weekend course

scything & grassland management

location: nr Bridport, Dorset

With Simon Fairlie

We’re on a mission to get you to swap your lawnmower or strimmer for a scythe – just as effective, but quieter, cheaper, no pollution, and excellent exercise.

Beginners often imagine that a two-day scything course is a bit excessive, just to learn how to use a garden tool; and that is true if all you want to do is knock down weeds. But anyone who wants to mow grass on any scale will benefit from a two day course, and people who do them come away saying, 'I don't know how you could cram all that into one day'.

Two days gives you enough time to prepare your own blade (rather than use the Blue Peter blades that Simon prepares in advance for the one-day course); you get more time to practice different peening methods; and Simon also demonstrates how to make and stack a hay rack, which enables you to make hay even in changeable weather.

The course covers:

  • history and sociology of the scythe, in the UK and abroad
  • selecting the right blade and snath for the job (or making best use of what you've got)
  • setting up a scythe and snath
  • peening with a jig, and and introduction to freehand peening with hammer and anvil
  • sharpening
  • mowing technique
  • how to avoid damaging the blade, and how to repair chips and cracks
  • managing grass with scything in mind
  • hay-making by hand
  • making and loading a hayrack.

Scythe importer and grass management enthusiast, Simon Fairlie, heads Chapter 7 of The Land is Ours and The Land magazine (among other things).

dates: see 'book online' below

more on scything

how to book:

  

if you can't open the booking form, you need Acrobat Reader - it's free
arrive:
  
4pm on Friday. Residential guests are asked to arrive before 6pm to settle in before the meal, after which there's usually an introductory session
depart:
  
3pm on Sunday
directions:
  
sent with booking confirmation
what to bring:
   work / waterproof clothes; pen and notebook; scythe if you have one
(meals and bedding are provided) NO DOGS PLEASE
let us know:
  
if you have any special dietary or other needs
accommodation:
  
2-6 people sharing single-sex rooms (with a single room supplement, space permitting), camping also available
meals:
  
all meals included from supper at 6pm on the first evening through lunch at 1pm on the third day, excluding breakfast for non-residential participants
price:
  
£215 residential (discounted rate of £195 for residential guests not coming in cars), £145 non-residential, £165 camping.
Refundable up to two weeks prior to course (minus £30 admin fee)
No refunds for cancellations within two weeks of course
car sharing:
  
visit our car sharing forum to offer or request a lift
 


a group of happy course participants about to go home and put their lawnmowers on eBay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simon is peening a scythe blade freehand - flattening the blade to a very fine edge by cold-forging

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


the venue is an organic intentional community within walking distance of Dorset's Jurassic coast