Chapter 7. Mowing Techniques

The right arm, along with the “torso twist”, are no longer the obviously predominant two

sources of power. We do employ the torso twist as well, but it is helped along by the just-

then-straightening leg. The bottom line is that the mowing style we advocate aims to

distribute the demands on all the various body parts involved as ‘equally’ as possible in

relation to their innate strength.

Before studying the illustration of this wide movement in Figure 42 we suggest the following
qualifications be considered:
• Although the majority of our mowing entails the use of this particular wide movement
we certainly do not intend to present it as a one-size-fits-all standard. Certain
variations of it – with swath width being the most significant of them, advance at each
stroke secondly – can still fall into (from our perspective) the desired category of
“cutting the most grass with the least energy expended” (with speed itself considered
less important).
• The wide movement as shown here is advantageous for cutting fodder to be made into
hay, mulch, or fed green, and for mowing lawns, not harvesting mature cereals.
• In this illustration the blade at the beginning of the cutting stroke is NOT drawn fully
extended. Depending on individual variations, in real life the stroke mostly begins with
the blade farther back, with the point about where the heel of the drawn blade is now.
More important, however, is the blade’s position where the cutting phase of the stroke
ends. There it should continue fully to the left (more or less as drawn) so that the grass
is cut cleanly all the way to the line defining the leftward side of the sward. Because it
is the portion of the edge along the blades’ beard that cuts the very last of the stems
within each stroke, the beard itself must cross that line. At that moment most of the
blade’s length has already moved past it, but because the length of the snath limits its
movement further leftward, it is pointing back behind the mower.
Breathing deeply in synchrony with one’s strokes has, for the most part, been left out of
instructional guidelines of many who now advocate this wide movement, and a correction in
this regard would be nice. Still, on the whole, the style does seem to appeal to many novices,
including not only the physically fit and flexible; provided they become adequately competent
in edge maintenance, many elderly men and women often find it surprisingly undemanding
and satisfying to practice. We have also witnessed a few attentive 10 year olds picking up
this technique almost instantly. In these cases they were provided with adequate hands-on

guidance, an easy-to-cut stand of grass on smooth and relatively level terrain, and a well-
fitted scythe with a suitably sharp blade. At least two of those children were performing this

extra wide stroke so flawlessly within 15 minutes that a seasoned mower watching them
might think they had been practicing it for years. Based on such experiences, we are
convinced that the transition from this wide movement to a narrow one is easier than the
other way around.
It is true that a narrow stroke is more forgiving, in that shortcomings with regard to the
blade’s adjustment, sharpness, and how exactly it is guided can be more easily ignored.
Thus poorly adjusted scythes can be used without it being obvious that they would indeed
benefit by fine-tuning. The downside is that various ‘bad’ habits are often picked up as a
consequence. Applying too much force is one of them, possibly the worst, because it can be

destructive to the tool and exhausting to the user. It is partially for this reason that we
advocate the initial practice sessions to be ones where flaws are more readily noticed, and
corrected before they become ingrained.

