“ HowToScytheAndSTOPWeeding,WateringAndFertilizing”

Justin Rhodes

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“ HowToScytheAndSTOPWeeding,WateringAndFertilizing”

Justin Rhodes

Marjory: HelloandwelcometotheHomeGrownFoodSummit.ThisisMarjoryWildcraft,yourhost.AndthissummitisbroughttoyoubyGrowNetwork,whichisthepremierecommunityofpeoplegrowingourownfood,makingourownmedicine.

AtoolthatIuseprettyfrequently,andIwishIwasmoreofanexpertat,butit'sactuallyanancienttool,isascythe.Andit'salsoreally,reallyperfectforbackyardandsmalloperations.IuseitfrequentlyinthemorningtocutfodderthatIgivetomyrabbits,andit'sgreat,'causeIjustwhipthescytheout,liketwoorthreeminutes,scoopitup.I'vegotgrassandfodderandfeedfortherabbitsforthemtoeat.AndIactuallydon'tbuyalotofrabbitfeed.Andit'salsoreally,reallygoodformowing.There'salotofsituationswhereyoudon'twanteverythingchoppedupsofinelythewayalawnmowerdoes,andyouactuallywantbiggerchunksoforganicmattertolayontheground,becauseithelpsthesoilbuildmoresoilfertility,andithelpsregenerate.Insomesituationsthescythedoesalotbetterofajob.

AndI'vebeenlookingforapresentationtoshowyouhowtouseascythe,howtosharpenascytheandsomeofthebenefitsofascythe.AndmyfriendJustinRhodesdidaninterviewwiththisgentlemanup,Ibelievehe'supinMaine,whoisregularlyusingascythe.Thisguy'skindofcoolbecausehehasalsobeenaprofessionallandscaper,andhewilldefinitelytalktoyouaboutthedifferencesbetweenascytheandaweedwackerandspoileralert,he'stotallygivenuponweedwackersnowthatheusesascythe.

JustinRhodes,bytheway,he'ssomuchfunandhe'sbeenapartoftheGrowNetworkforawhile.He'sdonealotofpresentationsforthem.He'sactuallyinspiredandtaughtthousandsofpeoplehowtogrowtheirownfoodinanatural,yethighlyproductiveway.HeandhisfamilycurrentlyliveinAsheville,NorthCarolina.ButJustinwason

theroadeverywhereforaboutayeardoingtheGreatAmericanFarmTourandboydoesheknowprettymucheverybodyinthehomesteadingspace.Andcameacrosswithalotofreally,reallywonderfulvideosandstilliscontinuingtoproducevideosaboutheandhisfamilyasthey'rehomesteadinginNorthAmerica.TheyreallydidshowcaseAmerica'sgreatestfamilyfarms.He'sreallyhappytobehomenowthough.Theywerelivinginabusastheyweretravelingaround.

ButJustinalsoaskssomereallygoodquestionsandthispresentation,althoughIwishthevideographywasalittlebitbetter,it'sfairlyshortandsweetandreallygetstothepoint.AndIhopeitinspiresyoutolookatthisancienttoolthatisstillreally,reallyhighlyeffectiveandactuallybetterthanalotofourmoderntools.

Also,definitelywanttomentionScytheSupply,whichisa...it'sacompanythat'sbeeninbusinessfor500yearsmakingandusingscythes.So,theydefinitelyknowtheirstuff.

Takealook.Ihopethisinspiresyou.

Jim: Youknow,thisgrassfedvegetablesystemusingthescythe,thenfertilitygrowingonthefarm.Idon'twater,Ihaven'twateredinsevenyearshere,includingtransplantday.Idon'tweed,IifIkeepthegrassonthebeds.Don'tletthesoillifeeatitall.Idon'tfertilize.

Justin: Allbecauseofahandheldscythe.

Jim: Right.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: Youknow,that'saprettyincredibledifference.

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: Imean,that'ssomethingthatitcouldbegamechangingforsmallfarmers.

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: Thisisalltechnologythat'sfrom...Longago.ThescythebladethatIgotinmyscytheismadebyacompanythatwasinbusiness500yearsago.It'sinAustria.

