Hay Stories #2 (Sarah Mary Wallace-Johnson, UK)

Its time for our second hay story! Today, Sarah Mary Wallace-Johnson will share her special childhood memories with us:

I grew up in North Shropshire, we had a goat that was a great character, she produced vast quantities of milk in summer, it was my job to milk her before school.

For fodder in the winter the farmer, whose land surrounded our house, would let me gather the hay from the edges of the fields. I would dutifully check it over the summer to keep an eye on any plants that might not be suitable for hay and weed these out. At mowing time after the main crop had been gathered and what was left around the margins was dry, I  would rake up what seemed like miles of field edges &  take my homemade bailer out into the fields.  This consisted of a tea chest with notches cut in the edges at the top of the sides, transported around the field  in a wheelbarrow. Down into the box I would put bailer twine and secure the ends in the notches , leaving long ends. The hay was then packed down as tight as possible and the twine tied in tight knots over the top of packed chest. The bale was then ready to be pulled out, a lovely, tight, square pack of hay. I did this until I had filled our little barn for the winter.

Family goat "Silver"

I have such happy memories of these times, hot sunny days, sunburnt legs and sore backs to my calves from wearing wellies and shorts. Many flea bites from, I assume rabbit fleas. Our goat certainly thrived on this late summer bounty.

I am a retired Museum Conservator. Having worked in Cambridge all my life I wanted to return to Shropshire. I now live in Minsterley and have recently taken up the post of Project Coordinator for the Middle Marches Community Land Trust, National Heritage Lottery Fund, Minsterley Meadows project.  Two ancient hay meadows whose future has been secured by public donation and the Heritage Lottery grant.