Insatiable Abetite

That is a gorgeous (and terrifying) implement! Love it!

What on earth did Customs make of that coming in the post?

Kevin - I saw in an old Swedish movie how the scythe had also several (2-3) smaller "teeth" in conjunction with the BIG one at the end (sorry for the laymen terminology:). They were using them to harvest the wheat. Pretty amazing. Once again - Beautiful Photos !

great pictures, I somehow just found your site on google, but I've bookmarked it.

It *is* and amazing tool. More efficient than a gas powered motorized weed cutter (if you take all externalized costs and effects into account), and it is a lot more fun to use!

I could not find one in Japan, and asked around to other western folk who were living in the country-side. One responded by saying that probably Japanese never adopted this technology because hey jumped from the "old" ways - using heir hand held weed cutters - directly into the modern age of moterized farm tools.

For whatever reason, even Tomoe could not find any scythes in Japan for sale online. I was first worried that it would not be acceptible to the type of farming or weeding we have to do, but it works brilliantly! If anyone in Japan needs one, let me know and I can tell you where to get it. (quite expensive, but the same price as a gas powered weed cutter - minus the gas)

It might be that you lose more grains ("shattering loss") with the scythe. But maybe that will only happen with grains "ready to go." Sorry, lots of "maybe"'s, we/you'll see what happens next year, I s'pose:) Found some terminology here: http://www.dawn.com/2005/11/21/ebr5.htm

Maten,

Thanks for the link. very interesting. As for loosing grains, we are not worried as the main reason we got this is to cut "weeds". The neighbors keep their area completely clear of weeds. We have to do the same in order to be able to use the land each year. They use he gas powered weed cutters, but it was he same price to buy the scythe so...

As for harvesting the rice, I think that the small one-hand blade is best. I may change my mind, but at least next year I will still use the "old way".

I am looking forward to testing he new scythe out next week, though, as we harvest some thatch for a roof of an old preserved house in the village.

Wow, that's quite a scythe. I'm pleased to see my mother country is still able to turn out a decent product. Nice timing too - with the British pound sinking, you got it 30% cheaper than a year ago!

Sorry, I see now that "What used to take us several days to _weed_..." "Must read before commenting. Must read before commenting. ..." :) Best of luck anyhow!

My plan is to get a couple of goats :).... let them do the work, convert the weeds to fertilizer, and then later eat the goats !
My neighbor says people will rent the goats to eat back the rice stubble that regrows in the tambo.

Jake,

We tried using sheep earlier this year, but they are too picky. They only ate the weeds they liked. I suppose if we starved them, they would eventually get around to eating the rest, but then there is the problem of keeping them on the aze - and NOT in the rice paddy. I imagine that goats would be even more difficult, as they eat anything - including the baby rice shoots!

That said, we also want a goat. :)

Gorgeous photos! Now I want a yard for an excuse for a scythe.

I want first dibs on the fresh goat cheese when you get the goat. Mmmm, my favorite.

Hi all. Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster. Your life will never be the same again. Help me! I find sites on the topic: Protonix stopped working. I found only this - protonix allergic reaction. Bowell lowers to cause instabilities in the acid insurance on how to handle become in giving normal day and condition important, protonix. Protonix, i was entering below 47 portfolio of such. :eek: Thanks in advance. Nora from Sudan.