Editor’s Note: These pieces are intended to offer a deeper look into each episode of surfer Fergal Smith‘s Line9 series, Growing, a new clip published every two weeks. The series is a year in the life of Smith and his brother. With a new clip published every two weeks, the series follows them as they take a step back from the rat race while spending days tending to a sustainable garden and surfing the readily available Irish slab.
Author’s Note: My main reason for doing this series is for showing the what else I’m passionate about — aside from surfing — and to try to promote all the good, positive things that people are doing.
Tom Kennedy is an all-Ireland scythe champion who competes every year in numerous competitions. He lives near me and I heard of him earlier in the year and really wanted to learn the old way of cutting hay. It’s a true skill and was the way they did it not too long ago. So Tom gave me his old scythe and, more importantly, a lesson with his know-how. I now keep the grass down around the field where we grow our veg with this tool. It’s such a lovely way to cut the grass and there’s no noise or anything like with a gas-powered mower.
This footage is from one evening after working in the community garden. Tom had said he was cutting a bit of hay with his friends and asked if I wanted to come join in. I swear, there was more pressure trying to copy these men then I have felt taking off on a big wave! They are true masters and they want to see it done correctly. It was an honor to be there and watch and learn, and it was great that we got to document it. It was not long ago that this was the only way it was done and I find it a bit sad that we have almost forgotten about those ways. Now work like this is done with big tractors and the need for neighbors and friends to help is but a memory. The less we have to work together as a community, the farther apart we all become. But thanks to men like these who remember the value in coming together to help each other, I have great hope for the future.
I don’t expect everyone or anyone to go out and get a scythe, but it’s that idea of slowing down and working together on the simple things that matters. Anyway that’s my mad thoughts, I suppose it’s up to you guys!
