Scenes from a village 16 - The art of cutting grass (HD)

[harryfaber]

Lovely video. This is a skill that very few people have now.

[itscloudyagain]

intresting

[Roolooth99]

Watching this brought back childhood memories of seeing my Grandfather using a scyth on the meadow at the back of his house. How I enjoyed those summers!

Its nice to see that this old method is still being used.

[andrewnorris2]

@Roolooth99 Thanks for catching up with this one. A scythe is, ironically, the best method in a lot of cases to cut grass. Not only that but it is quiet and one really does feel a greater connection with the land that one is working. We all use mechanical tools for certain tasks but the satisfaction of working by hand is something quiet special. Glad to have brought back such wonderful memories for you.

[pnm1941]

Wonderful fascinations for videos!! Village or not, the work of a true Master!!

[andrewnorris2]

@pnm1941 Kind of you to say so, I appreciate it.

[wildseed01]

Wonderfully authentic scenes long gone in UK - nice to see a scythe n the hands of one who knows by tradition how to use it rather than have to rediscover it as we do here. Lovely meadows and tractors too. Scary ending with babe & father on tractor mudguard tho -another traditional scene you wouldnt see in the UK!

[andrewnorris2]

@wildseed01 Thanks so much for discovering my video. You are right, when I first came to this country so much reminded me of what England used to be like, or how I imagined it to have been. But things are definitely changing here, and if you are able to watch some of the others you will see this. Hopefully, I will record many of the stories before that happens. Film 23, coming later, will show how individual houses kept a cow and milked them for cheese, only 4 left in the village. Thanks again.

[GilesConradWatson]

How wonderful to see the scythe in action. I love the quietness of it, just as I prefer the snip of hedge clippers to the rasp of the motorised variety. I have only seen a scythe in action once in Britain - in a churchyard which was being managed for wildlife in Durham. Would that more people did this. It's also lovely to see the dog sniffing around whilst the mowing is being done!

[andrewnorris2]

@GilesConradWatson Giles, I don't believe I acknowledged your kind comment here, but I do appreciate it. What a shame you have seen a scythe in action only once. Sounds like those documentaries that give demonstrations of "how things were done by our great grandfathers", when really, the scythe here is an every day too, and long may it continue. And, yes, our beautiful dog, Lucy, she likes to appear in all the films, you know, a small walk on part. Thanks for watching this, best to you

[ronpolla]

The anti Black & Decker

[twohawksfucking]

Loved this, especially the rasp of the whetstone sharpening blade... I've done my share of cutting grass with what we called a reap hook, and never quite got the hang of it. But the task, and accomplishing it, learning the art of using the body in just this certain way, was always an act of the sort that makes one feel as if Work is life.

[andrewnorris2]

@twohawksfucking I only just now found your comment, thanks for visiting, sorry it took me so long to reply. I agree, the rasp of a whetstone is a magical sound and that closeness to the ground and small of the grass is intoxicating. Yes, work is life, I like that.

[tinySpectacle]

Okay, here is a statement I thought I would never say: This video on cutting grass is riveting. But just like the rest of these in your series, what you detail always brings a depth and says so much. Lovely!

[andrewnorris2]

@tinySpectacle I know what you mean. I surprised myself by just how much I enjoy cutting grass with a scythe. So glad you found this riveting. Good to see you here.

[stephenhayesuk]

Excellent video, we need to preserve skills like this for when the oil runs out. And by that I mean start using them today.

[andrewnorris2]

@stephenhayesuk I agree entirely, Stephen, and by exercising in this way the population would be healthier

[pnm1941]

Dear Andrew,

I remain mesmerized by your village videos -- can never get my fill of them! Please never stop making these masterful creations!!

Best wishes,

Yours,

Priya

[andrewnorris2]

@pnm1941 Thank you so much for stopping by, Priya, I am always so happy when you visit.

[violetparme]

"don't stab the ground" merely stroke it! that 's what the gentleman seems to do! iif he did say "stab", it just shows how much in communion he is with the earth. I viewed this video soon after you posted it in fact , but didn't manage to write any comment . I simply remained there speechless! you make anything sound so poetic! such a pleasure to listen to you speak

[andrewnorris2]

@violetparme I am so glad to know you are following these films. To watch Damir cut the grass in the way he does is sheer poetry, not to mention Tona at the beginning who also works in an amazing way. Good of you to comment, thank you.

[Caspar33]

Nice one. Terrific eye for a shot and as ever, beautifully put together.

[andrewnorris2]

@Caspar33 Thanks for stopping by. So pleased you liked this and thought it well put together. If I am going to take 5:33 of your time the least I can do is make something worthy of watching. Always appreciate you visits.

[cinderellalifestyle]

I especially like this, as I live in a semi rural area that at one time was host to many wheat farms......they employed large teams of horses at one time to carry out the task of mowing the large fields, and neighbors shared labor with one another till everyones crops were cut and gathered, even stored. I love seeing this, I once kicked to death a gas mower,.......LOL.....(still, I use one!)

