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Fitting bow cradles to Austrian scythes to mow corn
To mow tall crops such as thatching wheat or Norfolk reed with a scythe you need to fit a cradle to hold the straw from falling back over the snath as you mow. Tommy mowman with scythe cradle and...
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Safer sharpening
The modern scythe is a very safe tool to use – when you’re mowing with it. With a grip in each hand, it’s difficult to bring the blade anywhere near yourself, though easy enough to nip someone else’s...
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Breathing and Scything
Hi All I wanted to share a passage from a book that I’m reading, that’s entitled “Breathing and Scything”. The book is by Thich Nhat Hanh, and is called Peace is every Step. Thich Nhat Hanh is a...
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English scythe making traditions at Issac Nash Ltd
Many of you who have an interest in country crafts will know of the many regional county patterns of billhooks that developed over centuries of use. A similar diversity of scythe patterns were also...
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The human body and scythe in proportion
Getting your scythe to fit your own body is key to comfortable ergonomic mowing. Fitting scythes for others needs a bit of forethought and planning (particularly as I have found remotely by mail...
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One-to-One Scythe Tuition at Somerset Scythe Festival
Christiane Lechner and Steve Tomlin will be running a small number of one-to-one workshops in mowing and peening at this year’s Somerset Scythe Festival on 16-17 June 2012 at Thorney Lakes, Muchelney....
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Tribute to legendary Scythesman Eric Edwards
Legendary Scythesman, Reed cutter, marshman and “true Norfolk man” Eric Edwards died this week aged 71. Eric was a champion of the traditional skills of reed and sedge cutting on the Norfolk Broads for...
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Wimpole Scythe Competition Results 2011
It is nearly time for the 5th Eastern Counties Scything and Smallholding Weekend held at Wimpole Hall (NT) near Cambridge 23-24 June 2012. As a reminder of the fun and excitement had last year here...
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Eastern Counties mowing results 2012
Individual sprint mowing events On average, the grass this summer at Wimpole was easier to mow than in 2011. The thinner areas were still very very difficult to cut well, particularly as cutting...
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Reedbeed and Fen Management with scythes
Traditionally the vegetation of reedbeds, fens and marshes is harvested to provide thatching materials as well as feed and bedding for animals. These wetland habitats, like their drier-land cousins...
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Winter Scythe meeting : Cutting Norfolk Reed
On a pleasant bright winters day seven SABI scythers gathered in a Norfolk reedbed for an opportunity to get their scythes out of hibernation for a bit of out-of-season mowing. Seven SABI Scythers...
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“Mini-Apprenticeship at Monkton Wyld”
“Mini-Apprenticeship at Monkton Wyld” We take on volunteers for haymaking season at Monkton Wyld dairy holding. There is a lot of scythe work and haymaking (in both fine and dicey weather), cow care,...
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Watch out here come the Eastern counties
A mornings work A little bit of training, want to beat the one minute barrier for Somerset. Meanwhile Olga and Jim have been training in a little meadow at Cobbs Wood farm, a lovely meadow full of...
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The mowers competition 29/30 June
Mowing the south avenue The south avenue, two and a half miles of it and grass one end to the other fancy mowing it? they did. Didn’t finish it though Why not try either an eighth of an acre (500m2) or...
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Who will win?
Ded the mower Dan the petrol head Jim the scissor man Quarter acre Eighth acre Auther Richards 2.04 4 Best novice Clare White 3.00 4.5 Mentioned in despates Gemma Suggitt 1.31 7.5 Ladies winner &...
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The English Scythe Revisited
In recent years hundreds of us have enthusiastically welcomed the Austrian scythe on to our small holdings, gardens and nature reserves. We have discovered how this scythe really is a most efficient...
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Scythe Association of Britain & Ireland
Originally posted on Wympole & Wratsworth: The Scythe Association of Britain & Ireland meeting It was that time of year again when SABI holds its winter meeting- being Health & Safety...
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East and west country reed cutting by scythe – Winter 2014
West country commercial reed harvesting with a scythe. by Chris Riley In January 2014 I was contracted to harvest reed from the bank of the river Exe near Topsham Lock, south of Exeter. Topsham Lock...
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International Scythe Peening Day April 2014
Clean before you peen! This annual spring Peening day is a prompt for SABI members to renew their relationship with their scythes and mowing. Peening is a mysterious and elusive art, and can lead to...
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Training – the most important item in a scythers tool box
Scything and grassland management courses run through flora locale last year proved very popular. So much so that this year’s scythe courses are headline courses for flora locale’s 2014 training...
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