Justin: TheScytheSupply.

Jim: ThisisScytheSupply.Theyactuallybuythebladesandthenputtogetherthesescythes.It'saEuropeanstyle,it'snottheoneyourdadhadinthe[crosstalk00:00:49]-

Justin: Yeah.No.IheardthattheEuropeanoneislighter,moreergonomic.

Jim: Crazylight.Imean,likethreepounds.Then,believeitornot,yousharpenitwithahammer.Ithoughtitwassuchacrazygoodidea.Imagineyou'vegotathinedgethatyou'vestoned.Thebeveliskindofgettingsteeper.

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: Youputitonananvil,andpounditoutthin.Nowyou'vegotarazoredge.Andthanhighcarbonsteel,whenyoupoundit,italsocasehardens.Thehammerhardeningeffect.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: Nowyou'vegotthisrazorbladethat'sharder,andtheninthefieldyou'reslowlystoning,anditgoesback.Thenyoubringitbackandbeatitagainwithahammer.

Justin: Makessense.

Jim: Ifyouwant,Icanshowyouthattoo.It'sprettycool.

Justin: Okay.Let'sdothat.

Jim: Scytheblades,becauseIknowScytheSupply.Notonly,youknow...Afewmore.Thesearebrushblades,they'relikesmallaxes.ButI'vegotthemdowntooneblade.Thisisprobablymyfavoriteblade,it's

calledtheMr.Scott's.It'sgotareally...Seethetip?Howitreallydipsdown?

Justin: Yes.

Jim: Imaginewhenyou'recominguptoatreeandthere'sgrassgrowinghere.Allyoudoisputthisagainstthebackedgeofthetree,andyoucan'thurtthetree.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: SeewhatImean?

Justin: Yeah.Isee.

Jim: Yeah.Youputitupagainstthetree,thenyoudothat.They'resorazorsharp,it'llcut.Thisiskillermorebetterthanaweekwacker.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: Thiswasatree,right?There'sgrassgrowingrighthere.Youjustputitupagainsthereandthendothis.Icanshowyouinthefieldhowitworks.

Justin: Okay.Allright.

Jim: Theotherthingthat'skilleristhinkaboutthatelectronetting.Right?

Justin: Yes.

Jim: Which,you'realwaystryingtokeepitfromgrounding.Ifyouputthisagainstthebackofthenetting,you'realwaysgoingaway.Icantrimrightupnexttoit.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: imagine,thisiselectronetting.Youpushagainstit-

Justin: rightthere.

Jim: There'snot,Imean,youcangorightback.

Justin: Youcanstartfromjustholdingitagainstthere.Youdon'thavetohavethemomentumofaswing.

Jim: No.

Justin: Youjustholditthereandthenchop.

Jim: Right.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: I'mactuallythehiredscythenow,Ispendadayaweekdownto..Farmmowingtheirelectricfences.

Thinkaboutpigfences,they're4inchesofftheground.Right?Icangorightunderit.I'mnotcarryingtheweightofaweedwacker,anditrunsallthetimeaslongasI'mhealthyenough.It'sanincredibletool,peopleshouldknowmoreaboutit.

Justin: Well,showushowtosharpenthisthing.Thenlet'sgodoit.

Jim: Okay.Thisisananvil,it'sgotahintofalittlecurve.Right?Thisbladealsowillhavealittlebitofacurve.AsI'mstoninginthefield,right?I'mdoingthis....This.That'showI'lltouchitupinthefield.Right?

Justin: Howoftendoyouhavetotouchitupwhen...

Jim: That'swhateverybodywantstoknow.Theywantto...Whatitis,iswhenitstopsmowinggoodyougottotouchitup.Right.

Justin: Okay.Yeah.

Jim: It'sallafeedbackloop.RightafterI'vepeenedImightgo10-12minutesbeforeIstone.BythetimeI'mneedingtopeenagain,aftermowingmaybeaquarteracreImightbestoningeveryminute.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: JustsoIgotagoodcut.But,allstoningis...Imaginethisisonthething.I'mdone.Itain'tlikethisbigthing,it'smoreofabreak,andlookaround.DuringthatImowaquarteracreinmaybefourhoursorthreehours.