Technique diversity

While mowing along roadsides and fences, amidst closely spaced trees, around buildings,
boulders or other obstacles, and over uneven terrain, there are countless variations of how
the blade can be guided with regard to the stroke pattern, its slice/chop ratio, as well as the
pressure with which the blade is pressed towards the ground surface. For instance,
whenever conditions do not allow for a fully extended stroke, the sward’s width can be
reduced and is often accompanied by narrowing one’s stance. If after a few narrower strokes
there is again space for a wider swath, one can easily take advantage of the space and just
as quickly switch back to wide strokes. In a tangled or extremely dense stand both the
swath’s width and the forward advance at a stroke should generally be reduced.
Unexpectedly coming upon an area of excessively uneven surface, or one strewn with small
rocks, the mower can temporarily but effectively alter the blade’s lay (i.e. lift the edge off the
ground) by bending their left arm a little more to raise the upper end of the snath and/or ease
off on its pressure against the surface (even though its cutting efficiency will thereby be
temporarily lessened). Having first learned the basics well, such modifications can be
performed in a deliberate and graceful manner; with sufficient practice, these adjustments in
technique become nearly instinctive.
Regretfully, in the majority of demos, live (during scythe courses) and in videos, the scythe is
presented in what we perceive to be an imagination-limited manner in relation to how flexible
and multi-tasking a tool it really can be. Greater diversity in mowing conditions would go a
long way towards painting a more realistic picture of the potential creativity that can be given
freer rein while using this wonderful tool.
It would therefore be far more educational if scythe courses took place on terrains that offer
much more variety than a flat meadow or a lawn. Areas which include large embedded rocks,
fence lines and patches of cane fruit would better prepare the students for the sort of
challenges many of them face while trying to mow the neglected, overgrown and often rough
terrain on their diversified small holdings or recently purchased country properties. Novices
sometimes take remarkably long (in many cases years) to figure out on their own some very
basic trimming strokes and ways to apply them. Some attempts have been made in the
aforementioned books by way of drawings and photos, though they are limited in scope in
relation to all that actually happens out in the field.
What, for instance, is typically demonstrated as the “correct” approach for trimming orchards
is the one in which the mower walks around trees in a complete circle while making a semi
wide swath with the windrow accumulating either towards or (more safely for novices) the
width of a stroke away from the tree. Yes, that is a good beginners’ technique but one that
cannot be effectively used if there isn’t space enough for the width of the stroke, or complete
access for a person to do the ‘walkabout’. With some of the techniques we discuss below,
trees or fence posts with wire attached to them can be cut around while remaining practically

in one place (on one side of the fence).
There are indeed many ‘everyday’ trimming techniques that are universally used throughout
Europe. The old mowers do not necessarily think of them as “trimming” versus “field”
oriented. They are all just various scythe strokes used whenever appropriate, and none of
them appear to have formal names; within an old scythe culture it was not needed. But
discussing the topic among people miles (and continents) apart, mostly by written word,
presents a challenge the old mowers didn’t have. Certain commonly understood terms would
be helpful. (That was the reason that, 20 years ago, while trying to call attention to the
benefits of having distinctly-sized snaths for different purposes, we added the two hitherto
non-existent terms “trimming” and “field” mowing to new scythe users’ lexicon.)
Now, attempting to present a couple of trimming techniques that are uncommon, but for
which we find frequent use, is somewhat awkward without a descriptive name. One of them,
here on the homestead, we refer to as the “zigzag” and the other simply as “backstroke”.
Well, “zigzag” leaves a lot to the imagination, and “backstroke” is also not descriptive enough
nor accurate in view of the regular mowing movement’s forward and backward strokes
discussed here and elsewhere. (35)
The ‘zigzag’ appears to have been another one of our “accidental” inventions. In certain
situations it can be very helpful; it may not even be much of a stretch to say that it can
sometimes “save the day”. It consists of short back-and-forth movements of the blade that
can be more accurately controlled than those of any other mowing technique. It is thereby the
most suitable one for situations where a little misjudgment or slip would cut off someone’s
precious ornamental flower, injure the bark of a young fruit tree or, conversely, damage a
section of a meticulously prepared edge (no, not lawn edging; the blades’ edge). However,
for this technique to function as intended, the blade should be pressed still more tightly
against the ground surface than we recommend for the wide field stroke in difficult mowing
conditions (see Chapter 8). For that reason alone, using it frequently could help people
appreciate the merit of very close contact with the ground surface also in other situations,
including those where long blades and the wide movement can be indulged in.
We consider the ‘zigzag’ difficult to beat while trimming under low hanging fences, around anthills, in

amongst boulders and between very closely spaced small fruit plantings or similar
situations where the utmost control of the blade’s action is called for. Applying it also makes
possible the cleaning up of trampled spots or clumps of certain grasses that sometimes resist
other common trimming techniques.

