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Scything 101 & Beyond
2-Day Intensive & 1-Day Follow-Up Scything Workshop
Hands-On Scythe Soirée. Come meet Vermont “scythe sisters” and competitive hand-mowers and teachers, Michaela Stickney and Danielle Rougeau at Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center. Sharpen your skills and knowledge about scythe handling, blades, whetstones, and grass by joining this short scythe school snapshot. Esteemed scythe ambassador Don Elder from New Hampshire will join to further immerse you in the meditative realm of hand-mowing. Connect with this ancient knowledge that will strengthen your core muscles outdoors and deepen your roots with the earth. It’s addictive! Swing-snath, steel-sing, stone-hone, hammer-peen, and sip some switchel.
Come immerse yourself in this timeless skill and connect with nature.
Dates
2-Day Intensive:
- May 17th, Noon - 5pm. Lunch catered by Cedar Circle with produce from our farm.
- May 18th, 8am - 1pm. Lunch catered by Cedar Circle with produce from our farm.
1-Day Follow-Up:
- June 15th, 10am - 2pm. Potluck lunch provided by participants.
Cost
$100 per person - financial aid available
Important Info
- Children & Pets: Please leave them at home for your full attention.
- Scythe Requirements: If bringing your own, it must have a cover that fully protects the blade and is secured to the handle. (In a pinch, cardboard and duct tape covering the entirety of the blade and attached in a secure way to the handle make for an easy cover)
- Scythes Available to Borrow: You’re welcome to borrow one if you don’t have your own.
- Safety Gear: Long pants, closed-toed shoes, and close-fitting leather gloves are required for all participants.
- Rain Policy: There is no rain date for these sessions, as our scything guide Michaela tells us, “wet grass cuts like butter!”
- Lefties: If you are left handed, please let us know in your registration
- Please no photos/phones while we are mowing. They create distractions that could lead to injury.
About the Teachers & Ambassador
Michaela Stickney organized the first Huntington Scythe School with farmer friend Adam Wilson five years ago, and we still gather. She has led workshops and demonstrations at Middlebury College, Mad River Glen Ski Area, Bread and Puppet Theatre, Burlington’s Intervale Community Garden, Living Tree Alliance, and others. She has competed on grass and grain hand mowing in Nova Scotia, New Hampshire, and Vermont and is the volunteer organizer and a judge for the Addison County Vermont scythe competition.
Danielle Rougeau was inspired to take up scything the first time she volunteered to judge at a hand mowing event at the Addison County Field Days. Since then, she has attended scything workshops in Nova Scotia and Vermont, has taught in workshops and demonstrations at Middlebury College and privately, and pursues scything as a regular activity throughout the warmer months. She continues to volunteer as a judge and compete at the Addison County Field Days scythe competition.
Don Elder is a master scythe handler in the American tradition, and an inspiration to watch as a wise and skilled scythe competitor in the over-80-year-old class, where he often takes first place. He is the long-time organizer and a judge for the North Haverhill Fair competition in New Hampshire.