Scything to Mulch the Potato Windrow

Scything the aisles in between the windrow beds for mulching the potatoes. These beds were placed on the contour of a slope. On the downhill side of the windrow where the blade slides uphill, I mow with a shorter trimming stroke. I mowed that the day before. On the side where the blade can slide down the slope, as in this video, I mow with a full field stroke. The windrow-garden beds are spaced a little closer together on the slope, than on the flats, because of this. I am using a hook-nosed blade so that all the grass of the aisle gets cut right up to the old mulch. The hook-nosed blade undercuts where the fresh-cut grass gets deposited. Next, I slide the fresh-cut mulch under the potato plants with a hayrake, reaching over from the opposite side.
For more info on Scythe-windrow gardening see onescytherevolution.com/windr...

[@awac4577]

Looks like those potatoes are really coming along. Nice!

[@radharcanna]

Great job. Beautiful countryside too. It must be so relaxing.

[@GLRDesignsdotcom]

Soothing...calming....quiet...peaceful... there's nothing not to like about scything! :)

[@pastayumyum]

Love the video, is there a big difference between the metal vs wood handles. Height of user make a difference?

[@TheBorzasiandras]

Good evening!
It is very satisfying to watch your videos and learn from you. I have a question, perhaps you can help me understand.
Could you please explain why you have two stones on your belt?

[@JayCWhiteCloud]

Excellent video...I know some of the stats out there, but I was wondering if you would share what a take for you to mow a 1-acre field and how many you would be comfortable mowing in a day or over a week. I'm teaching at a cloistered community with over 600 acres in the field and they are resistant to switching to Scythes rather than the sickle mowers they now use behind horses...The issue is that the mowers break so often that they get behind in work and often have most "power mowed" with goes against the tenants of the community ethos...Any help would be deeply appreciated...

[@atlantaswelder]

I'd be interested in who's doing the repairs? The gas units ive worked with are dang near maintenance free tough as nails.

[@JayCWhiteCloud]

@@atlantaswelder The modern gas units, from what I have seen, are very different from the horse-powered ones out there this community is beginning to have too many issues repairing...Many of which now are actually antiques that lead to the quandary these folks find themselves in. Much like many Amish Orders, the "old ways" become more difficult as modernity corrupts the younger generations...The Black Smith spends more time "fixing" and putting the metaphoric "band-aid" onto these devices than it takes to peen-out blades for the members of the group...For those in the modern world...saturated in technology and consumerism...it becomes simple to dismiss certain notions...I see that every day...However, for a religious order seeking to live more simple and holistic lives they are bound to a lifestyle that is "hand-made" and not "purchased." In the meantime since yesterday's post I have had several great discussions with well-seasoned folks in Europe that scythe professionally, though not many are left, the craft does live on...One acre a day turns out to be an average..but this number seems to vary depending on skill and plants being mowed...With their needs and goals, as well as manpower, that is more than sufficient to achieve their goals...