(35) What we think of while referring to the ‘backstroke’ is more along the lines of ‘The Slovakian Backwards Stroke’ because it
was in Slovakia where an old mower first showed it to Peter many years ago, and he had not before or afterwards seen it used
in other lands to which he traveled. But then in 2015 when Spanish-born Alfonso Diaz visited us for a snath-making
workshop, lo and behold, he was using the same technique in order to sometimes clean up (on the return stroke) a sliver of
grass that his forward stroke may have missed. His father apparently used it that way. So much for it being “the Slovakian
original”! When Niels Johannsen was here in 2006 we showed him the backstroke, which he subsequently took to a level that
would likely spin the heads of mowers who used it elsewhere in some form or another. At that time he also introduced us to

his “Danish original” which has the edge of the blade aimed upwards (perpendicular to the ground surface) for very niche-
specific purposes. Other than suggesting the watching of Niels’ videos, we shall leave it off the table here because if the safety-
conscious folks saw us actually using it (with the blade sometimes moving very close to our bare feet) they might report us to

the appropriate authorities for spreading “dangerous” ideas… 🙂

Some characteristics of the ‘zigzag’ mowing stroke: The blade’s movements are from about
20 to 40 cm long. In its basic form only the stroke to the left does the cutting, and usually
does not return as far to the right as it started from. With other words, it takes short ‘runs’ at
its target, backing up just enough each time to gather new momentum and prevent (or greatly
reduce) any chances of getting ‘stuck’. Over such short distances the blade’s speed does not
need to equal the more regular mowing stroke, hence its increased control and accuracy.
That, plus close contact with the ground surface, acts as a breaking system if required.
(Especially while trimming in ‘touchy’ places, the blade kept hugging the ground surface is
less likely to slip past the spot it is intended to stop in order to prevent a mishap – like cutting
into a fruit sapling one is mowing around.)
The advance of the ‘zigzag’ at a stroke is not necessarily a ‘forward’ one as we think of it
while performing most of the common mowing patterns. It may be more directly sideways,
making a ‘swath’ only 10-30cm wide (usually while mowing under a fence) or (if the obstacle
course to be mown around requires it) it can proceed at various ‘diagonal’ directions,
combining both a forward and sideways advance.
In some situations the zigzag technique can be enhanced by combining it, briefly, with a
normal forward stroke or, for the purpose of shorter cuts, with the one that cuts ‘on the return
stroke’ (mentioned in Note 35). The latter slices during the phase when the blade is moving
to the right (with its beard leading). This (combination) would then be one of the “non-basic”
forms of the zigzag technique. Yet to even semi-accurately describe the resulting
combination of the two may well be beyond our ability, so we won’t even try…
The stroke which does the cutting when a right-handed blade is moving towards the right
needs to be simultaneously moving not only to the right but also slightly ‘inward’ (towards the

mower’s feet). It is not used for the purpose of mowing an area per se, but mostly as a one-
time-only stroke to perhaps clean up (on a return stroke) some grass that was missed during

the normal cutting stroke. This technique (as opposed to the ‘zigzag’) is not dependent on
any ground contact, and can be applied to a range from very low targets to those above
one’s head. Thus it is invaluable in any ‘jungle’ of vegetation, particular patches of old berry
bushes where stems of different ages (and toughness!) present themselves on numerous
angles, and there is not much space for the blade’s common back-and-forth movement.
Much as in the case of the ‘zigzag’, the control of the tool it allows (regarding any left/right
miscalculations) is greater than with the common trimming strokes.

“The Path of Least Resistance”, in brief

Not often is a stand of vegetation, be it a small patch or a large field, equally easy to cut from
all directions. The relative ease is determined primarily by the lean of the stems and
secondarily by topography (i.e. uphill/downhill, sideways slope etc.). Sometimes the
differences are insignificant and can be ignored. However, even then, we highly recommend
paying attention to the small variations in the blade’s performance as mowing proceeds
either slightly uphill or downhill, or if a patch of grass contains the subtle trail of a fox, a more
trampled overnight bed of a deer, or is thoroughly flattened by the latest storm. As is the case
with most creative endeavors, the nuances of all this are really difficult to communicate in
words on a written page. A person, again, simply needs to get out there and play with both
the (vague) theory and (educating) practice of it.
A few general hints:
a) Vegetation is more easily cut when it leans either away from, or to the right of the mower.
There are differences between these two; sometimes significant and other times not so. For
instance, if the stand has been leaning forward (away from the approaching blade) for a
certain period of time, and especially if it contains some creeping plant species (various
vetches, Virginia Creeper, etc.) it will have created what may be described as an interwoven
mat. This mat (as opposed to old, dead thatch underneath new growth) is not so difficult to

