Haymaking 2016

onescytherevol... - This was my first year of making hay in this small field. Very bumpy, sandy loam soil, covered with very thick thatch. In order to minimize how much of the old dead grass would get mixed in with the green hay, I had to keep my scythe blade slightly up off the ground, just above the thatch, while mowing. This requires a very sharp blade, because the grass is bendier at this height, and you need to use more of a trimming stroke, instead of a full, side-to-side, field mowing stroke. I also had to rake the hay very delicately, so as not to rake up the dead thatch grass along with the green hay. For more info on my haystack system see onescytherevol...

[@rickbear7249]

This video is great for illustrating the correct sything action. As with all edged blade tools, it's a *slicing* action (not a chopping action) that's most effective. Same as a kitchen knife, you don't simply press down, but *slice* to make your cut. This is why it's important to have some *swing* to your cut, to avoid the blade hitting square on. Slow the video playback speed down to see this swinging-and-slicing action. This guy is a real expert syther, a pleasure to watch. Thank you.

[@loki1066]

Beautiful cat!😻😻😻 What a lovely perch 🤗

[@adamkarch7072]

great video:)

[@BotanAnderson]

Thanks!

[@dobe762]

Just wondering if I'm correct in my thinking that you've changed your style of mowing? in that you are using more arm action rather than your back? its still nice to watch, thanks

[@BotanAnderson]

No, I didn't change my style. I just added a new technique. Mowing above thick thatch. Regular field mowing requires that the blade slide on the ground. If I did that here the blade would cut the thatch as well, which would end up in the nice green hay and quickly make it musty.

[@dobe762]

Thanks for that explanation Botan, it was a pleasure to watch you make it look so easy ;-)

[@BotanAnderson]

Your welcome. Another way of putting it is that I didn't change my style so much as that I changed farms. Here is one of the few places here that I can mow normally. ua-cam.com/video/rUrb0VP-FdI/v-deo.html

[@dobe762]

Great, I went back over some of last years videos and found one were you explained the process of cutting above thatch, don't know why I didn't remember.
It can be a big upheaval to move, I know I'm looking for a place, but dreading any move. Good luck with the new place.