Tag Archives: scythe

Saxon Peening Station

Posted on January 25, 2012 by stevetomlin

I’ve been sent some photos from Michael Stibane in Germany of his peening station which his great-grandfather, who was a cartwright, produced and sold. Peening is done on a flat anvil and by altering the string on the upright pole, the … Continue reading →

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Peening hammer

Posted on January 10, 2012 by stevetomlin

The first stage of sharpening a scythe is to peen the blade, drawing out the edge to thin it and give the right bevel angle. When you start out, the peening jig designed and made by Schroeckenfux along with Peter … Continue reading →

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Transylvania Haymaking Festival dates & Scythe royalty

Posted on January 6, 2012 by stevetomlin

I’ve just been sent the dates for this year’s International Haymaking Festival in Transylvania. The fourth festival will take place on 19-26 August 2012 in Gyimes, Transylvania. Last year’s festival was a wonderful week and the event grows and improves  year. … 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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Where do you peen?

Posted on November 20, 2011 by stevetomlin

When I was living out in the sticks of North Devon, peening my scythe was never a problem. The nearest neighbours lived over a mile away and I could hammer away to my heart’s content. Now I live in a … Continue reading →

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Improve Your Peening workshop

Posted on September 24, 2011 by stevetomlin

I like peening for all sorts of reasons but one of my favourite aspects is the amazing rhythms which are created by several people peening scythes together. The hammering comes in and out of sync in a way I find … Continue reading →

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Haymaking poem

Posted on September 9, 2011 by stevetomlin

I’ve been sent this poem by Neil Diment, community officer for the HayTime project in the North Pennines AONB. Neil was one of the participants on the Transylvania Haymaking Festival and writes, “Having, at long last, tried my hand at … Continue reading →

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Leela's rake

Posted on September 5, 2011 by stevetomlin

Last October I met Miss Kathloon Peart from Bishop Auckland who told me how she’d received her first hayrake when only 3 years old and had been making hay on her farm for the 50-something years since then. So I … Continue reading →

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Transylvania Mowing Competition 2011

Posted on September 3, 2011 by stevetomlin

While the rest of the sports media was focussed on the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea I was making my own debut representing my country on the international sports stage. This was the first Scythe Mowing Competition in … Continue reading →

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The Scythe Song

Posted on August 23, 2011 by stevetomlin

I’m in Romania, mowing as part of a Haymaking Festival but while I’m away I thought you could have some music. For ages I’ve been looking for a scythe song, ideally something for a team of mowers to sing while … Continue reading →

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