Sometimes the old ways are the best ways. In this video, a John Henry-style competition between man and machine ends with the classic scythe winning the day. Faced with the same amount of untamed grass to trim, the skilled scythe operator easily outpaces his poor opponent who is armed with just a measly weed trimmer.
It’s a good reminder that while the scythe certainly requires more strength and skill to handle, there’s a reason it was the most popular harvesting tool for hundreds of years. In fact, a skilled scythe-wielder can harvest more than an acre of grain a day.
To be fair, the competition might have been a bit closer if the scythe were up against a riding mower, but then we’d have to bring horses into the mix, and it would be a whole new ballgame.
These days you’re more likely to see a scythe in a horror movie than in a farmer’s field, but maybe this video will remind people that, just like axe throwing or vinyl, it can be fun to rediscover the past.
If you are interested in learning more about the art of scything, check out this handy guide.
