lectronice

I just had the surprise to notice that #clubbells training is extremely helpful to handle a #scythe. I was able to go much faster than last year, with wide yet precise swings.

I still suck at handling a scythe, but I feel I'm getting the hang of it. Balance, pace and angle are starting to all come together.

It feels infinitely more satisfying than using a lawnmower, even a mechanical one. Possibly because it reminds me of my grandfather.

It's way better... except for blisters.

May 22, 2023 at 5:25pmWeb
Show threadokrMay 22, 2023
@ice I haven't yet used my scythe this year as we have a few sheep now and they eat almost everything, but last year I spent almost every day after work using it. It's very meditative for me + I like the feeling of doing a thing by hand and seeing the results. And I hate powered lawn mowers.
Show threadokrMay 22, 2023
@ice also I remember that my grandfather's scythe was bigger and built more ergonomically (I think) than anything I could find now.
Show threadlectroniceMay 22, 2023

@okr Same, haha. I'm quite satisfied with the one I found but it's industrial-made, nothing like the one my grandfather used. It's still somewhere in my mom's house I think, I should look for it.

I felt pretty much the zone at some point. There's a complex rhythm made of breathing, swinging, walking, honing... some kind of musicality even, and something that feels like respectful focus instead of noisy havoc.

Show threadokrMay 23, 2023
@ice my scythe is full metal, red and looks like something Enzo Ferrari would design if he emigrated to the Soviet Union and went all into agricultural gear instead of cars. The alternatives look more rustic, but are poor quality echoes of what I remember from my childhood. I didn't think of getting my hands on grandfather's scythe when he passed and now I wish I did as I think it's lost now.
Show threadlectroniceMay 23, 2023
@okr Too bad it's lost :/ Sound like your current scythe looks quite awesome though! Mine also is full metal, but with wooden handles, and painted blue. It's rather nondescript in comparison, haha.
Show threadokrMay 23, 2023
@ice oh yes, the handles are wooden too in mine, might be we have a similar model after all :D
Show threadokrMay 23, 2023
@ice honestly I thought I was more special with a metal scythe :(
Show threadlectroniceMay 23, 2023
@okr Haha, I guess using any kind of scythe is special enough :)
Show threadWoodswalkedMay 27, 2023
@ice
Do you alternate handedness for the scythe or how do you counter the asymmetry?
Show threadlectroniceMay 27, 2023

@Woodswalked It’s not really possible to alternate since it’s built asymmetrically. In theory, it’s doable because the blade and the handles can be disassembled and mounted in reverse, but it would be quite bothersome to do this regularly.

I wish it was designed for this though, because my right hand tends to get blisters despite having calluses. Not to mention that as a weight lifter, not being able to "train" both sides annoys me. But I still vastly prefer it to classic lawnmowers.