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Welcome Ian Miller - Author of The Scything Handbook

Tracy Wandling

steward

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Location: Sunshine Coast, BC

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posted 8 years ago

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Welcome Ian Miller, author of The Scything Handbook

Photo source: New Society Publishing

Please join us in welcoming Ian Miller to the forums. Ian will be hanging out on the forum until Friday, answering your questions, and generally discussing all things Scythe!

Join the Scythe Revolution!

There will be 3 copies of The Scything Handbook up for grabs! Learn how you can win your copy below.

Read R Ransons review of the book here.

Ian will be stopping by on the forum over the next few days answering questions and joining in discussions.

From now through this Friday, any posts in this forum - i.e. the Scythe forum - could be selected to win.

To win, you must use a name that follows our naming policy and you must have your email set up in Paul's Daily-ish email.

The winner will be notified by email and must respond within 24 hours.

Posts in this thread won't count, but please feel free to say hi to Ian and make him feel welcome!

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Miles Flansburg

pollinator

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Location: Zones 4-5 Colorado

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posted 8 years ago

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Howdy Ian, welcome to permies! I am looking forward to reading your responses to our questions.

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r ranson

steward & author

Posts: 42647

Location: Left Coast Canada

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posted 8 years ago

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Welcome Ian

We are very excited about your visit to our forums.

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Heather Strouhal

Posts: 10

Location: Kansas

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posted 8 years ago

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Welcome to Ian Miller. Would be great to learn about scythes.

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Liz Hoxie

Posts: 249

Location: Ellisforde, WA

posted 8 years ago

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I would like to learn to use a scythe, I think that that is a very useful knowledge to have. I know it would be useful to me. I'm curious about blades. I cut alfalfa for the goats, and there are tree seedlings, poison ivy and grasses in that area. I also cut koshia, which gets a woody stem in late summer. Right now I'm using a sickle/pruning shears, whichever works best on that day with that material.

Liz

Feidhlim Harty

author

Posts: 241

Location: Ireland

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posted 8 years ago

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Welcome to the Forum Ian, good to have you on board. I've got a trusty orchard scythe for annual trims around the rough edges of the garden, and it has served me faithfully for many years (with one replacement handle in that time just to prove that it has got some use).

Author of Septic Tank Options and Alternativesand Permaculture Guide to Reed Beds, published by Permanent Publications, UK.

Melissa Laurita Kohl

Posts: 2

posted 8 years ago

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I have an old scythe and have been really excited to use one on my homestead. However, I am a very short woman with some chronic back and shoulder issues and wonder if a scythe is practical for a range of body types.

This book looks like an excellent resource. My husband and I do not drive and do not have any equipment on our homestead with alpaca, sheep, ducks, chickens, bunny, and cat. We do purchase organic hay from a neighbor, but would prefer to do some of our own haying with a scythe and to grow grain as well.

Thank you!

Nick Jennison

Posts: 5

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posted 8 years ago

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I've tried scything with a dull blade and, as you might expect, had a hard time. I'll be very interested to learn more about the process and how to maintain scythes. Then I'll promote it at them farm I work with to try to get rid of the tractor mower!

Ian Miller

author

Posts: 19

Location: Decorah, Iowa, USA

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posted 8 years ago

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Nick: I'd like to think my book would be helpful for you. Additionally, taking a mowing course from an experienced mower who provides sharp blades can be a huge help and give you a more realistic idea of what is possible with the scythe.

Melissa: A scythe is indeed a practical for a range of body types. I can't speak to your specific back and shoulder issues, but for some, applying your body correctly to the right thing can help with certain chronic body issues. In my book I talk about how helpful the Alexander Technique has been for me in the use of my body and with mowing with the scythe. Perhaps something along these lines would be useful for you.

Feidhlim: Thanks! I'd also suggest the scythe for up-close mowing around trees in your orchard (and anywhere else). I describe a technique that protects tree and blade in my book.

Liz: In general, the more robust the material to be cut, the more robust the blade/peening style should be. Different blades/peening for different needs.

Heather: Boy have I got the book for you!

