It's been a few years now, and I still prefer the scythe over the strimmer. But I must say there are a few things to consider that could make it harder.
When you damage your scythe edge, you need to deal with it straight away. this can be very annoying when you just want to knock down a few weeds. I'm tempted to have a spare blade ready to go.
Sharpening has to be right - if it's not then it just doesn't cut very well. You need all the tools to get this right, from peening to the stones
Setting has to be right, this can be annoying. I probably don't use it enough to be able to tell at a stroke of the scythe if it's set right or not, I end up messing with it quite a bit.
Storage - you need to keep it in good condition. The blade's shape makes it hard to protect without making something yourself.
But being able to use this in the cool of the evening or early morning is still glorious as it doesn't make the noise a strimmer does. You're far more likely to come across and notice wildlife this way as well.
A harder tool to learn, but one that will make you feel like you're doing the right thing.
I'd love to use a scythe but my grassed area isn't big enough to get a proper swing in, I use a small grass hook instead. Do I feel a 'how to sharpen your scythe and keep it in good order' blog coming on? I'll look forward to that!
ReplyDeleteThere are no dulcet tones sounds from petrol garden tools. Capability Brown used sheep and cattle and horses to mow his landscapes.
ReplyDeleteFor me, scythe every time. No hassle with petrol/battery/electric sources, if used with some care is pretty much indestructible. When I lived on a farm (50+ years ago now) all the farm workers were skilled scythers for clearing field margins as an autumn task after harvest.
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