Letter to Permaculture Chapters

The letter below was written in the winter prior to the July 2004 Scythe Symposium and Festival in Austria and sent to Permaculture chapters in several countries. Only one Permaculturist ~ Dr. Michael Endl from Austria ~ responded. He subsequently gave a presentation at the Symposium and participated in one of the hands-on mowing courses offered daily during the week. Some of the members of the Austrian group came and set up a table with Permaculture literature and promotional pamphlets.

Michael has since become a member of the Scythe Association of Austria, joined us in a teacher's workshop in June and organized several scythe courses himself.

The excitement I felt upon reading one magazine's interview with Bill Mollison could be summed up in two words: "How brilliant!" The year was 1978 and I had just recently "graduated" from operating a conventional tractor- and chemical-dependent farm to being an organic farmer using horses. Although all these nearly 30 years I never followed any particular school of thought "to the letter", that initial impression remained and continued to inspire me.

That Permaculture's fundamental guidelines are indeed wholesome and historically timely has been established by the applicability and acceptance of the movement in so many countries.

Still, in hopes that you are receptive to further feedback and more "new" ideas, I would like to draw your attention to an old tool, the eminent usefulness of which Bill Mollison overlooked when writing the basic textbook. (Note 1)

Covering a broader territory than several books on related subjects put together, his Permaculture is a notable masterpiece. Regrettably, in the 560 pages no mention is made of the scythe ~ to my mind the most eco-friendly of all grass-cutting tools. Possibly because of this omission, it has received all too little "official endorsement" and encouragement via the various Permaculture journals. Yet into very few systems of agriculture would the scythe fit so well!

In countries where this tool has long enjoyed a respected image and a somewhat ergonomic version of it is readily available (Note 2), there are no doubt many Permaculture-oriented people using the scythe. While I applaud these individuals, I also believe that it deserves to be placed into the hands of every qualified teacher of Permaculture and its use demonstrated during all design courses. If such a plan seems like "overdoing it", it is because there is a lot of catching up to be done. . .

I may also add here that the average competence of many contemporary mowers is not nearly on par with the scythe's potential ~ which is one of the reasons its usefulness is so often under-appreciated.

That can be changed. A potent step in this regard would be for you to take part in the First International Scythe Symposium and Festival (Note 3), where much more on the subject than my opinion, as expressed in this letter, will be given live expression.

May the growth of the grass under your feet be permanently vigorous!

Peter Vido
for the Co-operative Scythe Network

Note 1:
That Bill Mollison was not a hand tool advocate is evident throughout the text. Whenever he did suggest specific tools (which was not very often) with which the physical tasks of his vision were to be implemented, the list contained diesel engines, motorized brush cutters etc.

At the same time, I doubt that he would have denied that axes, shovels and scythes are much more compatible with both his philosophy of non-exploitation and the intricate landscape of homesteads designed in the Permaculture image. (This "contradiction" I view as perhaps his only shortcoming.)

Note 2:
Now, in defense of Mollison, it is likely that, prior to writing Permaculture, he never saw a good scythe in skilled hands. Australia (much as North America) was long supplied with a relatively un-ergonomic version of this tool ~ one that I personally would also not find a pleasure to use, although many strong men on these two continents as well as in the British Isles still enjoyed it. What we advocate are more graceful and people-friendly "editions" of the scythe (please see "Mowing with Ease" on our website).

Note 3:
Taking part in the Symposium/Festival would also be an opportunity for Permaculture to present itself to the international community of ecologically-minded individuals. Many of them, believe it or not, still do not know what Permaculture is about!