Ian Miller
Author of The Scything Handbook (New Society Publishers in NA, Filbert Press rest of world), Das Sense-Handbuch (Haupt Verlag)

Peter La

Posts: 3

posted 8 years ago

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Welcome Ian - The timing of your contribution of knowledge is spot on! Picked up a 'buried in the barn' scythe in reasonable condition as an estate was being sold by former owners' kids. Thanks for the insights and suggestions as this is inspiration to follow through and rehabilitate this old classic into another functional tool here on the farm. Thanks again! OreGreen Growers, Oregon

Rosa Nutkana

Posts: 21

posted 8 years ago

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Hi Ian!

Just got myself a scythe as a solstice/Christmas gift to myself. We've got a combination of brambly over growth, ivy, and grasses. Looking forward to reading your book. Congrats!!

Feidhlim Harty

author

Posts: 241

Location: Ireland

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posted 8 years ago

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Thanks Ian

Author of Septic Tank Options and Alternativesand Permaculture Guide to Reed Beds, published by Permanent Publications, UK.

Devin Lavign

pollinator

Posts: 1129

Location: Pac Northwest, east of the Cascades

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posted 8 years ago

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Welcome Ian, great to have someone with your knowledge here sharing. Though why only until friday might I ask?

"Where will you drive your own picket stake? Where will you choose to make your stand? Give me a threshold, a specific point at which you will finally stop running, at which you will finally fight back." (Derrick Jensen)

Maureen Atsali

pollinator

Posts: 454

Location: Western Kenya

posted 8 years ago

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Welcome Ian, this is great!
We don't have any machines in this village, so I've had to learn to do everything using hand tools. I have never used a scythe, though, nor have I ever seen one around... I am looking forward to learning more.

Maureen Atsali
Wrong Way Farm - Kenya

Ian Miller

author

Posts: 19

Location: Decorah, Iowa, USA

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posted 8 years ago

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Maureen: Thanks! I hope you've been able to find some useful information here.

Devin: I'm not necessarily only here till Friday, it's just that I've committed to putting some time into posting every day this week to talk about scythes and scything.

"Rosa": I'm happy for you! I hope you find my book useful!

Peter: serendipity strikes again!

Ian Miller
Author of The Scything Handbook (New Society Publishers in NA, Filbert Press rest of world), Das Sense-Handbuch (Haupt Verlag)

henry Trott

Posts: 6

Location: maryland zone 7a

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posted 8 years ago

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Welcome Ian, truly a worthy skill

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Matthieu Du Manoir

Posts: 3

Location: Normandy, France

posted 8 years ago

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Seems like a great read!

FYI I saw there is a German version by Ian, maybe it can help some of us...

Matthieu

r ranson

steward & author

Posts: 42647

Location: Left Coast Canada

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posted 8 years ago

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Wow, what a great week.
It's been absolutely inspiring having Ian Miller visiting the site.

It's impressive how many people have scythes or are interested in trying one out.

Thank you, Ian Miller for taking the time to hang out on our forums.

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Ian Miller

author

Posts: 19

Location: Decorah, Iowa, USA

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posted 8 years ago

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Thanks Permies and R for your time, attention and efforts this week! Thanks to everyone else for your questions, comments and your interest!

Ian Miller
Author of The Scything Handbook (New Society Publishers in NA, Filbert Press rest of world), Das Sense-Handbuch (Haupt Verlag)

Tracy Wandling

steward

Posts: 2154

Location: Sunshine Coast, BC

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posted 8 years ago

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Well, now that the holiday season is over, and everything has settled into its usual place, it's time to announce the winners of Ian Miller's The Scything Handbook!

Congratulations to:

Joellen Anderson
Erica Daly
Roberto Pokachinni

We hope you enjoy your new book, and thanks so much for your contributions to the site!

You will all be receiving PM shortly, so check your inbox to learn how to receive your free copy of Ian's book.

Be sure to keep us posted on your scything progress!

My new garden My first permaculture garden build My art and graphic design site My new blog

Devin Lavign

pollinator

Posts: 1129

Location: Pac Northwest, east of the Cascades

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Congrats to the winners of the scything handbook. Though we were all winners getting to hear from Ian here, and having him answer our questions.

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