Every year in early summer, a friendly, cultural, sportive and fun event takes place in Maryland. It is the Mid-Maryland Celtic Festival. It is growing steadily.
Music, Scottish sports competitions, herding and obedience dog demonstrations, Celtic groups proudly representing their heritage, dancing etc… and hand mowing demos. It makes me happy to see that every year there is more interest in hand mowing. People of all ages, genders, professions and backgrounds, showing their interest.
This year, the organizers wanted to take the scything demo to a different level and have a contest. Scythe blade vs gasoline-powered machine, and there we go!! My competitor was a strong, enthusiastic young man more willing to work and win than his own weed whacker.
I did watch such a man-to-man combat before. But no one else had, (according to their testimony) so no one knew what to expect.
I began by explaining the benefits of the scythe that we all know too well. It doesn’t polute, is silent and ergonomic, doesn’t smell, is inexpensive to acquire and to maintain, is beneficial to your body and mind since it is like practicing yoga or meditation, it gives you time to see and avoid creatures or nests hiding on the ground, and on and on … The blade itself is a piece of art.
As I was explaining this, I could see in some eyes already some favorable expressions towards my scythe. At the same time I was feeling bad for my competitor, who deep inside was realizing that his machine was not doing any favor to the environment. Nevertheless, my respects for him.
The videos here clearly illustrate what every tool is capable of doing–also not forgetting the quality and cleanness of the cutting.
Maybe next year we can change tools and I have no doubt he will win.
After my victory I thought I would do a little fishing…
Until next time stay sharp my friends
Lucien Paquette sharpening his scythe
Mowers and volunteers
I was blown away by the welcome I received,
the openness and enthusiasm of the organizers, volunteers and participants; and the warm camaraderie among mowers, even to the point of warning a newcomer like me of obstacles and ditches that would otherwise have slowed me down. I can’t believe I haven’t participated in the contest before. And I can’t imagine missing it again.
checking/graduating the angle
However for those of us who look at it with different eyes and intentions, it shouldn’t be creepy. But at the same time, we should keep in mind a few do’s and don’ts while handling the tool.
At this moment the top end of the snath should rest on the ground. Firmly grab the blade by the rib or spine with one hand. With the other, screw/unscrew from the back of the bevel as seen in the illustration.
Mowing does not normally represent danger to the mower since the blade is attached at the far end of the snath and the circulating motion does not allow it to come close. However, it can be very dangerous to others around us, other mowers, dogs or even over-friendly livestock such as lambs, goats, kittens, chickens. No one should be closer than 12 to 15 feet from the blade in motion.
two legs and one anvil. It is at the beginning and at the end of the peening when the risk is higher because the blade is entirely at one side of the anvil, resting only on one leg and it requires stronger grip.
It is also during peening when most accidents happen because we are concentrated on the spot we need to hit next with our hammer and we don’t see our surroundings.
Personally I find it very safe to walk with the snath on top of my right shoulder either with the blade pointing to the sky (in a big open area) or pointing to the ground if it is a trail with low-hanging tree branches. People walking with you should be parallel to you. If the trail or road doesn’t allow for that, then they should go either ahead of you or at least 12 feet behind.
Ideally the blade should be covered by a sheath or wrapped in an old cloth.
If there are no trees or other structures (like a fence), the blade should be rested tilted against the wall, blade tip down and leaning at the tang. If we are in a flat field without trees or sheds, as a last option, we should put it on the ground with the cutting edge (bevel) facing the ground.
One last recommendation, especially for beginners, is to wear a good, flexible (not bulky) pair of gloves.
Una de las ideas iniciales de este blog era hacerlo bilingüe. Pero pronto me di cuenta que eso llevaba mucho más tiempo del que dispongo aunque el tema sin duda mereciera la pena.
y la 
The plan is to incorporate, this coming Spring, this particular blade (with its original snath) into my workshops to teach those interested in green gardening how to take care of their lawns and gardens without polluting more air and wakening up the neighbors with those noisy gasoline machines.
At the same time it will be a good opportunity to show the 
The Scythe Man 