heinänharavat

Heinänharavat, known in English as hay rakes or hay forks, are agricultural tools historically used for gathering and moving hay. These implements typically consist of a long wooden handle attached to a head with several tines or prongs. The design of heinänharavat varied by region and specific task, but they generally shared the purpose of efficiently handling loose hay.

There were primarily two types of heinänharavat. The first type, often called a hand rake or pitchfork, was used for smaller, more manual tasks. These were common for clearing hay from fields after mowing or for piling it into stacks. The second type, often referred to as a horse rake or dump rake, was a larger, often horse-drawn implement. This type was designed for gathering larger swaths of hay more quickly and efficiently, especially in larger agricultural operations. The tines on these larger rakes could often be raised or lowered, and some designs allowed the hay to be released in windrows or large piles.

The widespread use of heinänharavat declined with the advent of mechanized hay balers and other modern farm equipment. However, they remain a symbol of traditional farming practices and are still sometimes used for smaller-scale operations or for historical reenactments and demonstrations. Their simple yet effective design made them a staple tool for centuries in haymaking across many cultures.