A few weeks ago I received a nice email from a lady who lives in Vermont. Ms. Major (her name) wanted to find someone who would use her father’s one hundred year old American scythe. I accepted her generous gesture and assured her that I would put the blade back to work in a very productive and effective way.

The story goes back almost 100 years when Ms Major’s father, Russel, returned from World War 1 and started working on a farm in Glenmore, Pennsylvania. He then purchased this scythe, and based on the perfect condition of the blade today, he must have known how to use and maintain it.

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 difference between the American scythe and its cousin the European, which is still in use in many countries. However , the heavier American–which is better suited for taller and rougher grass–is now rarely in use. Americans blades are not being made anymore in this country. The previous photo illustrates both blades, the American (dark one on top).

I can’t wait to have my first workshop this coming spring with a new generation of scythe enthusiasts and send a picture to Ms. Major of her father’s scythe, back to work after 80 years of rest.

This was my last encounter in the woods, just when I thought no one was watching me.

Stay sharp my friends…or else…