On Saturday I finished collecting my quota of 42 KG of what I can best describe as “clover-hay”. When I talk of clover-hay I am referring to the leafy tops of the clover with sections of attached stem. Pure clover tops are estimated to have a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 12:1 (pretty low). The clover-hay is estimated to be close to 15:1.

On the UBC Energy Farm we are certain that the collection and preparation of the clover for use in organic fertilizer and biogas digestion can be done without the use of petrol. It has now become a matter of finding the best means of doing this. In search of an appropriate methodology, researchers are interested in making the process easy to replicate, safe, and not impossibly labor intensive. As farm manager Mark Bomford puts it, “The goal is to find intermediate tools and methods that work at reducing a farmer’s dependence on petrol powered machines. At the same time, we also want to find ways of conserving needless physical labor and energy inputs.” So what are the intermediate tools?

I have used a push-style, human-powered, lawn mower. It cuts perfect clover tops without stems if the clover is about 5 inches tall. However, when the clover is very tall and dense the process becomes very time consuming and labor intensive, (because the mower is difficult to push). Furthermore, the quality of clover obtained is not as “pure” as only clover tops. I then tried to use a machete to cut tall dense clover and obtain clover-hay. This worked better than the mower but the process required that an individual bend over or kneel, putting strain on the legs and back. What’s more is that the clover-hay yield is low for the amount of time invested. Finally, I took a scythe to the same dense clover. BINGO! The scythe is able to cut large swaths of clover while standing in a comfortable way. When I am careful I can even go for only clover tops. I can level ten or more times as much clover in a fraction of the time.

The scythe is an example of an intermediate tool on the Energy Farm. It has a quick learning curve, is safe to use for an individual in an open field, and saves time and energy to obtain the same quality of cut clover. Further uses of the pole scythe at the Energy Farm include harvesting Flax and Canola for use in making biodiesel.

Feshly Cut Clover Hay

Mighty Scythe

Using the Scythe to Cut Clover (Dramatic Swing!)

 
Difficulty of Using Push Mower in Tall Clover