Why People Are Cutting Their Grass With Scythes

Having a lawn means taking on all kinds of yard work. Mowing, fertilizing, and watering are all important parts of your lawn’s health. With summer just around the corner and the weather heating up, you might be thinking about getting an early start to your yard work on your weekend mornings.

But if you’re worried about the noise a lawn mower makes, fear not. Many people on Reddit have shared that they’re now cutting grass with scythes instead. It’s quieter, cheaper, and it’s often better for your local habitat.

Is It Hard to Cut Grass by Hand?

The Reddit post claims that mowing by hand ” is easy to learn and takes little physical strength.” As proof, the poster cites that “it takes two old people (we’re 50f, 55m) 2 days to cut half a hectare of wildflower meadow.” You could probably cut faster, but the poster explains that these are “two slow days where we don’t overexert ourselves and take a nice long break at noon to avoid the heat.”

The couple also spaces out their cuts. They don’t cut the second half of the meadow until “the grass on the first half has recovered.” For them, this is an environmental choice. They have two orchards and do these cuts twice a year. They space out the cuts between the meadow halves “to make sure that we’re not taking all cover and food for wildlife away at once.”

What Are the Benefits of Cutting Grass With a Scythe?

According to the Reddit post, cutting grass with a scythe is relatively affordable and eco-friendly. If you’re in the market for one, “a good scythe costs 70 bucks and lasts a lifetime. No fossil fuels needed.” You won’t have to shell out for a gas-powered mower and your winterization process will go much faster.

The poster also says that mowing by hand is both peaceful and quiet, so you can start earlier in the day if you have noise ordinances, and you may even find it to be somewhat relaxing once you settle into the rhythm. Sure, your mileage may vary, but easy, repetitive tasks are often a good way to give yourself a bit of a mental break.

Finally, the post says that cutting grass with a scythe is “gentle for everything living in the grass.” You’re moving slower than a gas mower, so the local critters have more time to move out of the way. This saves both you and them the trauma of a lawn mower-related death. You’ll still need to be careful, but you’ve started stacking the odds in your favor.

This method may not work for everyone, but it’s worth giving it a try to see if this routine is right for you and your lawn. Besides, at the very least, having a scythe around means you’re set for Halloween decorations and costume contests for years to come.

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The post Why People Are Cutting Their Grass With Scythes appeared first on Family Handyman.

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