[andrewnorris2]

@cinderellalifestyle I'd love to see horses working here. They used to use bullocks for ploughing, etc., and the fields must have just been filled with their gentle sounds, and people then did help each other more. And gas mowers....unfortunately necessary!

[xyzllii]

I 'inherited ' the blade... when in Wexford...no thanks.. it reminds me of my mother washing sheets in the bath...wringing them by hand...do we do that anymore...? No more than any hard labour really if the truth be known ?... Great video tho Andrew...and another slice of social life ...which will disappear..

[andrewnorris2]

@xyzllii Bu sometimes it is good to do something physical especially if it has a connection with the environment that you are occupying. The scythe has been around for centuries and nothing yet has really been invented to beat it. As for hand washing, yes, they do that here too. There is no running water in our village yet (coming in a year or two). Glad to see you here

[XaveJamesGrey]

I really love your description of the scythe as being in harmony with the environment, Andrew. What a nice sound as it sweeps across the grass doing honest work. The beautiful country shots make me want to flee the city. Work seems joyful in this village. This channel is an oasis; it's a great place to visit to unwind and for inspiration.

[DavidRandallCurtis]

God, have there been 16 of these... I will have to see if there is a playlist.... faved! :p

[andrewnorris2]

@DavidRandallCurtis There sure have, and there are more to come!

[HerAeolianHarp]

Hi Andrew. I thought today would be a good day to return to the village and see you and yours here on the small screen (and I always appreciate the email updates on your installments). The scythe makes a lovely sound but does look difficult. Good for you, eh.. The first four minutes of this video for me are all about soothing sound. Then I get enthralled by the soft spill of grass and hay--more nice visuals at the end. Do the kids in the area ever get tempted to go jumping in the cut grass?

[andrewnorris2]

@HerAeolianHarp Unfortunately, the kids that could (and there are only a couple of them) show little interest in life away from the computer, let alone life outside the house. But there is hope for the children up on the hill.

[Idlinfarm]

Beautiful, Andrew.

[andrewnorris2]

@Idlinfarm Thank you

[MissPandora1967]

Wow..you cut a dash man wish your silver hair!! You could now get some crazy colour on it ..lol..I know for a FACT you know Crazy Colour,,,I had mine blue..thought I was Rene Magritte..lol.....What a great piece of footage,gosh what an amazing meadow too...just looking at my own wee garden through the window as I watch this,makes me grateful for my good old Qualcast mower !! lol..lovely video..great music too...Sophie x;;))+DylanX..oops his Mrs has just come in tiny black cat,,lol

[BigLoveZone]

I love your perspective. how we struggle to control and tame our environment. The scythe I've actually used and there is a wonderful rhythm to it even as much as it's hard on the old back. I've always loved cutting grass as well as wonder at its ability to grow back so fast. It's no wonder our society is overweight, we've chose to easy was to do everything....myself included. My lawn mower is self propelled..lol Wonderful Video!

[andrewnorris2]

@BigLoveZone Hi there, good to see you here. Yes, the scythe is wonderful to use, when it is done properly. I am still in awe when I see how beautiful Damir uses it. Cutting grass is really a kind of therapy and that feeling of satisfaction at the end of it is tremendous. Thanks for your lovely comment.

[twinnumber3]

Very nice, Andrew! Thank you. I wish I were there. Personally, I prefer a push mower to a lawn mower from the noise effect alone. I like the idea of a scythe, for the connection to the work and land. After the tractor mows, is there a baling machine, or is the grass picked up by hand?

[andrewnorris2]

@twinnumber3 Good to see you here. Unfortunately, a push mower would not be practical for the back garden nor the orchard but I concede your point about the noise element. The grass cut by the tractors is then collected by hand. There is a brief glimpse of a cart loaded with grass as well as scenes of me helping neighbours load the cart with hay. That is a very satisfying job to do and the sweet smell of the hay is wonderful. Thanks for stopping by.

[MidiPunk]

I am thoroughly enjoying this series, I hope you are too so the episodes keep coming.

[andrewnorris2]

@MidiPunk Thanks, yes I am really enjoying making them and have a whole bunch of ideas up my sleeve. As long as my neighbours are happy to be the subject I shall continue filming them.

[PassionateMistress]

Gosh, it's so green there. I have never seen a scythe in use before, they are popular as wall decorations over here. I can quite appreciate it's not as easy at it looks to use one, on the plus side a lot cheaper than a Gym membership. Nice closing scene, it's not all work and no play then? ; )

[andrewnorris2]

@PassionateMistress Green it certainly is and that means.....lots of grass to be cut and lots of practice with the old scythe. Yes, it does keep you fit, but there is also something wonderful about using a method unchanged for so many years and, of course, it isn't only work. Good to see you here.