Steve Tomlin Crafts

Harvest scythe team & ancient wheats

Posted on August 31, 2015 by stevetomlin

You can barely look in the media these days without seeing a scythe somewhere. On BBC1 Countryfile last night my mate John Letts of Lammas Fayre Flour was talking about his ancient wheat crop while Simon Fairlie, Gill Barron and Rafael harvested the crop by scythe. Watch it here on iPlayer

If you’ve never understood the staggered formation of a scythe team or the beauty of working together in this way, check out this screenshot.

Posted in cereals, Scytherspace | Tagged Countryfile, harvest, scythe, wheat | Leave a comment

Learn to Scythe book feedback

Posted on August 27, 2015 by stevetomlin

I’m really pleased that my ‘Learn to Scythe’ book has already been getting lots of positive feedback this summer.
The book is now included as part of my scythe kit, meaning you’re equipped with simple, clear instructions if you’re learning to use an Austrian scythe on your own. For students of my Learn to Scythe courses the book makes a brilliant practical reference to support what you learn during the workshop.
Buy your copy from my website here
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Very satisfying is the great response I’ve had from scythe teachers around the world:

“The best book out there to help you use a scythe, whether you are starting from scratch or looking for a refresher after a course”
Phil Batten – scythe teacher, Wales
“A fantastic mower’s field guide. Thanks for writing a simple, get-up-and-mow manual”
Tony Robbie – Bladerunners, Australia

Posted in Scytherspace | Tagged Austrian, book, learn scything, learn to scythe, review, scythe feedback | Leave a comment

More than spoons at Spoonfest 2015

Posted on August 10, 2015 by stevetomlin

My trip to Edale for Spoonfest 2015 was extended to a whole fortnight this year. I spent the actual weekend busy with teaching spoon carving to beginners and improvers with not much time for photos. Here are some of my highlights, which you may have missed.
The reason for my long stay was a course on ash splint basketry which I organised with April Stone Dahl from Wisconsin. On saturday afternoon April gave a talk and demonstration of pounding, splitting and weaving ash splint to a packed hall. There’ll be more on ash splint and the course in upcoming blog posts.

The Spoonfest scything is gradually becoming a regular event. Jarrod & April from the US and Jan Harm ter Brugge from the Netherlands wanted to learn to scythe using my Continental scythes. English leather worker Ruth Pullan came to try out some longer blades while Fritiof Runhall from Sweden mowed with a Swedish-style foraged scythe which he simply cut from the hedge on the way to Edale Orchard. A great way to relax after the festival and pass on the skills.

Finally, it’s always a treat to catch up with Nigel Leach to discuss ideas and see his latest designs. This year I managed to convince him to give a talk and demonstration of the beautiful spoon drawings he uses to design his distinctive work.

Posted in scythe festivals & events, spoon carving, SteveTomlinCrafts | Tagged 2015, scythe, spoonfest | Leave a comment

Are you strong enough to learn to scythe?

Posted on July 19, 2015 by stevetomlin

The Poldark circus was brilliant for promoting the idea of scything to a huge audience and I’m glad that ‘Poldark’ is now the refrence I most often hear when people see me with my scythe rather than ‘Death’ but I have had a few emails from potential students asking if they will be fit or strong enough to learn to scythe. After all, Poldark is a big man and was out of breath so surely it must be hard work?

The answer is, of course you are strong enough. Using a scythe is work and can feel difficult at the start since you’re learning new skills but the scythe is very light and the weight of the blade is carried on the ground while you work. If the grass gets heavier, you simply cut less with each slice, keeping the work easy so that you can carry on.
Here’s a few photos from recent courses; I have taught people of all shapes, sizes and ages; with dodgy knees or bad backs and even a blind man – all of them found the scythe to be relaxing, gentle and addictive!

Technique is actually far more important than strength and on my courses I’ll show you how to use your leg muscles and a movement with tai-chi elements to move the scythe for more efficient mowing as well as how to set up the scythe correctly so it’s all comfortable, meaning you can relax while you work. The nicest mowers I know seem to dance through the meadow while the grass falls out of their way and I often tell students that I’m training them to still be scything when they’re in their 80’s, I hope I will be.

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged course, Poldark, scythe, tai-chi | Leave a comment

Learn to Scythe for Wildlife Trust

Posted on July 17, 2015 by stevetomlin

Another mowing day at Bell Sykes farm teaching Kim and Rebecca from the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside. I’ve taught wardens and volunteers from various Wildlife Trust offices around the country and it’s always great when officers from new areas want to learn how to scythe and start using it with volunteers in their conservation work. Kim and Rebecca work on urban sites so that will be even more exciting, we need more scythes in our cities and towns!

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged conservation, course, lancashire, learn, Manchester, Merseyside, scythe, volunteers | Leave a comment

Learn to scythe at Bell Sykes

Posted on July 10, 2015 by stevetomlin

Two glorious days at Bell Sykes farm, Slaidburn teaching a Learn to Scythe course for the Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust.

Bell Sykes is the Coronation Meadow for Lancashire and has just the most beautiful meadows with around 90 recorded species which are a delight to scythe and perfect for learning to mow.

