A couple of weeks ago I was in Manchester teaching a spoon carving workshop for a group of local Forest School leaders who were wanting to improve their carving skills. We were based at an inspiring primary school which is using greenwood work and Forest School activities as part of the school learning experience with brilliant results. I would have loved those opportunities as a child.
Having a full weekend meant we had lots of time to develop skills in working with carving axes and knives. Top priority was safety as always and also looking at ways to modify or teach the techniques for children which was interesting and I learned a lot too. I taught some specific exercises for stretching the arm and hand muscles and a session on sharpening tools.
They were a great group to teach; very lively, keen to learn and with lots of interesting conversations and ideas over the weekend, including making campfire pizzas for Sunday lunch. Shame noone wanted to get their spoon dirty while making them!
I am teaching more spoon carving courses across the UK in 2016, all suitable for beginners and improvers. If you’re interested to learn some new skills in good company then book your place through the organisers below:
- 23 & 24 April 2016 at Hillend Farmhouse, Dumfries. £130 Contact Steffi Schaffler phone 01387 740945
- 7 & 8 May 2016 at Woodland Skills Centre, Wales
- 9 & 10 August at Greenwood Days
As always, Peening Day is a reminder to get your scythe out of it’s winter home to oil, clean and, most of all, sharpen it before the grass starts growing in earnest. Peening is the process of hammering the edge of the blade to reshape it before sharpening. It’s a special skill almost solely used for Austrian and other Continental style scythes.
If you’re not already aware, the Austrian scythe is the ideal way to manage your land, whether it’s a meadow, orchard, allotment or garden. The scythe will cut and control grass, nettles, brambles, bracken, rushes, thistles and a whole lot more besides. It is quiet, relaxing, sustainable and fun – the students on my courses have to be forced to stop mowing at the end of the day!
My one-day Learn to Scythe course is a fully comprehensive training day for beginners or improvers. Scythe kits are provided which are also available to but on the day. During the course you will learn:
During the week of scything and hay making, the visit to Viktor-basci was a real highlight, visiting another woodworker and seeing his methods of working. Despite the language barrier, he entertained and informed and clearly enjoyed having visitors come and see how he worked. As the festival has gained attention, more people from the UK scythe scene have taken part and there are now rakes and scythes made by Viktor-basci around the country.
