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Next to the small town of Avià, in the Berguedà region, we can still see this curious and typical barn, just as they did before modern machinery was used. In this report in Las Fotos de los Lectores de La Vanguardia we can appreciate how there are still some made with the traditional method.
At present, with the use of machinery, this storage mode has been replaced by “bales” or straw bales. But, in reality, the “haystack” as such refers us to the historical way of storing straw and other vegetables, in order to dispose of them in time for animal feeding.
With this system, some protection from atmospheric agents is obtained and the product preserves, to the greatest possible extent, its nutritional qualities.
The traditional hayloft is made up of a central wooden post on which the cut hay is accumulated in piles, as can be seen in the photographs. And around it, a small wall is also usually built to prevent cattle from approaching.
The loose hay is moved to the storage area, which is usually raised somewhat to allow water to drain.
