Saturday, July 16 |  9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Williamstown Rural Lands (WRL), a private non-profit, member-supported land conservation trust, invites participants to a land stewardship skills workshop on the elegant art of scything at Sheep Hill (671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MA) on Saturday, July 16, from 9 AM to noon.

Were you just a little overwhelmed by the height of grasses and forbs after No-mow May? Do you enjoy time in the yard on summer days, feeling the earth, getting exercise, and listening to the songbirds? In this skills-based, hands-on workshop, part of our Working Lands/Working Hands series, you will learn the art of emissions-free grassland management from Western Mass experts Shelby and Steve Howland. The founder and owner of Howland Tools will teach us about scythe anatomy, proper adjustment, and caring for the tool. Participants will then practice using their own scythe (bring one if you have one), a new one (pre-order from Howland Tools), or a demonstration model. The Howlands work with the lighter, more versatile European models of scythes.

Eight years ago, when Shelby moved to Plainfield to farm, he explored alternatives for clearing land and caring for meadows, fields, and pastures on the steep, rocky land. He liked the feel of scything and how quiet and efficient the tool was — no need for fuel. He liked having the freedom to choose when and how he wanted to mow. He found a home in the craft-made, high-quality hand tools used in Europe. Howland Tools now provides what we need to scythe well.

Find out if scything is for you. Due to the nature of the tool (sharp!), we offer this workshop to community members over 18 years old. Fee: $15, $10 for WRL members. Please register at rurallands.org/events/scything-workshop.

For inquiries, email us at programs@rurallands.org, or call (413) 458-2494.