One of the most satisfying parts of my homestead plan is how I’m setting up my hay system. It’s simple, low‑cost, and perfectly suited to the size of my land. I don’t need machinery or a baler — just a good scythe, steady work, and a layout that makes sense.
I will have two dedicated hay paddocks, and these are the ones that will produce hay every year. Each of those hay paddocks will give me two cuttings per year — one in the spring and one in the summer — using the exact same grass that grows in my pasture paddocks. I’m not using a special hay mix; the pasture grass itself is what I’ll be cutting.
Once a year, these two hay paddocks will rotate with two of the pasture paddocks. This rotation keeps the grass young and vigorous, prevents soil fatigue, and spreads out the workload. When a pasture paddock rotates into the hay role, it becomes one of the two hay paddocks for the next year. When a hay paddock rotates out, it goes back into grazing — and that’s actually part of the system’s strength. The goats help fertilize the paddocks naturally as they graze, adding nutrients back into the soil and improving the next year’s hay growth without any purchased inputs.
I’ll be cutting all my hay with a scythe. It’s quiet, peaceful, and surprisingly efficient for small paddocks. I can cut exactly when the grass is ready, without waiting on equipment or dealing with breakdowns. The hay will dry right in the paddock for a day or two, and then I’ll gather it by hand. It will take getting used to but, it is what I want to do, so I will get used to it.
My haystack — inspired by the One Scythe Revolution method — will be built at the far end of the lane. It’s the perfect spot: out of the way, easy to reach, and close enough to the paddocks that dragging hay isn’t a chore. When I’m not adding hay, I’ll block off the haystack area with the open gate, so it stays protected and separate from the goat rotation.
It’s a simple, traditional system, but it’s exactly what I want. No machinery, no stress, no huge costs — just a clean rhythm of cutting, drying, stacking, rotating, and letting the goats enrich the soil as part of the cycle. It fits the life I’m building and the land I’ll be living on.
SMALL HOMESTEAD by the river 