Advent is just around the corner so it is surely justified to be feeling a bit festive?
If you are looking for gift ideas (for your loved ones or yourself!) we have just released our first course dates for 2025. We also have a couple of new product lines, and some old favorites back in stock.
Be sure to read right to the end of this newsletter to hear about our rather special Halloween!
Stock Updates
All things Peening, Left Handed Blades, Where are the Bears?
First, the peening equipment…
The following items are back in stock:
Picard peening hammers
Picard anvils
and, after a long absence,
Peening Benches
The peening benches are rather special.
They have been made especially for us using repurposed timber and each one is unique! Includes a pilot hole suitable for our standard peening jig and an antique nail for storing the spare jig cap.
NEW – Peening Sets
To make it easier to get into peening, we have gathered the peening tools we like to use into sets, at a discount over buying the parts separately.
There are basic and complete sets for both jig peening and freehand peening.
Next, left handed blades!
We are often asked if left handed people need a different scythe. Scythes are not considered to be a handed tool. Unlike tools such as scissors, left and right handed people are able to use the same equipment with comfort.
None the less, left-handed blades do exist, but it is likely they are for left-handed jobs rather then left-handed people.
In general, we recommend left AND right handed people stick with a standard blade but some people enjoy the challenge of trying to “mow the other way”.
The scythe factories do not make many left handed blades, not least because it is challenging for the blacksmiths to make a blade “backwards”!
But if you are really keen to have a go, we have a small number of Rasierschnitt 70cm left handed blades in stock.
Lastly, where are the Bears?
Our Falci order has left the factory, so the Falci Bear blades should be back in stock soon. I am hoping they will be here before our last Christmas posting date (18th December)
Scythe Courses 2025
Learn to Scythe….Learn to Peen
We are already looking forward to scything in 2025!
The first dates for our Introductory Scythe Courses and Peening Workshops are listed on our website. We recommend booking early, as the first dates in the season often sell out quickly.
If you are buying the course as a gift…
…we can send you a hand-written gift card to give to your recipient. The cards feature artwork of the farm painted by our very talented daughter, Eva Batten
Dates for the 2025 Scythe Improvers Masterclass, rake making courses, meadow open days, moth camps and more coming soon!
…and to finish off, what did we do on Halloween?
After more then 25 years together, Phil and Michelle Scythe Cymru got married!
We had a beautiful and heartfelt Quaker wedding ceremony in the morning. Then we sang and danced the evening away with friends and family in the beautiful surroundings of the Cedar Hall, Waunifor.
It was a really magical day, a wedding, a celebration of our years together and a joyful connection with our various communities. (And no, you can’t call me Mrs Batten, Michelle Lainé I remain!)