cut off at the base, but is sometimes quite troublesome to disconnect so as to allow the cut-
off vegetation to be moved over to the windrow in the expected one-stroke portions. Making

2-4 strokes in sequence, but without insisting that they clear the view of the surface, and then
hooking onto a piece of that ‘mat’ with the blade, as a separate movement, and dragging it
over to the left (or in a heap where the windrow usually is) may at times be the best, or even
the only sensible approach. Alternatively, if instead such a stand can be approached (at
times it can’t) so that it leans to the right, disconnecting each stroke would likely be easier.
b) Vegetation is more difficult to cut if it leans towards, or to the left of, the mower.
Here (as in ‘a’) the degree of difficulty (and/or ease) in these two variations depends, beside
a few other factors, on the degree of the lean. If the lean is only slight it may be somewhat
insignificant, and occasionally even advantageous. For instance, if a tall stand is leaning
slightly leftwards it may fall into the windrow easier than if it were completely upright, without
making the cutting itself more challenging. Beyond a certain degree, however, the lean can
become a nuisance. Often what could easily be cut if leaning on the same angle to the right
is practically impossible to cut when it is leaning to the left. This is true also for leans towards
the mower.
On the other hand, nearly all untangled leans away from the mower are far easier to deal
with, and if approached correctly can be cut even if the grass is lying so low as if it had been
recently run over by a roller.

c) It is easier on one’s back to mow uphill, rather than downhill. However, if the vegetation is
fairly mature, it will probably be leaning downhill to various degrees, and starting from the top
and then mowing downhill may be either helpful or outright necessary. As discussed in
Chapters 3 and 11, in such cases it helps if the snath used for that purpose is longer
between the lower grip and the blade than ‘normal’.
Another option to consider on extended slopes is to move diagonally. The mowers of very
steep mountain meadows often employed the given advantages or disadvantages of either,
and did not follow a certain approach ‘religiously’. They knew that if one proceeds from the
bottom upwards but also diagonally to the left, the grass will probably be more difficult to cut
but the cut material will more easily flow into the windrow. Moving diagonally to the right will
make the cutting itself easier, but the weight of the cut material has to be pushed against
gravity into the windrow. While the latter approach is always possible, the former (depending
on the degree of vegetation’s lean) is not.
The hints communicated above represent only an outline of the various factors to consider.
And considered they ought to be, if something of a “path of least resistance” is to be found.
That path is always there!

Harvesting Grains

This topic really merits a much more comprehensive coverage than we give it here. However,
it is addressed briefly because so many aspiring scythe users of the present (chiefly
Western) generation have expressed a desire to harvest the grains for their daily bread with
the same tool as they intend to cut their lawn or meadows. They deserve to be cautioned that
cutting small grains and other annuals for purposes of edible cereal harvest presents
additional challenges regarding how the blade needs to be guided in its path; prior
experience in using the scythe for general “grass” cutting is recommended. Also, the two
diagrams presented so far in this chapter do not very well apply to the harvesting of cereal
crops. In addition, an accessory called a “grain cradle” is highly useful to help orient the
heads of the stalks in one direction as they are being cut off – something considered crucial if
the “sheaves” into which the cut grain is subsequently tied are to be cured in standing
formations generally known as “stooks”. (We would like to point out that, on a small scale,
there are other approaches to handling grains after they are cut than tying them in sheaves
and curing in stooks, but that’s a topic for another day…)
Cradles have been made in a wide array of designs. The simplest of them consists of merely
two pieces of string and a small, freshly cut green sapling, which can literally be made right
out in the field. At the other end of the spectrum are the versions used in North America
during the pre-industrial era – a difficult to self-make and relatively heavy contraption with
multiple steam-bent curved ‘fingers’, sometimes the length of the blade and extending above

