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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

> I use a scythe as my main green-cutting tool; it's not as much of a 
> sacrifice as it might sound.


Very excellent.  

Very much in line with what homesteading is all about.

Many such descriptions are met immediately with "You can't expect ME to cut 
grass with a scythe, what with the terrible pain in all the diodes down my 
left 
side!"
With patience, anyone can do it.  My arthritic grandmother was doing it until 
her late nineties and, as I, as a result live well past 100.

Thanks for the myth busting testimomial that without a gas powered string 
trimmer and rotary mower, one's place would grow over like a jungle in a 
season.

Here we have marginal hay as well, the main thing is that even on the places 
that are two or more acres of continuous hay, it all doesn't "ripen" at the 
same time.  Mowing it by machine all at once is inefficient as far as the 
amount 
of hay produced is concerned.  Also if the hay is put in haystacks, it can be 
cut and cured a little at a time which is impossible with bailing.

Some years ago it was with a grit of determination we vowed to get rid of the 
string trimmer and rotary mower around the garden, vinyard, and orchard and 
use a short brush blade instead.  It is LESS work than string trimmer once 
one 
has the technique down.  Add to that a proper sicle, kaiser blade, and a few 
other tools an soon the myth that the motor powered tool is easier disappears.

James   </HTML>