permaculture

["roxann" <roxann@ancientearthwisdom.com>]

I have a brush cutting scythe and I love it. The only learning curves involve 
figuring out the best way to hold it to get the best swathe cut (just takes a 
few swings) and sharpening. I suggest getting a good cold hammered blade and 
not a heat-forged blade because they hold a much better edge and are easy to 
work back to a good edge when you've knicked it. I bought mine from 
www.scythesupply.com and am very happy with the products. i am thinking of 
getting a hand-held sickle and a grass cutting blade next. VERY easy on the 
back! I've used swing blades and machetes before too, and hate them. my brush 
blade will cut a sapling the thickness of my finger, but not thicker. and 
it's not good for cutting grasses, but good for the weedy stuff that comes up 
under fence lines and such. a grass blade is what you need for pasture type 
grass.

hope that helps :)

roxann, NW AR, zone 6b
www.AncientEarthWisdom.com


>  -------Original Message-------
>  From: Charles de Matas <cdematas@hotmail.com>
>  Subject: [permaculture] A good scythe
>  Sent: 28 Jun '06 22:51
>  
>     I'm becoming interested in obtaining a scythe.  I managed to save 
> several
>  piles of grass from the bush fires this year.  I'm using two of the grass
>  piles to make keyholes to plant papayas.  I would like to cut more grass
>