ThenthatbevelthatIpeenedoutbeforethatwasreallythinandsharp,nowisveryincreased.It'smorelikethat.WhenI'mgoingtodowithanvilisputitrightthereandsqueezeitout.Right?

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: Allyoudois...Icanshowyou,hopefullyyoucanseethis.Ihopeyoucan.Ikindofpre-didthissoyou'dknowwhat'sgoingon.Ipeenedthisarea,right.Canyoufollowthat?

Justin: Yes.

Jim: Lookhowthewavekindofmovesin.Ihaven'tpeenedrighthere.Canyouseethat?

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: Canyouseethatwithyoureyes?

Justin: Yes.

Jim: WhatI'mdoingisdrawingoutthat.That'sgoingtobethinnerandstronger.AllIdois...Itwasthisway.Putitonhere,andyoudrawitout.Europeansknowwell,theyprettymuchalluseanvil.But,there'sajigthat'sprettymuchnobrainerthattheysellwiththeoutfitthat'scustomfitforyou.

That'skindoflikea...Icanshowyouthatlater.But,it'sjustanobrainerwaytopeen.IhaveburnishedtheedgesothatIcanseeeverystrokealmost.InthislightIcan,usuallyI'malreadyontheedge.But,allI'mdoingisholdingitrightinthecenterandthenhittingit.Youdon'thavetohitveryhard,butjustdrawnoutalittlebit.

But,it'skindofcool.IguessinEurope,duringhayseason,everymorningthat'swhatyouhearalloverthevalleyisting,ting,ting,ting.There'sevena...IthinktheAustriansgotapeeningsong.It'sprettycool.

But,youwanttogomow?

Justin: Yeah!Let'sdoit.

Jim: Thisfieldhasneverbeenmown.Right?She'sbeenrunningherchickenshereforfouryears.Duringthemiddleofthesummer,that'sbeabovefourfoottallwithgoldenrod,asters,allthat.Youcanseetheremnantsofthat.

Fouryearsago,Istartedmowinghere.That'sthedifference.But,what'samazingtomeisimaginefouryearsofchickens.Thegreen-nessthereIwasexpectingtobemuchgreenerthanherewhereI'veremovedeverybitofgrass,threecutsayear,forfouryears.

Justin: Wow.

Jim: runningonthehayfieldagain.Right?

Justin: Whydoyouthinkthatis?Whydoyouthinkthatis?

Jim: Ithinkit'stherotationalgrazingeffect.TheideathatifIdoit...LikeSalatintalksabout.Letitgettotheteenagegrass,it'sjustpastthediapergrassrightnow.

Justin: Okay.Soit'snot-

Jim: But,whenIstartdownthere,bythetimeIgetdownhereit'llbeteenagegrassbecauseit'sgoingtotakeme,probably,10days.

Justin: So,you'reharvestingthisahairearly,butyougottogetitgoing.

Jim: Right.BythetimeIgethere,itwillbe.Thenthesecondcutwillbereallyniceteenagegrass.WhatIdidinthefallisyou'llseetheremnants.Ialreadymovedonehaystack.That'swhatwesawearlierthere.

There'sthesecondhaystackthatI'mgoingtobemovinglatertoday,afteryouguysleaveprobably.Youknow,it'snotlikethat'sworsethanthat.But,it'sadisturbancethatbenefitsme,andthecropsIgrowbecausethat'salotofwildlifehabitat.

Justin: Yeah.Let'sshowthis.Ithinkwecanseeitbetterhere.Mowedwithascythe,notmowed.

Jim: Thiswascultivatedprobably...Bobprobablycultivatedthis15yearsago.It'sawetfield.Rightnow,ifyouwalkedoutthere...Imean,youputatractoroutthere,itwouldsink.I'mablewiththisscythetogetacutwaybeforeanybodycouldevergetintherewithamachine.

Now,thinkabouthowIjustheardAarontalkabouthejustlethiscowsouttheirfirsttimeacoupleweeksago.Right?

