Homestead mailing list

["Lynda" <lurine AT softcom.net>]

It originally appeared in Organic Gardening but that issue doesn't appear to 
be online.  Here's part of it for you, Tom and his list of things a tool 
should and shouldn't be:

"The Marugg grass scythe proves itself an excellent tool. It is the most 
satisfying hand tool that I have ever used. In tough grass it cuts a little 
less uniformly than the power scythe. In all other ways, in my opinion, it 
is a better tool because, it is light, it handles gracefully & comfortably 
even on steep ground, it is far less dangerous, it is quiet & makes no 
fumes, it is much more adaptable. In rank growth one narrows the cut & 
shortens the stroke. It always starts - provided the user will start. Aside 
from reasonable skill & care in use, there are no maintenance problems. It 
requires no fuel or oil. It runs on breakfast. It's cheaper to buy than most 
weed eaters & is cheaper to use than any other power mower. And best of all 
it's good exercise."

1. The new tool should be cheaper than the one it replaces.
2. It should be at least as small in scale as the one it replaces.
3. It should do work that is clearly and demonstrably better than the one it 
replaces.
4. It should use less energy than the one it replaces.
5. If possible, it should use some form of solar energy, such as that of the 
body.
6. It should be repairable by a person of ordinary intelligence, provided 
that he or she has the necessary tools.
7. It should be purchasable and repairable as near to home as possible.
8. It should come from a small, privately owned shop or store that will take 
it back for maintenance and repair.
9. It should not replace or disrupt anything good that already exists, and 
this includes family and community relationships.

Lynda
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "tom" <tom AT honeychrome.com>
> There is a classic Wendell Berry essay called The Good Scythe.
> Thought maybe I could find it somewhere on the net, but no luck.
> Well worth finding and reading (as is just about everything Wendell
> Berry has written).