New Handtool in the Quiver!
The ride on lawnmower died after a good and dedicated life. Then the dilemma of budgeting for a replacement and oh great – its wet season and the grass is growing like crazy! I didn’t have a solution apart from borrowing the good neighbors machine but I don’t really feel great about using and possibly breaking it. And I like my grass cut long for using as mulch and his machine is designed for cutting real short grass-LAWN…. Bill Mollison has quite a bit to say on that subject. And then my lovely thoughtful wife comes forward with the solution. “We will get you a scythe for your birthday”.
“But the instructions are written in Austrian”
It will take a while to get accustomed to this tool but I am feeling that this is a great move. Already I like to use it and I am enjoying learning the techniques needed to work it. I love hand tools and definitely understand the sustainable points of hand tools so it all suits how I function. I’m already a bit muscle sore but hopefully as I focus on the technique this will lessen.
Trying to find the technique.
Walking the talk!
The lawn mower is dead. Long live the scythe!!!
Zaia’s father would maintain his five acre property with a scythe. I probably have about an acre of grass area to maintain so we will see how I go.
A big thank you to Zaia and her mother for this gift/solution.
A little bit stiff and sore, Tom.
©2016 Tom Kendall; permeco.org, incorporating Permaculture Research Institute Sunshine Coast, simplicity, permaculture, self reliance and homesteading, hand tools.
Author: Tom Kendall
Tom is a lifelong agriculturalist and co-founder of the Permaculture Research Institute Sunshine Coast Inc. His site "Maungaraeeda" is a Permaculture Demonstration and Education Site. He is a Permaculture Educator and Consultant, and has a wealth of knowledge about how to be truly sustainable. Water management strategies, alternative fuel generation, animal systems and numerous other Permaculture Designed Solutions are his speciality.
I’ve been using mine daily for the last 6 weeks, collecting grass & weed for the goat. I brought it back in the suitcase 6 years ago from France.(no handle) I made the handle out of a hickory wattle sapling. Did you peened it before using it?
It was pre peened Serge, Ive yet to learn this skill.
Nice!! Looks like you had a great birthday!
The scythe wins again:
https://youtu.be/Nx_PDiEjW_E