Things I learned baling hay...

[AWSubie]

The thing I learned bailing hay, is that I was too small to buck bales, and I had best find something better suited to my talents and physique...although when I was in my 30's, I worked one Summer at a chemical plant in Southern California, stacking bags of hot chemicals on pallets inside of a hot box car. It got pretty warm; 112-114 degrees, and the work was hard, but nothing like bucking bales all day.

I learned the same thing! I was 15 years old, weighing 120 pounds, trying to lift and stack 60 pound bales.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I learned the same thing! I was 15 years old, weighing 120 pounds, trying to lift and stack 60 pound bales.

Yeah, green Alfalfa ain't light!

 

[Jstpssng]

I'm fortunate that I still have my physical strength at almost 60. I do not, however, have nearly the endurance I used to have. I can still walk briskly for 3-4 hours on weekends, and we do walk briskly for about an hour every night. However, more and more, I feel it in my ankles, knees and hips. It also takes longer to recover from injuries. Like months VS a week. :laughing: But, as my dad used to say, "It beats the alternative." :laughing:

My mother still says that. She's 83, walks with a cane, yet still gets around. She knows that once she stops it's just a downhill spiral.
She's also managed her diabetes without meds for over 20 years... I"m not sure how many people have the will power to do that.

I have a couple of years on you and still walk several miles most days for my job; woods miles, not on a road or trail. Over the past year or so I've gotten into the habit of carrying 5 gallon water buckets and 50 lb grain bags, rather than letting a machine do the work. I actually have improved over that time. I've given up on carrying two bags at a time though as I could see some serious skeletal issues down the road. (back, knees, and shoulders.)

 

[5030]

If I was 60 again, I'd be a *****e.

 

[Jstpssng]

If I was 60 again, I'd be a *****e.

A bit off topic, but how did your 'taters do that you raised under straw? I may try that next year.

 

[bunyip]

After picking up 500 square bales discovered why $25 gloves were better than $5 gloves and that the bales near the creek weighed a lot more than those in the middle of the paddock.
We do round now and stack with 58hp of assistance from 'the wombat' (the name we call our new kioti, short, wide and all muscle)

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Hard to grab the string with gloves on.

 

[bunyip]

Cuts your hands if you don't, never had a problem stretching it a little but haven't picked up a square for a few years now.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My dad never understood why I never used gloves. Maybe now I would, my hands have gotten soft. Lol

 

[Jstpssng]

The new poly strings are a bit harder on the hands than the old traditional organic string. It's also the best thing since sliced bread, for those of us who use hay for conservation purposes. I can through them off today and it doesn't matter if they get wet before I spread them, the string still won't rot. :thumbsup: