New Year is when we put together our plans for 2015. There is lots planned already and more to come! The year starts off with an Apple Tree Grafting Workshop on 11th March. From April onwards we are running a number of Introductory Scythe Courses and Peening and Sharpening Workshops.
Category: Scythes
Visit to Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet
On a recent trip to the Peak District I visited Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet. The hamlet was a place of metal working from 1697 until 1933, making scythes and other edge tools. Scythe blades from here were sent all over the world. Much of the hamlet is presented as it would
The Top Field – other ways to manage flower rich pastures
I have been busy setting up a second long electric fence across the Top Field in preparation for moving the sheep. Today I mowed under it along it’s length with the trimming scythe to stop it shorting out on the long vegetation. Electric fencing unit with solar panel to charge
To the Fair by Bike
We had a stand at a fair in the Woollen Museum on Saturday. The fair was called “The Good Life” and gave visitors to the museum and locals the chance to see the variety of land based crafts carried out in the area. Here are our bikes at the museum,
Social Mow 2014
We had our annual Social Mow on Sunday. A couple of people had camped over the night before and we began mowing soon after 8am. We didn’t have blazing sunshine, but the cooler, damper conditions did make the mowing easier. Phil and I mowing together We were joined by others
One Man Went to… Wimpole
What does a Scyther do in his spare time? Why enter scythe competitions of course! While Phil has been going to the West Country Scythe Festival since it’s beginning, he had never made it to the Eastern Counties Scythe Festival held annually at the National Trust property Wimpole. This year,
Social Mowing Day 13th July 2014
Just a quick reminder that we will be having our annual Social Mow on the meadows of Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust, near Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, on Sunday 13th July. This is a chance for mowers experienced and novice to meet fellow scythers, share mowing tips and tricks, and have some
Things We Do With a Scythe 5 – mowing a Labyrinth
I mowed a Labyrinth into the Top Field for a Summer Solstice celebration we held at the Trust on 22nd June. Using our trimming scythe and a Profisense 50cm blade I mowed a narrow path through the wild flowers based on a traditional pattern. A sketch of the design of
Things We Do With a Scythe 4 – Hay Making!
A list of things we do with a scythe wouldn’t be complete without hay making. Here is Phil mowing in the Top Field with an 85cm Profisense. Mowing in a hay meadow is a great opportunity to stretch out and mow wide swaths. It also gets the job done quicker.
Dealing with damage to the blade edge 2
Quite a while back I posted about some damage sustained by a Styria 65cm blade here and here. I wrote the following a couple of weeks later when Phil peened and repaired it. It has sat unpublished ever since, waiting for photos to be added. I have finally done this,
Scything on Radio 4
Phil got back from the West Country Scythe Festival on Monday, and had a great time. “Farming Today” were there recording for Radio 4 on the day of the festival it’s self. If you missed the original broadcast on Tuesday 17th June (5.45am!), it can be heard here. If you
Extra Introductory Scythe Course Date
Due to the popularity of our Introductory Scythe Courses this year, we have decided to add an extra date. We will now be running a course on Sunday 10th August in addition to the courses on Wednesday 9th July and Saturday 30th August. For more information and to book see