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: Ithinkitwasonlyaweekago.Theyjustranoutofthebarnbecausetheyknewthatwasoutthere.Thatteenage,justgreatgrass.Theyloveit.Right?

But,whatifIgivethattothemicroherd.Insteadofthemulchhaythatwealwaysgiveitthelaststuff,whataretheygoingtodowiththathighnutrientgrassfullofprotein,fullofchlorophyll?It'sgoingtobedifferent.

Idon'tknowbetterorworse,butit'sgoingtobedifferentandnobodyisdoingit.Youstartdoingsomethinglikethat,thenyougetsomething.Igottograbmyscythe.

Justin: What'samicro-herd?

Jim: Imagineallthosecrittersinthesoil,thebacteria,theworms,allthatstuffneedstoeat.Wegiveitthemulchhay,whichiscraphaythatthebiglivestockwon'teat.Right?

Justin: Okay.Yeah.

Jim: But,let'ssaywegiveitthesamestuffwegiveourbestlivestock.Whataretheygoingtodowithitinthesoil?Theirpoopisgoingtobedifferent,Ithink.

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: I'mnoscientist.Again,thismightbeallabunchofbull.But,Ithinkthere'ssomecoolstuffpotentialgoingon.I'mlearningjusttotrystuff,andseewhathappens.

Justin: Thisisit.Thisisscythe.

Jim: ThisistheEuropeanstylescythe.You'llnoticeit'snotthehumpyonethattheAmericanstyle.It'salotlighter.Feelthat.

Justin: Ohmygosh.

Jim: Comparethattoaweedwacker.

Justin: Thisislikeaperformancebicycle.TourdeFrancescytherighthere.

Jim: Right.Andthinkaboutthefactthattheymeasuredmyarmlength,theycallitthe[inaudible00:09:04].Right?Thentheymeasurefromthebottomofyourfoottoyourhipbone.Right?

Justin: Thisisnotfactory,thisiscustom.

Jim: Thisiscustom.That'swheretheydecidewheretodrilltheholes.

Justin: Yousendthemthemeasurement.

Jim: Yep.Orthey'llmeasureyouifyoucometoCommonGround.

Justin: Howmuch?WhereisCarmenGround?

Jim: CommonGroundisthatbigfarethatItalkedaboutinSeptemberthat70,000peoplecometounitynamed.

Justin: YougettheseinAmerica?YouhavethemshippedfromEurope?

Jim: Theyonlythingthat'sshippedfromEuropeishere.There'sonlyoneothercompanythatmakestheminAmerica.ScytheSupplyinPerry,Mainewhichisonlyfivemilesaway.There'sthiskindofcoolthingthatdevelopedthatIknewthesepeople,soIboughtone.Ithoughtitwasacooltool.

Justin: Okay.Wheredopeoplegetthis?Iftheywanttodothis,wheredotheygo?

Jim: Scythesupply.com

Justin: Scythesupply.com.Okay.Cool.I'llbegoingthere.

Jim: Waituntilyouseehowwellitworks.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: Whileyouwereprobablyhavingbreakfast,becauseIwasn'tsurewhenyouwerecoming.

Justin: Yeah.Wehadbrunch.

Jim: Allright.Icome...Icameouthere,probably,ataboutsix.Imoweduntillike8:30.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: You'llseehowmuchImowinthattime.Asanovice,youwon'tmowthismuch.It'skindoffrustratingatfirstbecauseit'snotthesamething.Ithinkthisfieldisthreeacres.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: Ittakesme...Thistimeoftheyear,Icanmowanacreinabouteighthours.

Justin: Nice.

Jim: Okay.

Justin: Doyoudothatinoneday?

Jim: No.I'mlearning.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: Myfarriersspendsixtonine,andthengodotherestofmywork.Thisisatimeofmeditationformetoo.

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: Becauseyouwon'tbelievehowsimpleastrokeitis.It'snotfullofeffort.That'swhatImowedinthetime...Canyouseethat?

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: Thethingis,ittakesallthegrass-

Justin: Let'sdoit.

Jim: ...andputsinawindlethatIcanpickupwithhayfor.

Justin: Nice.Youcantellhe'sexcited,helikesthescythe.Allright.

