I learned about Nelson Green and his very excellent hay from my friend Jenna Wogrinch of Cold Antler Farm, although I had heard for years he has the best hay in Washington County. For once, the rumors are true. Nelson is pure country, his voice mail recording is a class (“I hate this machine as much as you do but they tell me I’m missing a lot of calls so leave me a message.”). Anyone with a farm and livestock knows the very sweet and telling feeling when the winter firewood is here and the hay is in the barn ready for the winter.

Nelson, who is in h is 80’s, a huge man with enormous hands, is pure country. Like all the hay farmers, he delivers right off of the truck and out of the field, he calls about two hours before delivery, and if you are not at home, you will find hay all over the barn when you get back. He says this is the worst year ever for haying, July too wet to cut and bale, August so hot and dry the hay has stopped going. But he takes care of his regular customers and I am surely one of those.

Nelson and several members of his family arrived yesterday with 150 bales of second cut hay ($500 a square bale plus 25 cents a bale for delivery). We got all of the hay in the lower barn and we have only one cord of firewood left to stack before the frosts come in October. One reason why Fall is so sweet. Nelson turned to me yesterday and said “what price did I quote you for the hay?” I said he didn’t quote any, but I knew him to be an honest man and so what was the price?
“Is $5 fair?,” he asked, yes, I said, sounded very fair to me. We shook on it, as we do every year and then Nelson took out his pad and pencil and scribbled out a bill. I love the way one can still do business in rural life. Nelson didn’t ask for ID or my mother’s maiden name.

I said please put me on your list for next year. The hay looks green and good. We give two-thirds of a bale a day for the three donkeys and five sheep, a feeding in the morning, one in the late afternoon. Usually, first cut hay is okay for donkey’s but I am a flatlander at heart and spoil all of the animals here. I also think second cut keeps them looking good and healthy, especially in the deep winter.

Nelson is in his 80’s, they do not make them like that anymore, and that it is a shame.