Two days means we had time to relax, talk about seed propogation and meadow management and enjoy a guided walk. Really interesting to see was the contrast between these two fields; a change in management and the addition of seed through spreading green hay is the difference between either side of the wall.

The extra day also gave us more time to practise mowing and practical session on peening the scythe blade which is really valuable for beginners to gain confidence in learning to peen and maintain their scythe.

Thanks to Peter & Linda for fantastic hospitality and my students who made a brilliant team and got the meadow finished for haymaking.
I will be teaching a one-day Learn to Scythe course at Bell Sykes on Thursday 16th July, contact the Forest of Bowland AONB office on 01200 448000 or email sarah.robinson@lancashire.gov.uk

Posted in scythe courses, Scytherspace | Tagged Coronation Meadow, course, lancashire, learn scything, learn to scythe | Leave a comment

Scythers & Haymakers wanted!

Posted on July 5, 2015 by stevetomlin

My friend Bill Lloyd is looking for people to help mow and make hay on land at Millerbeck County Wildlife Site, Newby Bridge in Cumbria.
With two week-long sessions planned, this is a brilliant opportunity to practise your skills or stretch your scything if you’ve only ever mown in your garden. This isn’t a Learn to Scythe course but you will be bound to learn lots from working with other people. I’ll be there for part of both weeks, hoping to see some familiar faces from the courses I’ve run over the years.
Please contact Bill directly on 01539824008 or will@georgelloyd.com

Posted in scythe festivals & events, Scytherspace | Tagged cumbria, hay making, scythe | Leave a comment

More Learn to Scythe courses in July

Posted on July 4, 2015 by stevetomlin

My own Learn to Scythe course at Sedbergh, Cumbria is now fully booked but there are still opportunities for you to come on a course in July as I am teaching for the North Pennines AONB and Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust. The meadows at Low Way Farm and Bell Sykes are both stunning wildflower meadows and a real treat to scythe.
The two day courses give you more opportunity to practise your mowing and, most importantly, time to do some hands-on peening. Peening is the part of Austrian scythes that many beginners find daunting so being able to do some while I guide you through it is very helpful and will give you the confidence to maintain your own blades after the course.
Please book directly with the relevant organisation: North Pennines AONB or Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust

Posted in Scytherspace | Tagged Dales, learn to scythe, North Pennines, Yorkshire | Leave a comment

Mowing and haymaking weekend in the Yorkshire Dales

Posted on July 1, 2015 by stevetomlin

My friend Ruth is organising a mowing and haymaking weekend at one of the farms where I taught last summer. Being out in the meadow with your scythe and a group of other people all working together is a brilliant way to practise your skills and learn from each other while having the satisfaction of the work done.
Please contact Ruth directly if you’d like to get involved, her details are at the end.

Join us for Hay Time in the Yorkshire Dales!

Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th July at Lower Winskill Farm, Langcliffe, Settle. North Yorkshire. BD24 9PZ.

This is a wonderful opportunity to be part of an age old tradition of making hay amongst some of the most beautiful meadows in the Dales. Our host will be Tom Lord whose family has been farming at Lower Winskill since the 19th century. The meadows at Lower Winskill have been recorded as far back as the 1500s and are truly spectacular.

We will be meeting at the farm on Saturday from 12am to enjoy a tour of the meadows (bring a packed lunch!) before starting to mow one of Tom’s meadows in the afternoon.
The evening will see Ken Jacquiery firing up his barbecue so bring something to cook! All are welcome to camp in the meadows overnight and any musical sorts are invited to bring their instrument(s) for the evening. If the weather is kind the stars will be fantastic.
Sunday will be an early(ish!) start to get the rest of the meadow mown ready for drying and baling over the following days*
The day will end with a celebratory barbecue (bring more food!) and a well-earned lie down.

Who and what we need:

enthusiastic mowers with their own scythe if possible – 12 would be great so we can have a rotation
people to turn the grass – again own rake is ideal but not a problem if you don’t have one.
moral support!
people to make tea!

Come along for the whole weekend or nip in when you can. Those who can commit to mowing on the Saturday and Sunday would be very much welcomed but any time you can spare over the weekend is much appreciated!
R.S.V.P before 10th July please
Ruth Pullan ruthpullan@hotmail.co.uk 07951 399176
* those of you who can and would like to stay on to help turn and bale the hay over the following days are welcome

Posted in Scytherspace | Tagged hay making, scythe, Yorkshire | Leave a comment

Learn to Scythe book

Posted on June 26, 2015 by stevetomlin

I’m really excited to announce that my new book ‘Learn to Scythe‘ is now available.
Each year I teach dozens of people how to scythe on my courses and this is still the best way to learn as I can help you make small adjustments to your scythe and technique in the field. Learn to Scythe will help if you can’t get to a course or want a reference guide to remind you of what you’ve learned.
Learn to Scythe takes you through all the skills of setting up your scythe, mowing and sharpening as well as peening, dealing with different mowing situations and working as a team. The emphasis is on working efficiently and safely to enjoy your scything to the full.
£10 + £7.50 p&p

Posted in Scytherspace | Tagged Austrian scythe, book, course, learn, scything | Leave a comment