Jim: Allright.Idoweargloves,justbe...Knockonwood.I'venevercutmyselfwiththisrazorwhenI'msharpeningit,Ithinkit'sapotential.Ithinkthisisjustagoodprotection.

Plus!Itkeepsmyhandsniceandlilysoft.Whenyou'restoning,Iactuallybringtwodifferentkindsofstones.Thesearenaturalstonesfrom...TheyshiptheseinfromsomewhereinEurope.There'stwoofthemhere.

Thisisaveryfinestone,andalittlecoarser.Right?RightafterIpeen,whenI'vegotthatthinedge,I'llusethefinestone.Right?But,afteraboutanhour,that'snotgoingtobeaseffective.

ThentherestofthetwoorthreehoursI'mmowingI'llgotothisone.Thisiscalleda[inaudible00:11:34]andthisisa[inaudible00:11:35].I'vebeenmowingalot,soI'llusethe[inaudible00:11:38].But,this

techniqueis...Thisistherib.Ifyouholdthisontheribandthendothat,you'realwaysgoingtohavethesameangle.You'renotgoingtohaveto...But,ifyouholdithere,it'salwaysgoingtobe...Youfollowingme?

Justin: Yeah.Letmesee.LetmeseeifIcandoit.Followontheribjustlikethat.

Jim: Yep.

Justin: Ididitright.

Jim: Yep.

Justin: Ididn'tscrewnothingup.

Jim: Nope.Youcan'tscrewitup,that'sadefault.But,ifyouweredoingthis,you'dbetakingalotofsteeloff.Youfollowit?

Justin: Iseethat.

Jim: ThisisallIdo.ThenI'llusuallyjustrunthatburredgebecausewhathappensiswhenyou'redrawingitthiswayit'llcurlalittlebitofaburr.Thenyouknockthatoff.That'sallitisforsharpening.

Justin: Watchout.

Jim: Thenthetechnique,it'sbesttomowinthemorningwhenit'swet,believeitornot.But,evennowit'ssolight.But,myswathisabout10foot.Youkindofreach...Youalwayswanttohaveitontheground,believeitornot.Evenonthebackstroke,I'mridingontheground.

Evenaslightasthistoolis,I'mnotevencarryingtheweight.Youcanseeit...It'snotmucheffort.It'smorelike,whenRichardScottwhoworksforScytheSupply,he'skindofmymentor.Hesaid,standlikethisandthendothis.Whathappenstoyourhands,theygoout.

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: Now,youputthescytheinit,that'salltheeffortyouneedtodowheneverythingisright.But,foranovice,I'vewatchedthesebigburlyguyscomebecauseatCommonGroundwedoingmowinglessonskindof...Evensomeofthepermacultureguru.Iwon'tnamenames.

But,theyputitonline.Thisishowyoumowwithascythe,butIwon'tnamenames.

Justin: Youjustbarelydoit.

Jim: Yeah.

Justin: But...

Jim: It'ssuchagreatharvestingtool.

Justin: It'sfinesse,it'sfinesse.

Jim: Itallowsmetocollectthefertility,andIlovethesound.Canyousmellthechlorophyll?

Justin: Wow.Yeah.

Jim: NowthatI'msaying...Yougetthisforthemicro-herdsrightnow.They'regoingtobehappy.I'lltellyousomethingman,otherpeoplestarttovalueit.LikeIsay,nowI'mahiredscythe.TheseedlingsI'mgoingtopickupthisweek,afriendofminewhohasthegreenhouse,Imowherfenceline,andshedoestheforme.Ionlygorightoverthetopifthatlittlehump,aslongasyou'reholdingthatround.

Nowit'sgettingdull.Ifeltthedrag,Iwashavingeffort.

Justin: Yeah.Isthatbecauseyouhitthegroundalittlebit,becausethemounds?

Jim: Couldbealittle.Thenyougoaheadand...Iwearthegloves.WhatI'lldoiswhenit'swetbecauseyougottowipethegrassoff.But,traditionallyyoudothistowipeit.But,Igotsick...Howmanybendswouldthatbeoverthedaybecauseit'sprobablyeveryfiveminutes.

