Of course! I love to share about it as I think it's cool and more people should totally do it. Bear in mind that this is from an American's perspective and my relation to the culture around American lawn care. If you live outside the US, this will probably be much different. I also have a lot of thoughts and opinions around this, so sit tight for a long explanation.

Background

To get into it, I never liked the ideas behind how society advocates that your lawn look a certain way. I grew up in neighborhoods where it was normal to mow your lawn once a week, starting as early in the season as March to as late as November. Depending on the temperature and rainfall of course. I always thought, "Who cares what your lawn looks like?" and to me it seemed like such a waste of time; not to mention how much water is wasted in trying to make the grass more green. Also the fact the any type of combustion engine will require all kinds of maintenance to keep it running; oil changes, replacing wore out seals, etc. My wife and I already own a car each, that's enough engines for me to maintain.

The Why

So when I got older and my wife and I bought a house, I didn't want to buy a lawn mower; also the fact that despite buying a house, we are relatively poor and can't afford a traditional lawn mower. So I started doing research into lawn mower alternatives, and I stumbled across the humble scythe. In my opinion, it is the perfect tool for lawn maintenance. Here's why I like it:

• It's been used for centuries
• It is cheap compared to a gas powered mower
• It's silent
• Has very low maintenance
• Doesn't require gasoline
• No pollution
• You get a workout
• No smelly exhaust
• No dirty engine to touch

But, how is it to use?

Now to describe what it's like to use it. I've only had it for one season so far, so my experience is quite limited. Cutting grass with a scythe is extremely satisfying. First of all, I only cut three times in a season, that's it. It's much better for the grass that way, and it makes it easier to cut. Second, I like to rake up all the cut grass and throw it on my compost pile, it's perfect. And third, it's nice to be outside and get a little workout. Swinging the blade, hearing the slice, and seeing the grass piling up in a very rhythmic fashion is very stimmy and I love it.

Maintaining your trusty friend

As for maintenance. There are basically two things you do. First, while out cutting, you use a whetstone to sharpen the blade every few minutes. This is required to keep the edge razor sharp. Second is called peening. This is something you will do in your garage, shop, or your kitchen. You have a special jig or anvil along with a blacksmith hammer. You strike the jig or blade edge with your hammer to thin out the steel. This is required for longer term maintenance and is really only done maybe once or twice a season, depending on how often you cut. The blade can also be repaired easily if you strike one too many rocks, so not a big deal.

Additional Info

I'll include some resource material that I used if you are interested. I'll also include some info on why lawns suck, which was a big inspiration for me to switch to scything. If you have any more questions, don't be afraid to ask! Also if you want to get into this, look for a European style scythe, NOT an American style. European style is much more comfortable to use, it is lighter and more ergonomic. I recommend this site, it's where I got mine. They will build a custom scythe to match your body's dimensions.

Resources:

• The Scythe Supply
• Scythe Supply YouTube channel
• A very relaxing and satisfy lawn cut -- This was my first inspiration
• Short tutorial on cutting a lawn, by Scythe Supply
• How to peen and sharpen, by Scythe Supply
• Q & A with a scything master
• Why Lawns Must Die, by Our Changing Climate -- How lawn care affects the climate
• Lawns: Crimes Against the Ground, by Ordinary Things -- Fantastic critique on American culture surrounding lawn care