Homestead mailing list

[SJC <indexer AT localnet.com>]

I use a scythe as my main green-cutting tool; it's not as much of a 
sacrifice as it might sound.  I no longer have goats, but was easily 
able to keep 6 goats in hay with the scythe, and since I live in Maine, 
our hay-feeding 'season' is long....it is a good tool for marginal hay 
areas (my hay area is definitely marginal: rocks and springs....) 
because one can easily go in and take out an area just a few hundred 
feet across which is out of 'synch' so far as the neighboring  plants 
go, and not be driving over, etc, other areas; it's also good for 
steepish areas although they are a bit trickier to do.  I first used it 
because of the difficulty getting a tractor and baler back into that 
area but soon became addicted to the quiet rhythm of using it, and the 
fact that one is is the field very early in the day (turgidity counts 
with a scythe!) which is when I prefer to work outside.  It really 
doesn't take long to learn and is such very pleasant work that I now 
can't imagine giving it up;  last year I took several wagonsful of hay 
out of there even though I no long had my goats.

I've also used it for the last several years to keep up the yard and 
garden.  I mow about a quarter of an acre around the house here, mostly 
to keep down the weeds and mosquito population as well as making it more 
pleasant to get to clothesline, outhouse, etc.  I also keep up along 
fencerows, around the beehives, etc, with it when needed.  It's all easy 
work, and, partly since the yard is on relatively steep hill and there 
are many 'edges' (fences, drive, paths to chicken house, root cellar and 
gardens, etc) I can actually mow just as fast with the scythe as I could 
with the mower when it still lived.  I can easily cut it as short and as 
even as I like; in fact, I don't think it was any more even with the 
mower (and if anyone else has they haven't mentioned it), but then I'm 
not into looking that hard, I guess. 

I also find it much the easiest way to mow in an orchard, and way easier 
along rock walls and fences, both of which are here.

I use both a 'ditch' blade (shortish, stout), and a 'grass' blade 
(longer, thinner, more curve).  The ditch blade I use at the edge of the 
woods for small saplings and brush and up again rock walls, esp in the 
spring when winter has brought up a new crop of rocks, but for 
everything else I use the grass blade.  They come very long, but I'm a 
short stubby old lady now; mine is 28" and that's a good length for me.  
I can still cover some ground.  I used to use a 32" blade in the 
hayfield but lost that one in the fire.  I have and use only one snath 
now (other one was in the shed against the house and burned; I've never 
replaced it), but it's only a 5 minute job to change and set blades.

I crushed 3 vertebrae and broke a hip (fell, ice) last year and my worst 
fear was that it would interfere with using the scythe, but I did fine, 
even after that, and furthermore, it was good exercise when I really 
couldn't get much other in....I hate exercise just for the sake of it; I 
want to see some result, so was glad for the scythe at the time.....

If any of you have ever been to the MOFGA grounds, that whole 
'ampitheater' area is kept up by scythe.  In June we have a group 
sycthing--whoever wants to help (or learn to use a scythe) shows up, and 
we cut the whole thing in a couple of hours, including the steep sides.  
That cutting is usually put up to dry in outdoor, eastern European-style 
haystacks so folks can learn how to make those.    That happens on Small 
Farm Field Day, usually the first full weekend in June, although I 
haven't heard about the date this year.  I teach something there every 
year, so sure I'll hear something soon!  Just went to the MOFGA site and 
looked but still have last year's info there, although except for date 
and some minor change in offerings, won't be much different.  You may 
have something similar in your area where you could go and talk to folks 
and try out their gear for a while to familiarize yourself......or come 
to Maine on a nice spring weekend.....anyone near enough for that is 
welcome!  http://mofga.org/Default.aspx?tabid=302, for the curious.

My stuff came from Scythe Supply, back when Elliot Fishbein was still 
living, but I know folks in the south who use Marugg (Marugg seems to 
change owners every so often but as far as I know they've all had the 
same line of goods, in SE TN somewhere) and are happy with those blades, 
just make sure you're getting the right stuff (you want the Austrian 
blades, and the snath sized right) in the beginning and you'll be well 
rewarded with many pleasant hours outdoors.....You could look for a book 
called I think The Scythe Book by David Tresemer, I think it is;  the 
first part is mostly history but Peter Vido, a Canadian (whose 8 year 
old daughter could cut hay a LOT  faster than I several years ago, the 
little rascal cut in competitions!) wrote an addendum to the current 
edition that deals with peening, etc, that's useful.

So have fun lookin' up your scythe.

Susan Jane, in Maine, where it snowed 9" yesterday and this AM and is 
snowing again, with 'plowable' snow expected again on Sat.....no scythe 
for me for a while.