Category Archives: cereals

Harvest scythe team & ancient wheats

Posted on August 31, 2015 by stevetomlin

John Letts on Countryfile
More scythes on tv with a programme about ancient wheats with the crop being harvested by hand. Watch it now on iPlayer. Continue reading →

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Woman mowing wheat

Posted on January 2, 2012 by stevetomlin

It’s unusual to see old pictures of women mowing so this great photo merits it’s own post.  Note that she’s holding the snath by the shaft it’s made for someone taller than her and there’s no cradle or bow on … Continue reading →

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FAO Scythe Cradle photos

Posted on May 23, 2011 by stevetomlin

As promised, here are the photos of the FAO cradle from their ‘Small Farm Implements’ publication of 1953. In the introduction, the authors (our Mr Hopfen again along with Dr E. Biesalski) make an insightful point which, for me, is … Continue reading →

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Scythe Instruction in Iraq

Posted on May 19, 2011 by stevetomlin

I wish I was blogging to say I’m just off to some far-flung corner of the world to run a scythe course and escape our current dreary Cumbrian weather. Actually Mr H. J. Hopfen Farm Implements Specialist  of the FAO … Continue reading →

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Willow bow for harvesting cereals

Posted on January 12, 2011 by stevetomlin

To follow up from Chris’ post here’s a couple of photos I took last autumn which really show the benefits of using a bow when cutting cereals.  These were taken during our demonstration at Old Hall Farm in Cumbria. My bow, … Continue reading →

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Perfecting reed-cutting techniques in Norfolk

Posted on January 8, 2011 by stevetomlin

In mid-December a few of us met to continue trials cutting reed with an Austrian scythe, and to help with the management of a local nature reserve. This was generously hosted by Richard Brown, who has a house just yards … Continue reading →

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Film of reaping demonstration

Posted on October 6, 2010 by stevetomlin

Memories are perhaps fading of the wonderful weekend at Bouth in Cumbria (see Ian’s entry below of 21st September). So here’s a short video of part of it – the Sunday afternoon at Old Hall Farm open day. It features … Continue reading →

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FAO cradle in action

Posted on September 18, 2010 by stevetomlin

One thing with mowing is that it’s really difficult to take a photo of yourself so more thanks to the Webster family for the pictures they took during their vintage weekend in August. Here’s the FAO cradle in action, showing how it … Continue reading →

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Cradle trials for harvesting wheat

Posted on September 4, 2010 by stevetomlin

Clear blue skies, old tractors and a field full of wheat greeted me for my mowing demonstration over the bank holiday weekend. Margaret & Andrew Webster, with their family and David White had done a fantastic job of putting together … Continue reading →

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Mowing wheat at vintage weekend

Posted on August 24, 2010 by stevetomlin

This week I’m getting ready to mow wheat in Lancashire as part of Whitey’s Working Weekend.  The hosts, Margaret & Andrew Webster, came to the Cumbria Scythe Festival with their family to see if they could find someone with a … Continue reading →

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