It's Haying Season Again on the Vineyard
Morning Glory Farm harvested a total of 620 bales of hay over the weekend.
Morning Glory Farm harvested a total of 620 bales of hay over the weekend.
The farm gathers hay into traditional square bales.
The farm gathers hay into traditional square bales.
Simon Athearn of Morning Glory Farm starts his morning early to begin the haying process.
Simon Athearn of Morning Glory Farm starts his morning early to begin the haying process.
Sunny days are key to harvesting hay.
Sunny days are key to harvesting hay.
Traditional haying can take up to three days to complete.
Traditional haying can take up to three days to complete.
Hay must be cut, tedded, raked and dried before the baler can come through.
Hay must be cut, tedded, raked and dried before the baler can come through.
Pillows of hay are ready for pickup at the farm's Edgartown field.
Pillows of hay are ready for pickup at the farm's Edgartown field.
The farm crew works from sun up to sun down.
The farm crew works from sun up to sun down.
Farmers only have a small window of time to store the hay before the next rain.
Farmers only have a small window of time to store the hay before the next rain.
Simon Athearn drives between the windrows.
Simon Athearn drives between the windrows.
The first hay cut of the season marks the beginning of summer.
The first hay cut of the season marks the beginning of summer.
There’s something romantic about hay bales dotting the rolling fields of the Vineyard at this time of year. And then there’s the smell. Crisp, soft, sweet, it fills the senses (unless of course you are allergic). It’s haying season again on Island farms.