We put about six tons of hay in the barn on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Most of the time my dad gets the hay in the barn with an army of retired relatives. When they were passing child labor laws back in the day, it’s a good thing they didn’t pass any senior labor laws.
I took the easy job and drove the tractor on the first day. Why should a 36 year old break a sweat when there are plenty of 60+ age people around to do the heavy lifting in a high heat environment. I mean… I have a full time job. I work my fingers to the bone typing on a keyboard for 7-10 hours a day. They’re retired. What do they do all day? Build stone walls? Garden? Put up fences? On day two I let my aunt drive. The ‘new’ tractor is so nice. The brakes work and everything.
Right now you’re asking yourself. How do I get in on this low cost labor source?
Step one: Invite your relatives over to dinner. It helps to have served them a few good meals in the past. Don’t mention the hay.
Step two: Cut lots and lots of hay and bale it so it’ll be ready when they arrive, or gather whatever materials you need for your labor intensive project, perhaps order a few pallets of sod.
Step three: When they arrive, you do the bait and switch. “Oh no,” you say. “I just cut all this hay and it looks like it’s going to rain soon. It will all be ruined if we don’t get it in the barn asap. We can eat this delicious dinner as soon as we’re done.”
Step four: When the work is done be sure to serve enough drinks that they either won’t remember or will remember the event fondly. You don’t want to deplete this wonderful resource.
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