Ijustwipeitwithmyhand,andI'venevercutmyself.Knockonwood.

Justin: Okay.Myturn,Jim.

Jim: Okay.

Justin: Firsttimescything,y'all.

Jim: Backlefthandhere,frontrighthandthere.

Justin: Dotheymakethemforleft-handedtoo?

Jim: Theydo.But-

Justin: Likethis.

Jim: Yep.Thethingaboutlefthanders,becauseweuse...We'lltalkaboutitlater.It'skindof.Ontheground.Thinkaboutthat.Thinkaboutyourswinginglike...Imaginethatbladeisonastring.

Justin: I'mtoohigh.Okay.

Jim: Followthrough.Putyourlefthandinyourbackpocket.I'mnotgettingfriendlybut...Ontheground,letmehaveit.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: Didyoufeelitbeatbox?

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: Okay.

Justin: Yeah,you'rekindofputtingitdown.Okay.

Jim: See,Iliketeachinggirls.Whenyoustart,itcanbefrustratingwhenyou'veseensomebodymow-

Justin: Howlongdoesittake?

Jim: Yeah.Thatwasagoodone!

Justin: Therewego.

Jim: Thatwasagreatone.Butthen-

Justin: Becausewe'rekindofonthishumphere.

Jim: Youcanfeelthatsweetspotwheneverythingisright,can'tyou?

Justin: I'mprobablybendingovertoomuch.Huh?

Jim: Andit'sprobablybecauseyou'realittletallerthanme.It'sprobablyyou'rehavingtobendover.But,thethingis,it'sonthegroundthewholeway.Thatfollowthrough-

Justin: Therewego!

Jim: Thereyougo!You'dpickitup,you'dbegoodatit.

Justin: Theinstinctistoliftitup,likethis.I'msupposedtobepointingdown.Itfeelslikeit'sgoingtogointotheground,butitdoesn't.

Jim: Youknow,oneyou'vegotalot...See,thishasbeenmowedbefore.Ifthere'salotofthatchinit,thattendstohappen.But,becausethishasbeenmowed,that'swhyIcanmowsomuchfasterwhenit'sbeencut.

See,thatdoesn'thurtnone.They'retough.

Justin: Youdon'thavetodoithard.

Jim: No.

Justin: I'mhavingnoproblemcuttingit.I'mbarelyswingingit.Therewego.

Jim: That'swhatpeoplereallyneedtorealize.Youcanmoveit,like,aninchasecondanditwillstillcut.Allright.Justdon'tcutthatexpensivecamera.

Justin: [inaudible00:16:52].

Jim: Nice!

Justin: Thatwasagoodrun.

Jim: Now,thinkabout...Youseetheproblemisyourarmsaregoingtogettired.Thinkoftheideathatyou'removingyourwholebody.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: Thatyou'remakingitmove.

Justin: I'vegottoomanyarms.

Jim: Imagineyourarmisjustkindofholdingit,andnotmovingit.It'sallthe...Yeah.Ifyoumakeyourheadfollowthetip,it'llmakeyoufollowthroughandallthewayback.Ifyouwatchit...It'sallabouthowfartostepwitheachone.Anditdependsonhowlongitis,it'sgoingtobe...SometimesI'lltakemaybeonlyatwoinchbite.

But,believeitornot,thistool,withthatbladeIcanstillcutberrybrambles.Icancutsmallsaplings,whichwhowouldhavethought?Andnothurttheblade,becauseIgottheright...It'sallaboutthestroke.Whenyou'rehittingsomethingbig,yougottohaveaslicingmotion,notachoppingmotion.

Justin: Okay.It'sjustthehand,youjustgottodoit.

Jim: Yep.Youknow,I'mgoodenoughnowthatIreallybelieveIcanmakebuddinggreens.

Justin: Wow.

Jim: Idoitaroundthefarm.SometimesI'monlymowingtwoinchesofgrass,justbecausesomeofitislongandsomeitisnot.Iwantitalltolookeven.

Justin: Thereitis.Youcangetitnow,youcantakeholdthecameraifyouwant.

Jim: There,thatwasagoodone.

