed store in the next state, some 30 miles away and asked if they have any. She said yes, but she knows they are going to run out so they are allowing a customer to buy only five bales a week. That sounded great to me! I also texted a young friend (who is going to become a first time father this year at almost 43 years old) who knows everyone in the north country. He said he'd get back to me. He does know a guy. Tom came home and we are now going to get some hay from each of those sources, and then buy more at our store on Friday. But still, it is really worrisome. Our next call will be to a few towns north of us where the drought wasn't so bad.
It isn't enough to have a virus and discord in the country. We have to be fearful about the most basic of basics, hay.
I hope your sources of hay all work out. I remember when I worked on a farm (many years ago now) we frequently had calls from people needing hay and straw - and usually we had. I mean, when you have a herd of three thousand pigs you can usually spare a bale for a little girl who has a rabbit!
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought we'd have a shortage of hay? I hope you get all that you need even if it means several road trips.
ReplyDeleteHe is off today on two trips. I'll post pics later.
DeleteShades of The Long Winter! You need Almanzo and Cap Garland to bring back hay! I must have started reading your blog after you acquired Nebby but have now gone back to read about her adventures. I am not really sure what a donkey does besides exist. Do the grandchildren ride or play with her? A cart like Winona's Pony Cart would be nice.
ReplyDeleteShe is the guardian of the sheep! We've had donkeys since the beginning of having animals because we had heard how excellent they are as protectors. They are ever vigilant for anything unusual. Some people have guard dogs who live right in with the sheep, and some have llamas.
DeleteWhat a dilemma, I never realized hay was such a hot commodity. If you were closer you could cut our field and have the hay free!
ReplyDeleteI hope that gets sorted for you soon.
It isn't usually but it was awfully hot and dry this summer.
DeleteThank you.
It has been quite terrible to see shortages in so many things this last year. And lots of them are things that I don't think many had necessarily thought about. Hay seems like one of yours. Hope you guys are able to get enough for your animals and also be able to have resources for the future. Guess they can't eat toilet paper? Ha! (I know. That was mean. Sorry!)
ReplyDeleteSo far, so good. But it's a long time before the grass is green.
DeleteI don't see any shortages in food or paper products anymore - actually not for a long time.
Hay? Who would have thought it would be in short supply. What are those bales wrapped in white plastic in the fields I see around here in the Upper Valley?
ReplyDeleteThat is hay, grown by the farmer who uses it, I expect.
DeleteWow, there's a reality of country life I had not considered before seeing this. Among all the other shortages and searches for items that have disappeared it's easy to forget about all the domesticated animals that are in the same boat with us. Good luck; I hope it works out well.
ReplyDeleteThank you. So far, so good.
DeleteI had never heard of guard donkeys before. I really like that.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, I hope you get stocked up OK. I have a funny shortage story - in the first lockdown, my friend Claire (who is very down to earth and not at all fancy) got absolutely incensed when she couldn't find tinned artichoke hearts anywhere!
ReplyDelete