it. Regarding the complexity of design, the majority of cradles fall between these two
extremes. A sizable book could indeed be written on the topic of grain cradles with details of
their construction and use…
Because cradles are not readily available to most scythe users who perceive a need for one
on their own homesteads, we suggest considering a serrated sickle as an alternative, at least
initially. Thousands of hectares of grain had in the past been harvested by farmers in Europe
and throughout Asia with sickles, and in many “underdeveloped” countries that is still the
case, with India being a prime example. For small home kitchen sized plots a sickle is quite
sufficient, and operating one does not present the challenge of learning to make, adjust, and
then operate the cradle, especially if the crop to be harvested is not standing ‘perfectly’
upright with no broken stalks and tangled heads. That said, we perhaps ought to be more
encouraging regarding the combination of scythes and grain harvesting. After some
experimentation with the simple string and sapling grain cradles, we conclude that this very
basic design can indeed function satisfactorily. However, it requires due attention (and
repeated experimenting) while learning how to adjust it appropriately in a customized manner
for varying crop conditions. Some helpful hints on cereal cutting have, as of the past few
years, been presented on the Internet. Here are a few more:
• The width of an individual cutting stoke should be narrower and the pattern less
circular than when cutting grass.
• The advance at a stroke can be greater. Exactly how much greater will depend on the
particular grain crop, the terrain, the length of blade used, and the condition of the
edge. In any case, blades with a more open hafting angle, which may not be well
suited for some green grass cutting, may function very well for purposes of grain
harvest.
• Because cereals usually do not need to be (and/or are not) cut as low to the ground as
is typical while harvesting green forages, the lay of the blade can be aimed further
upwards. That is, if the same snath/blade combination found to work satisfactorily
while cutting lawns or hayfields were to be used for a cereal harvest, a wedge can be
inserted under the tang (in order to lift the edge slightly away from the ground surface);
doing so may decrease the amount of force needed to make each stroke, and may
also cause less shattering of the grain heads.
• The actual cutting of most grain stalks (flax being one of the exceptions) is less
demanding of a keen edge than a dense stand of grass. Also, because the stalks are
generally relatively dry, they are easier to ‘bite into’ if the blade’s edge is somewhat
serrated than if smooth. For that reason, using a coarser whetstone for the periodic
touch-ups in the field is advisable; it does not matter whether the stone is natural or

synthetic (though, of course, coarse versions of the latter are now far easier to find).
However, the blade should still be sharp; if it is not, in areas with loose soils where the
plants are not so strongly embedded some of them may get pulled out of the ground
with their roots, instead of being cut.
• Another issue to consider is the nature of the ground surface. As opposed to an
established sod, which often offers a ‘carpet’ of edge protection for the mower and
his/her tool, the relatively loose surface under annuals rarely provides such conditions.
The challenge is increased in naturally stony/rocky regions and while the terrain’s
caretakers may have taken the time to free the surface of loose or slightly embedded
‘edge obstacles’ from the surface of old hayfields, doing so to the same extent with
grain fields is less likely. For that reason the edge of the blade can or should aim
possibly still further away from the ground than already mentioned above. Exactly how
much further it can be so the blade cuts efficiently yet is positioned maximum distance
away from the rocks, needs to be determined on the spot in the field. At least 2-3
wedges of different thickness can be carried to the field and tried in turn to alter the
blade’s Lay (following guidelines on this theme in Chapter 5).
The illustration on the following page was drawn by Alexander Vido (of Scytheworks) for the
purposes of an instructional booklet produced for small farmers in India, and is based on his
experiences with wheat and rice harvesting in India and (wheat only) in Nepal. Because he
recently spent more time on this theme than anyone else we presently know of, and
designed the very cradle that is being successfully used (and reproduced in significant
numbers) in India, he (along with others similarly experienced) really are the ones to put
together a more complete feature on the topic – to be presented in Part 2.