I started scything on my suburban lawn. Now we're building our homestead on 20 acres of woodlands and I'm using a brush blade scythe more than the grass blade because I need to cut saplings and briars, not just grass. I've got a decent amount of experience with a scythe at this point. Watching you working the Kale beds, I'm going to say that you don't need those leveled out anymore than they are to use a scythe instead of the weed wacker. When you learn to use a scythe properly it's a near meditative process and the effort involved is *less* than working that vibrating machine with all the weight out on the end of the stick. I'm not comfortable saying the scythe would be satisfactory on the arugula - it might not cut that as well as you want. Although I say that and then think that if you used a brush blade on the scythe you could probably take it right through the compost and cut all of that stuff off just below ground.... In any event, a scythe will make fast and efficient work of the kale for sure, probably faster than the weed whacker and certainly with less noise and effort. ;)

I appreciate these videos. I am continuing to learn more and more and having better results. Keep up the good work.

Helpful, go kick it with the fam!

New subscriber; thanks lots of great information.

Hey ! Nice video! I think I can ad something you might like:) two things:) I am using a stihl battery weedwacker (fsa 90 or even better fsa 130) very low noise, light, faster (I tried gasoline weedwacker;) than....my approach “mow and grow” meaning..: no tarp, no waiting in some cases no extra compost..just plant straight after mowing! No matter what you had in the bed, it works fine ! Yes after cabbages or broadbeans lettuce anything ... this machine is powerful and very accurate without making tomuch of a mess. In case of cabbage or lettuce you can mow with a slight angle just below soil surface (0.5 inch ) to prevent regrowth! Leave all that shredded organic cabbage on top to dry out as mulch and plant the crop(s) I am planning on doing a video on that !! Like your jokes in between by the way 😂 greetz ! Respect ✊

Great video! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and ongoing experiments with us.

You should try an actually string timer instead of a metal head blade or brush cutter. Wider radius and will go much faster. You the man Jesse

Awesome Video!!

Thanks again Jesse! You're doing stuff that I want to do but thought was too ideological. And making it work. In particular you said you want to reduce the use mechanical stuff. I've worked industry and now aquaculture research. The main reason I have burned out on both is not labor but the noise from loud machinery (and loud people). I know there's always going to be some of that but I'd like to minimize it.

Great Channel, thanks for sharing so much of your knowledge and experimentation!! Just saved your .com site as well. Where/what zone is your farm J? Cheers, have a great day off.

They make a harness for the Stihl weedwhacker. They also make a small rototiller attachment, but I haven't used it yet. $300! I'll probably go rent it for a day...

I´d be really interested in the weed-whacker thing, but with a scythe. Scything can also be strenous, but it removes the noise and smell of the whacker, and i´d figure the things you flip out of are old and rigid enough to not bend away from under the blade.

I have 7/10 acres that are tilled but I would like to use part of that area for winter growth as well as starting plants. I am in NJ near the coast. What would you suggest for a green build structure?

a scythe can be more effective than a brush cutter depending on the crop.

Hey Jesse Random thought. Don't seed tillage radish,!

Hi Jessie, just wanted a clarification on when you would use a greens harvester vs knife harvest on lettuce. I just watched your 7/1/18 video on summer lettuce where you mention that direct sow gets the harvester but transplants get knife cut. Can you give a little more reason for that? Thanks, Bill

Ryobi Rechargable electric weed wacker....;)

So are you and Hannah the only ones working on the farm?

Unless you use a metal blade, you leave plastic in your beds.

Boop

Just cover them

Don't let this freak u out but the future u is going to say the work is kicking your butt...are u sure going away from technology is a great idea...

Get a sythe already