Romanian Farmers Loading Hay into Horse Drawn Vagon

This article features affiliate links, meaning we’ll earn a small commission if you purchase through these links. Please read our Privacy Policy for more details.

Traditional Agriculture in the Romanian Countryside – Farmers Loading Hay

In the Romanian countryside, many small farmers live a hardworking life. Their traditional farming practices hardly meet any modern technology or machines. They plow their fields with horses and still pull weeds out by hand. Moreover, they try to avoid chemically grown products as much as possible. In a field nearby the village of Arbore, Suceava County, two Romanian farmers are loading hay into their horse-drawn wagon.

Buying a horse can cost between $1500-$2000 and even higher. Owning a horse is more important than a car, for it is used to carry food, logs, hay, tools, and the family

Affiliate links Sun Hat for Men Women Waterproof Wide Brim Bucket Hat Foldable Boonie Hat for Fishing Hiking Garden Safari Beach

These people are always busy during summer. Not only do they grow their own food, but they also build up an animal food supply for winter. In the past, they used to sleep on hay mattresses.

Haymaking begins with scything the grass early in the morning. In their bags, they take some bacon, onion, and cheese. Hey is traditionally mown early in the morning,  while the dew is still on the grass. Before, they were sharpening the blade with a rock, that they used to store in a holder, which was hung on their belts.

Later, the women join in with warm food. Their duty is to spread out the grass with a hay rake. When the hay is completely dried, it is put up in haystacks for a couple of weeks before it is loaded onto horse-drawn wagons, transported home, and deposited in barns.

Hundreds of haystacks are built outdoors, on properties, and in fields. They can stay outdoors until late winter when there’s a need for a stack at the farm.

Horse Logging to Prepare Firewood for Winter, Romania

Traditional Beliefs Involving Hay

Spring hay is the best hay. Best grass for feeding the livestock is in May. It contains large amounts of nutrients. The cheese that was made in May or June is the best cheese.

Behind haystacks was the place where love affairs took place. Suspicious fathers would often pitchfork the stacks for their daughters’ reputation was at stake.

Read Also 100-year-old Water Mill Makes Flour Using 100% Clean Energy