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gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18416

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 12 12:23 am Post subject:
Simon Fairlie at The Scythe Shop

Nicky cigreen

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9891
Location: Devon, uk

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 12 1:10 am Post subject:

we got ours from Simon Fairlie too -

you need to get the right size - based on your height - there is some adjustments, but different height people will probably need different scythes. then there are difference blades for different types of cutting.

for most smallholders would probably want a brush cutting blade - good enough to take out brambles etc, but grass mowing, ideally you would have a longer blade.

it is good - really you have sharpened, cut and put it away again long before you would have got the strimmer started

- and I personally think it is less effort and you dont have to wear as much gear.

robkb

Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 4205
Location: SE London

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 12 2:06 pm Post subject:
I joined in with Simon Fairlie's demo in Regent's Park the other week, and quite enjoyed it. So how practical would it be to use a scythe to mow a small (10 x 15 foot) lawn plus the paths and 'seating area' (6 x 20 foot) at the allotment?

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18416

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 12 4:12 pm Post subject:

Excellent - I'm glad Simon's demo included taster sessions.

Very practical / easy.

10x15' lawn is smaller than regular competition plots of 5m x 5m.
Even if you are mowing really slowly, that wouldn't take you more than half an hour, including stopping to sharpen the blade, having a rest, etc etc. Possibly even a cuppa. Might take you 4 rows/swathes to cut; maybe three.

6 x 20' is even smaller. You could almost do that in one pass / swathe, if you mowed a 2m swathe.

robkb

Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 4205
Location: SE London

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 12 7:59 am Post subject:

Thanks Gil. Taster sessions were good fun, and it's not every day you get to mow part of Regent's Park

I'm peasantly surprised by your timings - lawn takes me half hour with the electric mower, including raking up the clippings (no grass collecting box). As for the allotment, I've developed a real aversion to my petrol strimmer - too loud, too smelly and too messy - so I reckon a scythe could be the answer.

Time to start saving up!!

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18416

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 12 4:30 pm Post subject:
Oh, I didn;t include time for raking up and removing. Allow about the same amount of time again - say half an hour for the big bit; 20 mins for the strip. That's at full hay-style growth/height. Mmmmm ! Mowing Regents Park ! Am envious ! Glad you enjoyed it ! And your typo is rather good.

robkb

Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 4205
Location: SE London

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 12 8:59 am Post subject:

gil wrote:

Mmmmm ! Mowing Regents Park ! Am envious !

Glad you enjoyed it ! And your typo is rather good.

I didn't mow that much of it... as it was my first time with a scythe I was more concerned about not cutting my feet off!

As for the raking, the grass never gets to full hay height but I do leave it longer than my neighbours before cutting it (but that said, I'm sure soem of them actually comb their lawns after cutting).

Didn't notice the typo

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