Scything Mentor in Central Texas

Hi, all,

I live in Austin and they call me ej. I have a 14 year old grandson who has become interested in scything. I wonder if there are any scythers within a couple hours who would be willing to spend some time mentoring him in this skill. Saturdays would be best for us. I'm willing to drive him and I would stay to supervise (and learn some things myself!) Ideally, I'd like him to "pay" for the mentoring by doing work for his mentor, although I would consider some cash payment in addition to that.. (I'm assuming the mentor would have appropriate odd jobs he could do or help with.)  I'm sort of envisioning a few to several hours, maybe once a month or so, I'm not sure how many times.

I don't really have a fully-fleshed out idea how this might work, but I thought I'd see if I can find someone local (relatively) who would be willing to help this city boy learn some new skills.

Anyone?

ej

Hey ej
Does your grandson already have a scythe?
Have you or your grandson checked out scytheconnection and fully read what Peter Vido has put up about scything?
I live in Blanco and I've only started using scythe last November so I'm far from an expert. I would however enjoy helping other people interested learn to use one as best I can.
I find it fun to use and it does not have to be all that physically demanding to use.
Thanks
Daniel

Unfortunately I am above the Texas Panhandle so too many hours away (I did drive to Longvview once in a very long day's drive. Austin is much farther).

Totally awesome you want to teach your grandson such and yourself too.  If you were at least 17 hours closer I'd invite you up. When the east property was owned by a junk/scrap metal collector, he came up with a simple hand scythe like I had used as a much younger woman, and acquired it for $1!. It took about 10 hours restoration (banish the rust, turn a new handle and sort a new cradle and hand knob) and it's been doing well since. My grandfather owned one of the big harvest ones. I tried swinging it as a teen of 13 (just barely into adult strength range) and that would have bested a man in good health and shape, trust me.  (Grandpa showed me how and let me swing it into a mature wheat field for about 100 square feet. That was ENOUGH). Btw at that time I weighed 105-110 fully dressed w/cowboy boots and could get 125# over my head... and 100 square feet of was running at 40 bushels/acre and 60# per bushel. I handled approximately 436 pounds in about six minutes in upper 70's F and I swear I carried three cement blocks (about 120-125#) about to do that work.....

Gist, hope your grandson is in shape. I can say it takes some fortitude to swing a full harvester scythe especially if it is loaded with an average yield. Weed bashing isn't nearly as physically demanding.

Hi, Daniel,

My grandson does not have a scythe (yet), but I'm willing to invest in one for him if I can find someone who will help him learn to use it. I'm thinking of https://scythesupply.com/outfits.html unless I hear from someone else that they are not good to deail with. I don't know what the lead time is.

I have seen some snaths that have adjustable handles on Amazon, but I don't know enough to know whether that's a good idea or not. (It's attractive to me because my grandson is 14, so still growing.)

I hadn't heard of scytheconnection before, but I'll have to check it out.

Blanco is certainly do-able. Are you close to the state park? (I'm thinking maybe my grandson and I could camp there for a weekend.)

Do you have any odd jobs around your place that he might be able to help with? (In my fantasy, I would really like him to work in exchange for lessons.)

If this sounds like it might work to you. please PM me and we can discuss it in greater detail.

Thanks so much.
ej

Daniel Brunner wrote:Hey ej
Does your grandson already have a scythe?
Have you or your grandson checked out scytheconnection and fully read what Peter Vido has put up about scything?
I live in Blanco and I've only started using scythe last November so I'm far from an expert. I would however enjoy helping other people interested learn to use one as best I can.
I find it fun to use and it does not have to be all that physically demanding to use.
Thanks
Daniel

I am down in Schulenburg. I have a small farm and use a scythe to cut cover crop, you are more than welcome to come down and and have a go at cutting. I use a blade from scythe supply, and I have more than enough wood around to throw together a snath that fits him. Saturdays I am home in the late afternoon, we will be selling at the markets there in Austin starting next week.

Ej
I'm not to far from the park only 2 to 3 miles. I really wasn't thanking of any need of payment work or otherwise. If it's more about learning other skills then I could possibly find some things.
I've used both Scythe Works and ScytheSupply to get what  I need. I had no problems with either but l like the selection Scythe Works has better only problem is that it's out of Canada so it may take a little more time get.
Thanks
Daniel