Net zero grass cutting
- Thread starter big ears
- Start date
Yep, I use a scythe. Hard workout compared to a strimmer, but definitely a greener option.
big ears
Well-Known Member
Think your cows might go hungry at the rate I’m doing itFair play to you, always seemed like a bit too much of a workout for me. Come and do our silage crop next if you like
big ears
Well-Known Member
It is but I’m finding it can work in places a strimmer wound struggle like top of banks.
Local Farmer here in Bowland teaches it , he has a protected Hay meadow and they have to cut it all by the method. At one point we where talking about improvements to the scythe blades to keep them sharp longer but tbf they got it about as good as it can be a few hundred years back Tough , resilient and fast and easy to re-edge without special tools
TringSaint
Well-Known Member
Yes - my petrol strimmer packed up so rather than replace it with another, I bought a lovely Austrian scythe - great piece of kit, although my technique is awful!! (But slowly improving)Anyone else use a scythe? My eyes have been opened. Sometimes the old ways work
I think we might even have the same model - mine uses a ditching blade as opposed to pure grass as I have a lot of crap to cut!!
big ears
Well-Known Member
That’s an all purpose blade which will cut bramble and blackthorn samplings. Also deals with bug tussock grass.
I tried last year not very well so went and was taught by a guy who cuts the meadows at Highgrove. Best £40 I spent ever.
TringSaint
Well-Known Member
I have done some grass but it was very thick, luscious grass, not stalky stuff and that was hard work - note to self - don’t try to scythe thick grass on a hot and humid day!!
My Grandad used one well into his 90's and never appeared to break a sweat. It's all about technique. And he was a big tall man. He walked crab-wise and just stroked the scythe like using a broom and the grass fell into a straight line.
When he retired they bought a great rambling rectory in Devon with a large hay meadow attached. He used to scythe the hay for no other reason than he enjoyed doing it. And no hay smells as sweet as that which has been hand cut with a scythe and not battered by machinery.
I used to live in a cottage down on Dorset that had a chalk stream running through the garden. The banks became very overgrown with tall growth like burdock, comfrey, balsam, cow parsley and hemlock and if it was left it would choke the stream so I used to cut it down in late summer and a scythe was the best tool. A brushcutter couldn't cope with thick fleshy stems and you just got showered in pulp. Once cut the stuff made great compost.
My scythe was an antique English one with the traditional ash shaft which eventually succumbed to woodworm.
When he retired they bought a great rambling rectory in Devon with a large hay meadow attached. He used to scythe the hay for no other reason than he enjoyed doing it. And no hay smells as sweet as that which has been hand cut with a scythe and not battered by machinery.
I used to live in a cottage down on Dorset that had a chalk stream running through the garden. The banks became very overgrown with tall growth like burdock, comfrey, balsam, cow parsley and hemlock and if it was left it would choke the stream so I used to cut it down in late summer and a scythe was the best tool. A brushcutter couldn't cope with thick fleshy stems and you just got showered in pulp. Once cut the stuff made great compost.
My scythe was an antique English one with the traditional ash shaft which eventually succumbed to woodworm.
Before the days of tap-n-feed heads on strimmers you could do a lot more work on certain terrain with scythe than anyone could with a strimmer.
I once had exclusive fishing on a 3 acre lake and told a mate (an under-keeper) that I was going to cut a path around it through all the nettles and assorted weeds. He turned up to help with a petrol strimmer and laughed at me with my scythe.
We set off promising to meet head on at the top of the lake ....
When we did meet he had managed about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way round the water.
That day changed his view of the scythe completely and I know he used one quite a lot after that for clearing rides on the shoot.
I once had exclusive fishing on a 3 acre lake and told a mate (an under-keeper) that I was going to cut a path around it through all the nettles and assorted weeds. He turned up to help with a petrol strimmer and laughed at me with my scythe.
We set off promising to meet head on at the top of the lake ....
When we did meet he had managed about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way round the water.
That day changed his view of the scythe completely and I know he used one quite a lot after that for clearing rides on the shoot.
They seem to mostly wear shorts and sandals and nothing else!Ye gods, that sounds like a sport that would need steel wellies!
Caberfeidh
Well-Known Member
Maybe he‘s a vegan butcher and wants your grass for vegan burgers…………..
big ears
Well-Known Member
Got there I'd say. That's looking very tidy. Bet it makes the best quality hay.
