The radio show To the Best of Our Knowledge recently spent an hour discussing agriculture and the commodification of seeds. The first act follows the story of wheat and our selection for more wheat of poorer quality. Act two discusses the social importance of corn to indigenous communities across North America. In Act Three, a … More Link Worth Following — Who Owns the Seeds?
See yesterday’s post on the scythe’s background, also from Matt Miles. Using a scythe is straightforward enough. The user lifts the snath and brings the blade down in a circular, sweeping motion to cut grass or grain close to the ground, aiming to cut as much as possible with each swing of the scythe blade, … More Using the Scythe — From Contributor Matt Miles
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s follow-up post on using the scythe, also from Matt Miles. Much like the broadfork, the scythe is a human-powered alternative to mechanical and power-driven mowers that have largely displaced the scythe from the farmer’s tool shed. However, in recent years this tool has enjoyed a comeback with small farmers and homesteaders … More Notes on the Scythe — From Contributor Matt Miles