This video looks at scything wheat and introduces a grain cradle modified from a traditional Slovak style bow. The film shows how to assemble and adjust the cradle, which is made from green hazel and a length of bent copper pipe. It also examines the effects of mowing style on getting the wheat to fall neatly in the windrow and the final section looks at gathering the cut wheat. This is the first of a series of short films I hope to produce on the subject of small scale grain harvesting.
Limitations
The cradle is shown attached to an Austrian style two-grip snath. I found this arrangement very workable but I am not sure if it is the most appropriate snath and grip setup for this cradle.
Here are some links providing more information on scything, training courses and purchase of scythes:
http://scytheconnection.com/
36 комментариев
Well done , Part 2 ?
Thanks, I hope to do part 2 next year
would like to see more on how you prepare the seedbed for the wheat. Do you use your merry tiller with tines? Also, do you plow in the clover as a green manure?
Great to see another quality video from you Stephen.
brilliant instruction, thank you
Great video, good to see someone has looked into it in detail.
I'll put this up on Scytherspace too, let me know if you've a website you'd like a link to.
Fantastic video, gives a great insight into pre-industrial agriculture!
Absolutely one of the best instructional videos I have watched since finding an interest in youtube! This is the kind of wisdom that must be preserved in the minds of many, to be passed on elder to youth. Thank you very much for this great service.
This is one of the most useful videos I've watched. I've wanted a grain cradle for years, this is the one I might be able to make and it looks like it probably works better than some of the more complex models. Thank you.
Thanks a lot sharing your labour. I was learning a lot !!
how you fight against bird not he attacks the wheat?
Excellent video; thank you.
Shows how a little forethought can save a lot of time. Imagine hand cutting the wheat. Sure it works, but would take longer than doing what is shown in this video.
thanks for sharing your technique.
Well done sir
how much space would you need to have a loaf of bread a week (500g or so) for a year? any guess?
Very clear instructions. Would love to do this one day.
great video! make some more! very informative.
Did something bad happen to your string trimmer fitted with a grain cradle?
I really like that one.
Can I ask how do you prepare the ground after the harvest for the next crop
Brilliant vid and wonderful to watch your skills. I am hoping to get chance to plant out my first cereal this September for scything in the Spring. i was thinking of trying Spellt — do you reckon these techniques will work just the same?
Looking forward to seeing your other vids.
Thanks for posting
Very nice presentation, sir. I loved watching it and learned a lot. Thank you.
thanks very much for this!
Hi Stephen, what might I use instead of a hazel stick? I'm in Australia, so I don't think I'll find easy access to hazel. I have apple and cherry on my farm, and hawthorn close by on the roadside. Would any of these do?
Delightful vid thank you! I have some Russian grain I'm going to try this on;-)
This is magical, I yearn to experience this yet am stuck in the city (for now)… I have a scythe but just to do my small lawn, but always looking for more to mow!
This is a great video.
You have the heart of a teacher. You explain things well. I harvest my first small patch this year and have just purchased a scythe without a grain cradle and am thinking about adding one.
Thank You 🙂
2 thumbs down ? who are you people
Awesome video! Thank You!
I think your 2 down votes were mistakes.
This was an interesting vid.
Terrific instructional video, thank you!
Thank you sir for your time and instruction I have learned a lot, blue skies and fair winds.
Hello Stephen,
you have never uploaded the second part in the last 4 years.
Are you still alive?
I hope, because I love your video.
I have a small Organic Farm in Estonia (mainly apples) but I have also 8 little fields (for rotating) of 7x32m and I like to use it the old style… without heavy machinery!
Did you make a Corn Dolly? Great video 🙂