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[Jerry B <liberty AT kaballero.com>]

Great post on scything, Susan. I have had a couple goats for almost a 
year now, and until the winter, they did fine with the brush and 
brambles on our four acres . They probably would have made it through 
without hay, but  by spring, munching on the dried weeds and leafless 
branches they may not have been in the best of condition. They do now 
sit down occasionally and munch on green grass. I give them a little 
'sweet goat' grains every day, though I have been told that this can 
lead to urinary problems with wethers.

Hay has been hard to come by because of the drought conditions here in 
Northern Neck, VA last summer, and what can be found is now $6.00 per 
bale.  I realize reading your post that a good scythe is the answer. Our 
acre grass field has been mowed several times a year by our neighbor 
with a tractor but now we are going to invest in a scythe. I have 
stopped using the tiller on the garden, the next step is forgoing the 
tractor.  Thanks every one on 'scything'.   jerry b

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SJC wrote:
> I use a scythe as my main green-cutting tool; it's not as much of a 
> sacrifice as it might sound.  I no longer have goats, but was easily 
> able to keep 6 goats in hay with the scythe, and since I live in Maine, 
> our hay-feeding 'season' is long....