(Archive) - Beginnings! Haying Seasons 2012 - 2015

Here's the last bit of archival hay season footage, as I work to get all that I have up on youtube (primarily for my own benefit as place to hold it all, but I recognize some of you may want to see it too!) The footage is definitely hit/miss (with 2012 phone quality to start). And it's amazing how much I didn't film back in the early days!

I started my farm in 2012, with just the humble Massey Ferguson 135 tractor, a (then) brand new New Holland HM234 disc mower, a grimm two-head tedder, a MF 20 3-point rollerbar hay rake, and (at first) borrowing the MF 124 baler that I then bought and have had ever since. The first year was nine acres, and a lot of trial/error. I grew up as a hay nut and worked for another hay farming friend/mentor for nearly a decade, but doing it for yourself is a whole new learning curve :)

The first four years in business saw a steady (but modest) increase in acreage and confidence - culminating in the purchase of our MF165 late in 2015, and spring-boarding us into the diesel age.

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(We are a 53-acre haying operation in Conway, MA - making all small square bales for the local food, fiber, and livestock community. Learn more about our farm at windrowfarmconway.com, or follow us on instagram @windrow.farm)

Equipment List (2012-2015):

Massey Ferguson 135 Tractor
New Holland HM234 disc mower
Grimm Tedder
Massey Ferguson 20 hay rake
Massey Ferguson 124 baler
One scratch-built 8x10 trailer
One flat-deck hay wagon (2014-2015)