Justin: Youcanfeelit.Youcanjustfeelit...

Jim: Theclosertothegroundyougot,thelessit'sgoingtowanttobendoveranyway.That'sallaboutthat.Theluckythingisthishasbeenmowed,sothere'snothatch.Itmakesitgoodthatwaybecauseyouwanttocrossandmowwhereithasn'tbeenmowed,itwouldtakemethreetimesaslongtomowthat.But,Icould.

Thatwasagoodone.

Justin: IfIcouldgetaholdofit...IfeellikeI'dprobablygetitinaboutfourhours.

Jim: Ithinkso.Goodenoughsothatyoucouldgetgoing,andthenyou'dfinetuneit.It'skindofbowlingtoo,sometimesyou...Afteryouhaven'tbowledforawhileyoucandoreallygreat.Thenafteryoubowledforawhile,thennothingishappening,that'shappenswithscythingtoo.

Justin: Thereitis.

Jim: Yeah.You'regettinggood.

Justin: Thereitis.Comeon.

Jim: Becausemostofthetimenovicesdon'tmakemuchofawindroll.Lookatyourwindroll,it'sprettygood.

Justin: Wow.

Jim: Iwanttoshowyouhow...Showyoulaterhowahayforkcanpickthatup.Icanprobablytake...Whenthisisdry-

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: Icantakeahayforkandpickupaboutprobably30feetofthatononefork.

Justin: Cool.

Jim: Allyoudoisimaginethisisahayfork,Ijustdothis.ThenIjustpickitup.

Justin: Nice.

Jim: ThenI'llshowyouwhenwe'removingthemulchdownthereintothebedshowIdowithatarp.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: That'sanoldlawncaretrick,weusedtomoveleavesaround.But,again,nothingisnewinagriculture.LikeLAColemansaidlastnightinthatvideo,Imean,it'sjustatravois,thattheIndiansusedtouse.

Thefactthat...Itdoesn'thavethewheels,soit'llgooverthisroughgroundandit'snothard.Onceyoudumpit,itonlywaysounceswhenI'mcomingback.

Justin: Toharvesttoputitonyourgardentowhenit'sgreen,ordoyouletitdryoutlikehay?

Jim: ItdependsonwhatIwanttodo.IfIwantedtodoasmothercrop,kindoflikea...Istoppedusingcardboardbecauseyoudon'tneedithere.Ifyou'vegotthevolume,youdon'tneedcardboard.I'vesmothered-

Justin: Youusedthisinsteadofcardboardtosmothertheweeds.Ilikethat.

Jim: It'saboutcriticalmassthough.

Justin: Thisisnon-toxic.

Jim: Right.Imean,potentialcardboardis.Igotafriendthatwasinpublishing,it'sawaystream.But,it'spotentiallyaproblemandyoujustdon'tneedit.Yougottocollectit.

Justin: Ilikethis.

Jim: Iactuallysaw...Areyoufamiliarwithwitchgrass?Idon'tthinkinCarolinatheygotit.

Justin: Threeacrefield,10days,justcomingoutandgettingamorningworkoutanditlooksbeautiful.You'regettingthegreengrassoffofit.You'reusingitasmulch,it'sfeedingyourlifethatisinthesoil.Thegoodstuff,notthebadstuff.

Jim,letmeaskyouwhatyouthinkaboutthisbecauseIdorotationalgrazing.Iwouldruncattlealongthroughhere,movingthemeveryday.IthinkIwouldgobackwiththescytheandgetwhattheymissed.

Jim: Maybeworthit.

Justin: Wouldthatbeagoodidea?

Jim: Thatmightbeworthit.

Justin: Insteadofgoingbehindthemwithamower.

Jim: Definitely.Ifyou'redoingthatwithamower,I'ddefinitelydowithascythe.But,thethingabout...Thereisscytheetiquette.But,you'vebeenwalkingthroughthiswhenit'salittletaller,itbendsitdownandmakesithardertomow.Thefactthatthecowshavebeenacrossit,itwouldbehardertomow.

Butthen,Icoulddoit.Asyougotbetteratityoucoulddoittoo.

Justin: Okay.Whataresomeotherusesofthescythe?

