Group Booking for Scythe Course

My name is Janne Wester and I run Slåttergubben. I am passionate about biodiversity, and hay mowing is a big part of that. My 15 years as a professional haymaker and instructor have given me considerable experience and knowledge, which I am happy to share.

Every summer, we organize scythe mowing courses for individuals, but it is also possible to arrange a private course day for various types of groups.

Feel free to contact us for bookings or questions!

Who Can Order the Course?

A group booking for a scythe course can be valuable in many different contexts. Here are some examples of groups for which it might be particularly interesting, but feel free to get in touch if you have inquiries even if your group is not listed!

Companies within nature conservation
Nature protection associations
Housing associations
Local history societies
Village committees
Churches
Municipal administration
Events, such as a market or fair with a related theme.

In a group booking, you are responsible for gathering the participants. The course is suitable for beginners and for those who wish to continue developing skills, with no prior experience required. A maximum of 8-10 participants per course with 1-2 instructors present. We are based in Linköping in Östergötland but travel during the summer from Skåne to Dalarna.

Good Conditions

For an optimal course day, scything equipment is needed, which we provide. Additionally, a suitable location for the course is necessary, and you are responsible for this.

At least 40 x 50 meters of tall grass that was cut the previous year.
Preferably 20 x 20 meters of lawn with short grass.
Gravel road / Gravel area to practice scythe use.
Opportunity to be under a roof for practicing peening and honing if it rains (no floor required).
Parking nearby.
Access to a toilet.
Access to water.
Lunch availability.

About the Scythe Course

Slåttergubben's scythe courses, also known as mowing courses, are led by experienced mowers who work or have worked in our professional team, where we mow and rake about 50 hectares of meadowland each year.

One-day courses are always from 09:30 to 17:00 and include theoretical knowledge, plenty of practical exercises, and personal feedback.

The goal is for all participants to master the basics to be able to continue practicing on their own and return home full of inspiration!

You will learn:

How to assemble and adjust the correct angles on a scythe
How to hammer with a peening jig
How to sharpen with a whetstone
Safe handling of the scythe
Basic mowing techniques
How to mow short and long grass
How the mown grass becomes a resource that can be used in gardening and cultivation

Equipment:

There is an option to borrow equipment during the course or purchase it from us. If you choose to buy scythes and accessories from us, we will help you find the right equipment for everyone well in advance of the course start. You will use the equipment you purchase during the course, and you will take home tools that are properly set up and sharp.

Clothing:

You don't need any special clothing to use a scythe, but some are of course better suited than others. We recommend:

Comfortable clothes appropriate for the weather that allow free and easy movement.
Shoes that are comfortable for you. We believe lightweight shoes with thin soles provide the best feel,
but it's not a requirement.
A sturdy belt. It doesn't need to be attached to any pants,
it's just for hanging the whetstones on.