May 13, 2024

VIDEO: Scything our Orchard of 30 Fruit Trees


We have an orchard of 30 fruit trees and we have found that the best way to manage the grass is using an Austrian Scythe. We used to strim the whole orchard but now opt for the scythe because of the many benefits, and in my opinion I find the scythe more efficient and beneficial. Useful links:

Hay Making Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abcf3QPqV2M&t=2s

Scything courses: https://scythecymru.co.uk/courses/

Scythe Association UK: http://scytheassociation.org/

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My name is Huw Richards, I live in Wales, UK and I am a teenager who loves vegetable gardening. Unusual right? I love to teach people around the world about growing their own food organically and my end goal is to get as many children as possible to have the experience of growing food which I believe is one of the most important things a child could learn. If you’re new to HuwsNursery then please hit that subscribe button (and also notifications) so you can learn more about growing your own food inexpensively 🙂

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29 thoughts on “VIDEO: Scything our Orchard of 30 Fruit Trees

  1. I bought a scythe. The blade was supposed to be sharpened and ready for cutting. In all the videos I've watched mowers say to be so careful with the blades to prevent injury. And mine, factory sharpened, is about as sharp as a spoon. I can't even cut the air with it.

  2. Too much arm action, should be rotating from the lower body 1st and finishing with arms extended. In tight areas just moderate lower body and then arm extending

  3. Hes a bit to hasty. The sound is good but the quality of the cut is is not great. And I'm not being disrespectful here, im just saying you could be amazingg if you slow down, take your time, pay atebtion to hand placement for good muscle memory.

    Also. This is the same thing that helped me lear. To ride unicycle.

  4. I use a scythe to cut in many areas of my parents old farm in New Braintree, MA. There are too many rocks and trees and other obstacles to cut with a tractor because you just shatter your equipment and it is rather expensive to repair. Don't get me wrong; technology is good in the open areas (when you can use it) but not around stream beds and hard to see ground level rocks. I used to mow hay at Old Sturbridge Village living history museum every summer so I'm actually pretty good with a scythe. The Ryan family were surprised in Tipperary, Ireland that I knew how to mow with a scythe until I started cutting unsightly weeds down in some hard to get places. I always remember seeing an elderly fellow dropping some hay on the route north of Quebec toward Baie Ste. Paul/Charlevoix. I wished I could've jumped off the otur bus and dropped a few swaths to assist him a little. Slainte! Dr. J.

  5. I was born in Brazil, but I live here in USA-FLORIDA-west palm beach. I saw a video of you using a manual lawn mower, (GRIM REAPER FARM), I used this instrument a lot on Brsail. But I would like to buy here in the USA. Could you tell me where can I buy ???? I am grateful if you can help me.

  6. Looks like a great way to work off anger or depression. I’ve worked with incarcerated teens. Juvenile court judges need to sentence a lot of them to a temporary job like this where they can work off some issues and at the same time see immediate progress and benefit from what they’re doing. Most kids get into trouble because they’re bored and need to get rid of pinned up energy.

  7. Hi from Australia. Your grass is nice and green, what is your opinion of scything a tough grass (e.g. whisky grass) that is dry and brown? I've got 30 acres of it. It's a former orchid and has mounds & ridges that make it unsafe to cut with a mower/tractor.

  8. Primitivism with scything, camera work with a drone. Posted to the internet. Hilarious. So what's wrong with a power mower if you're willing to use a drone, digital camera, and post on the internet?

  9. One thing I do spy is beehives! Anyone who knows anything about buzzy-stingy-things will know is that they are excited, and driven to sting, by vibration and CO2; both of these bare emitted by petrol engines, but not by scythes. Ergo, you are less likely to get stung. PS. It's really good for your waist too!

  10. @Huw Richards I am planning to plant a 1/2 acre orchard in rows, with rows of wheat between. If I maintain short grass in the 1mtr radius around the trunks, do you think these two systems with coexist nicely?

  11. This was so interesting to watch, you reminded me of images from a medieval illuminated text, the sound so pleasant and soothing compared to a gas mower or string trimmer and the result of the cut orchard beautiful, you want to spend time there on a warm summer evening with a nice glass of apple cider from your orchard.

  12. I just moved back to my family's old ranch and have a field was cleared last year that needs to be cut soon. Thank you for the excellent video explaining the different blades and how to scythe an area efficiently.

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