Jim: It'sthekillertrimtool.I'llshowyouhowyoucanmowaroundthat.

Justin: Wouldyourecommendpeoplegetthisinsteadofastringtrimmerandmowingtheirgrass?

Jim: I'vebeeninlawncarefor20years.I'dnevertouchaweedwackeragain.Then,lookwhatitcanalsodo.

Justin: What?Thisisthesamethingwewerecuttingthefinegrasswith.Sameway,look-

Jim: But,it'sallabout.

Justin: He'snotevenputtinganystrengthintoit.He'snotevenbreathinghard,folks!

Jim: Imean,it'sincredible.But,youwouldn'twanttodothatwithsomethingthat'sjustbeenpeenedwiththatfineedge.

Justin: Okay.

Jim: It'sbetterto,ifIknowI'mgoingtogoandstufflikethat,I'lldoitafterImowedforfourhours,beforeIpeenagain.

Justin: Nextthingweknow,he'sgoingtobeshavinghisfacewiththisthing.

Jim: Well,youknow,believeitornotIwatchedthisvideoofthisguysomewhereinEuropewhowasclearingaditchbank.

Justin: Yeah.

Jim: Hewasdoingthebonsaithing.

Justin: Wow.

Jim: He'dbedownhere,thenhe'dbedoingstuffupthere.

Justin: Trimmingthetrees.

Jim: Yeah.But,Iwanttoshowyouhowgooditis...Imean,that'snotverythickaroundthere.But,seehowfinethatgrassis?Youthinkthat'dbehardtocut.Right?But,itstillcuts.

Justin: Wow!That'slikehair-

Jim: It'slike..

Justin: That'slikehaironyourarmssuchfinegrass.

Jim: Right.Lookat-

Justin: Lookathowhe'sstartingonthattree.

Jim: So,realhot...Iwasgoodwithweedwhacking.Right?

Justin: Wow.Youcouldnotdogoodwithaweedwacker.

Jim: Youcan't.

Justin: Notwithouthittingthattree.

Jim: Yeah.Youdon'thavetohardlymove.Youdohavetopositionyourself.But...It'sjusttheopentopermaculturetoo.Talkaboutchopanddrop.

Justin: Youmulchedrightthere,youdidn'tslingitoffsomewhereelse.

Jim: Right.Ididn'thavetodealwiththatstuffhittingmeintheeyes,orthenoise.

Justin: Nofuel,nosmell.

Jim: Thatwasmyoriginaldrawtoit.But,nowit'shandsdownabettertool.It'snothingabouttheaesthetics,orthecost.It'saboutthatitworksbetter.

Justin: Nice.

Jim: WhichIwouldhaveneverbelieved.

Marjory: Well,thereyougo.Andthat's...ScytheSupplyisthesourcetogetascythelikethat.Theyalsohavesomevideos.

AndthenJustinRhodeshas...hereallyhasvisitedandtouredandspenttimewith,gosh,America'sgreatestsmallfarms.Itreallyisprettyamazingthetourthathewentonandwhatheknowsandhe'snowbackathisownhomestead.Youclickonthatbuttontotheright.He'sgotareallysweetmembershipareawithalotofvideosandalotofinformation.AndIwillsayeverytimeIseeaJustin

Rhodesvideomyheartjustswells,'causealotoftimeshe'sgothiskidsinthereandhiswifeandit'sjustthiswonderful,wonderfulfamilyscenewherethey'relivingthelife.They'rereallylivingthegoodlife.Eatinggoodfoodandraisingkids.So,clickonthatbuttontotherightandthatwillconnectyouupwithJustinRhodes.

Andofcoursethebuttondownbelowthat.YoucanownthispresentationalaswellasalltheotherpresentationsattheHomeGrownFoodSummit.Butmoreimportantly,youwillbesupportingamovement.WeareonamovementtohavehomegrownfoodoneverytableandI'mquiteafraidthatifwedon'twe'regoingtodestroyourspecies.So,pickupthesummitpackage.Itreallydoessupportagreatmessage.TisiMarjoryWildcraftandyou'rewiththeHomeGrownFoodSummit.