Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
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gil
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Just back from the Somerset Levels - been a long time since I've been that far south. It was a great weekend, well worth going to : the 3rd West Country Scythe Festival.
Started about 11am on Saturday, with pots of tea, bread, cheese and a barrel of cider as refreshments. There were more than 20 folk there, from all over the UK, including 2 Downsizers. There may have been more, but they weren't admitting it. Folk were using scythes for various reasons, from conservation work on a city nature reserve, clearing weeds on allotments, domestic lawn-mowing, orchard grass management, to hard-core mowers and haymakers. Age-wise, the oldest was in his seventies, and still mowing with a lovely old English scythe. A very friendly group of good people.
After introductions (where from, scything experience, and the kind of grass etc we mow), the morning session dealt with setting up the scythe, and a practical session peening and sharpening blades. After a late lunch it was finally time to deal with grass.
The pasture was flat and there were no stones, but the grass was long, very lush and thick, with patches of creeping buttercup and docks, and had fallen over in all directions due to rain and wind, which made it pretty hard going. There were plenty of experienced scythers there to pass on practical knowledge. The rain came on again, and we gradually abandoned the grass, and went back under canvas to discuss making wooden scythe snaths (handles), and to peen and sharpen our blades again. All in all, a very useful day's workshop. After dinner, the group divided into music in the food tent and cider in the main tent, where we sat up till the small hours, having talked about bee-keeping.
On Sunday afternoon, with varying degrees of hangover, we reconvened for the competition, which was held along with the South Somerset Green Fair. Plenty of cider. More mowers turned up, who'd not been at the workshop, so there were nearly 40 contestants in all, including a very young lad who did a grand job. Competition was divided into two sections : First Division/Novices (mowing 5m x 2m strips) and Premier League/Experienced/Foolhardy (mowing 5m x 5m squares). We were allocated plots by random draw, and given a few minutes to check them out and work out a strategy for dealing with.
Competitors went off in heats of 4 at a time, were timed by the judges, and awarded points for speed, mowing quality, and technique. Someone in the first heat broke their snath almost immediately, as it was tough going, and the grass did not respond well to being wildly hacked at.
The Premier League was exciting and instructive to watch - everyone has a different mowing style depending on type of scythe, build, strength, and what grass they're used to. There's a trade-off between speed and quality, but the more experience you have, the better you get on both counts. Because of the tangled state of the grass, the competition was wide open, and it was not obvious who the eventual winner would be.
In fact, because of the amount of cider consumed  , it was not obvious to me who had won overall even after the results were announced, since there were various other awards for quality, age, etc. The Downsizer contingent acquitted themselves very well - thought Deanom was going to win, and dunno why he didn't - and we will all be returning next year to have a serious crack at the title. I'll be drinking less cider, which should help, and competing in the Premier league.
The evening finished with a live gig in the tent featuring local bands, and a bit of a homebrew sesh. Didn't feel too great driving home, and the rain was atrocious, but got back safely.
All in all, a grand way to spend a weekend. Hope to see more of you there next year.
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Jonnyboy
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Sounds like it was idyllic. although I'd recommend taking the train next time if your cider intake is going to be similar.
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Sarah D
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We very nearly got there - it's just down the road from us. something came up though. Maybe next year. Glad you enjoyed it.
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deanom
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What you're not being told. Is it Modesty?I agree with everything that Gil wrote, although what wasn't mentioned was that Gil won a medal. Just goes to show that you don't need to do a course, you can teach yourself.
Looks like next year that there will be three or more events held, including one here in the East of England. Should be easier for people to get to an event without travelling for hours.
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sean
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Re: What you're not being told. Is it Modesty? | deanom wrote: | | Gil won a medal. |
Yayy, go gil. Are we going to keep it in the downsizer trophy cabinet?
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gil
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Re: What you're not being told. Is it Modesty? | deanom wrote: | | you don't need to do a course, you can teach yourself. |
Indeed you can. But I reckon the Saturday workshop really helped in three ways :
1. Seeing peening done for real. I'd bought a jig and anvil, read the book and the explanatory notes, but put off using them because although I had a mental picture of what was involved, I wanted it confirmed before I set about my blade. Result ! I peened my scythe on the Sunday morning, and saw a real difference in its performance.
2. Watching other mowing techniques. Particularly as I'd not mowed flat ground without potential obstacles before. Although I cut grass for hay last summer, the aftermath was not a pretty sight. [=preen]Much neater finish now ![/preen]. As mentioned, everyone mows differently, but some styles and results are more to be aspired to than others.
3. Seeing the variety of sharpening techniques, but knowing what works for oneself, and that it does work in practice. Learning to adjust the degree of sharpening to the state of the grass : heavy, wet grass may blunt the scythe faster and knacker the blade if it is too highly peened.
The medal was for quality (not speed) in the Novice section.
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tahir
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Gil, you da man!
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deanom
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Workshops HelpI agree that some form of training helps, but it is possible to do it straight from the book.
Next year, instead of going straight to the weekend on the Thursday, I'm going to drive on down to Devon to see "Steve the Snath", and get a custom made snath put together. That way he can explain how it's done, and I get something unique.
I repeat my offer made here on Downsizer ages ago. If anybody wants to come to Licolnshire, I'd be happy to give a bit of tuition. No charge. I'll be mowing all through the Summer, and again in September.
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