I am once again pleased to be part of the Scythe Improvers’ course at the Scythe Festival 2016 in Somerset. This will be two days of expert tuition to hone your skills and take your mowing and peening to a new level. Stay on for the Festival itself on 12th June to see the British scything competition, or even enter yourself!
To book, email Simon at scythes@myphone.coop tel 01297 561359
Why Struggle?
Learn how to get your blades sharper and to scythe expertly
at the
IMPROVERS’ COURSE
at the
West Country Scythe Fair
Friday 10 and Saturday 11 June 2016
for
• mowers with some experience who want to develop their skills;
• team leaders managing volunteers or staff;
• people who want to teach scythe use to others.
Over two days, you will get personal attention from three of the most experienced teachers in the UK:
Christiane Laganda, scythe and yoga teacher from Austria;
Phil Batten master peener and scythe competition winner from Scythe Cymru;
and Steve Tomlin author of the definitive scythe manual Learn to Scythe.
The course covers: correct set up of the tool; your mowing stance and style; sharpening, peening and repairing blades; teaching and organizing volunteers and novices.
The venue is at Thorney Lakes. Muchelney, near Langport http://www.thorneylakes.co.uk/
The cost is £125 for individuals, £150 for organizations, £80 concession for unwaged. Meals are provided. Camping on site is available. Includes live Gypsy Jazz from the Gaulois Brothers on Saturday evening.
Nicole Clough of Bucks Berks and Oxon Wildlife Trust who did this course two years ago writes:
I came away with a far deeper understanding of the scythe and my technique, as well as the tools and course structure to teach others in a safe and efficient manner. It has revolutionised our team at BBOWT, and we now use scythes for a great many of our tasks. As a result our management is more wildlife sensitive and volunteer friendly. A number of my colleagues have now also done the course, with more booked on in the future. This has enabled us to train in the region of 50 staff and volunteers across our three counties in just 2 years. Great for wildlife, great for people.
To book, email Simon at scythes@myphone.coop tel 01297 561359
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.
I make similar rakes, as well as the southern split-stail version. They’re terrible to send through the post so I sell them on my Learn to Scythe courses and at fairs around the country. As a result I don’t sell many but I’m glad to be keeping some of the craft alive and making a few by hand, rainy days.
