Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Dan Conine <dconine@dotnet.com>]

> Message: 9
> Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:04:41 -0400
> From: Dianne Palmer-Quay <R_DQuay@compuserve.com>
> Subject: [Livingontheland] Looking for advice on a few topics
> To: "INTERNET:livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org"
>         <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
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>   

> but I want to get more efficient at
> using cover crops and green manures (and how to use a scythe!). 
>
> Dianne in SC
>
>   
I know a couple of things about using a scythe that most people don't 
usually understand. First, you have to learn to sharpen it. For a scythe 
to work properly, it has to be razor sharp, unlike a mower blade which 
beats things into submission, a scythe slices the grass, rather than 
chopping it. You keep a stone with you to sharpen it frequently. I have 
a diamond hone which works nicely. (you aren't supposed to use a diamond 
hone on steel, because the iron in the steel dissolves the diamond, but 
if you shop around, you can get them cheap enough (for now). From a 
sustainable standpoint, though, a quality ceramic might be better)
Second, you focus on tip of the scythe to start the cut. This is 
back-stretching work, not back-breaking. You should be doing the 
'twist', letting just the tip of the scythe sneak in behind a strip of 
grass at a time, and let the grass slide along the blade to slice it 
off. When you pull back the scthe to get another slice, relax and let 
the blade slide out the same way it went in, making it 'sing' as it 
rises into the air.  You will figure out the footwork as you go. It 
takes some practice to get the technique down, and probably some 
adjustments of the handles to fit your grip. I bought one with an 
aluminum handle (www.scythesupply.com) which is nice and light, but I'm 
disappointed with the quality of the grip clamping system.


Dan Conine
NatureCreekFarm
Belgium,WI