A new calf, Scythe Masterclass open for bookings, grab a bargain blade, SF Peening Machine
March News From Scythe Cymru

A new calf, Scythe Masterclass open for bookings, grab a bargain blade, SF Peening Machine
A throw back to May 2020, during Lockdown 1. Periodically cutting the grass along the fence line stops it touching the bottom wire and shorting out the fence. Vegetation touching the electric fence decreases it’s power and efficiency (and increases the chances that the livestock will break through!). The scythe
For those of you who have not come across it already, do pop over and visit the website of the Scythe Association of Britain and Ireland (SABI). The Windrow – a good read SABI produces a newsletter, called The Windrow. Interesting and informative, the latest issue and the back catalog are
What to do if you’re running low on animal bedding? Go out and harvest more! The bracken on our farm needs controlling, but it is also an incredibly useful resource. Amongst other things, we use it for cattle bedding. When the autumn harvest began to run out, Phil and I
Sometimes an early rise during haying weather brings a surprise. We had a lovely hour of mowing in the atmospheric mist. The mist gradually burned off as the sun rose. The sun on the wet vegetation was stunning. I take a lot of pictures of sunny, hot hay making. Below
What better way to spend a cold January day then laying plans for Summer? ….and it looks like it will be a busy one! Here is how it looks so far, I expect there will be more to come. There will be hay making to fit in somewhere too! Courses
Introductory Scythe Course The first Introductory Scythe Course of the year, Saturday 26th May 2018, is available to book now. Peening Workshop The first Peening and Sharpening workshop will be on Sunday 8th April. This is a great opportunity to get your blade ready at the start of the main
People buy a scythe for lots of reasons – for managing everything from a smallholding to the edges of a heritage railway line. Looking at our site at this time of year it can appear that our scythe use is restricted to the hay meadow, but this is far from
If you are looking for a project to see you through the quieter scything season, how about forging your own peening anvil? Here is a well presented guide by Rowan Taylor.
Here is a lovely little animation featuring some mini urban scythers. Watch right to the end for a little scythe safety tip.
Prince Charles loves scything according to the Daily Mail. In the article, Debs Goodenough, Prince Charles’ head gardener, says: ‘Some people even do it barefoot – although not the prince, I have to stress! Over the years, Phil has experienced comment and surprise when mowing barefoot out in public. Here
Whilst mowing this morning both Phil and I were sharpening more frequently than usual to keep our blades mowing well – time for a peen. Here is Phil working on my 75cm Profisense ready for tomorrow morning’s mowing. Permaculture Magazine are featuring an article by us on peening in their