March 3-4, 2012, UNC- Ashville N.C. 4B: Small-Scale Grass Management Using the Austrian Scythe with 1SR Adv. Instructor Larry Cooper. Learn how to choose the right scythe and use it in conjunction with companion hand tools for management of grass on the homestead. We’ll discuss mowing technique, sharpening, grain and hay harvesting, and various uses for your scythe-cut grasses. See http://www.organicgrowersschool.org/ to register.

May 5th, 2012, WI, 1SR Basic Scythe Workshop at Mystic Prairie Eco-Farm, Wilson Wisconsin. 1-5pm, with Botan Anderson. Learn the fundamentals: How to set up your scythe, and how to mow, and how to hone your blade. Peening will be demonstrated, and de-mystified. $50

May 19th, 2012, WI, 1SR Basic Scythe Workshop at Mystic Prairie Eco-Farm, Wilson Wisconsin. 1-5pm, with Botan Anderson. Learn the fundamentals: How to set up your scythe, and how to mow, and how to hone your blade. Peening will be demonstrated, and de-mystified. $50

May 27th, 2012, WI, 8-5pm - 1SR Adv. Scythe Workshop, and Beg. Scythe Instructor Training.  Mystic Prairie Eco-Farm, Wilson, Wisconsin. With Botan Anderson and Larry Cooper. There's a growing demand for scythe instructors, but very few people are knowledgeable enough to teach much about it. This workshop will give you more of the in-depth knowledge that you will need to manage a scythe-based farm, and also to help "spread the word" and teach Beginner's Scythe Workshops. Advanced field mowing with long blades, and team mowing will be covered in the morning, as well as advanced honing. Using Scandinavian-style hay drying racks will be covered late morning. An in-depth, free-hand peening workshop, co-taught with blacksmith Larry Cooper, will be held in the afternoon. Prerequisites: Basic Scythe Workshop and/or some accomplished mowing and peening experience. Study the instructional videos on this site, and also the peening manual before the workshop. Contact 1SR to register. $100

June 23rd, 2012, MI, 9-4pm - Small‐scale Haymaking  Cutting and manipulating hay for rapid
drying and quality retention. The morning session will begin with an equipment walk‐around and discussion
of harvesting options. It will begin with demonstrations of the use of the scythe with 1SR Adv. Scythe Instructor, Larry Cooper, and progress to the ox‐drawn cutterbar mower and use of the ground‐driven or engine‐powered forecart for mowing and conditioning with modern equipment. Hay raking will follow, beginning with a demonstration of the hand rake and progress to the animal powered side delivery rake, fluffer‐tedder, rotary rake and rotary tedder. Hay gathering and storage will be covered in the afternoon. Contact MODA at http://www.midwestoxdrovers.com/Home.html

July 15th, 2012, New Ulm, MN Harvesting Wheat with a Scythe workshop. Details to follow. See blog for updates.

September 2nd, 2012, WI, 9-5pm,  Fall Scythe Workshop: Mowing and Freehand Peening. Mystic Prairie Eco-Farm, Wilson, Wisconsin. With Botan Anderson. Depending on demand, this workshop will be either a Beginner's scythe workshop, or an Advanced, or both. Contact 1SR to register. $50-100

September 14th, 2012, OH  Scythe Demo with Andy Graybeal, 1SR Basic Scythe Instructor. Mowing, peening, and haymaking will be demonstrated.  See http://ohiopawpawfest.com/

October 14th, 2012 OH  8:30am - 11:30am Austrian Scythe & Mowing Workshop at the farm of Elise McMath.
Learn to cut your field or lawn with an Austrian scythe. This workshop is for town or country dwellers. Experienced mowers will show you the art and enjoyment of mowing with a scythe and you can try it yourself. With this reliable method, you'll learn how to use and care for an alternative to smelly, polluting mowing equipment that routinely breaks down.
Experienced mowers say there is a night and day difference between mowing wet and dry grass so we are meeting early to take advantage of the morning dew.
Directions: Go east on 550 through Amesville. After you pass through the village, take the first right onto CR 38-48. Go about 1.5 miles, bearing right, until Potter Rd is a landmark on your right. Turn left onto a small (strong) wooden bridge onto a private farm road. Follow signs to the workshop site.
Carpool from Acenet parking lot (94 Columbus Rd) at 8:00 am.
Sponsored by the Sierra Club's Sustainable Living Network.
Contact Andy Graybeal to register: andy.graybeal@casanueva.com

November 10th, 2012, WI, 1-5pm, Harvesting Wild Straw with a Scythe. Mystic Prairie Eco-Farm, Wilson, Wisconsin, with Botan Anderson. Wild grasses such as Reed Canary Grass can be easily harvested with a scythe at this time of year, for use as winter bedding. We will mow tall Reed Canary Grass with Austrian scythes, and store the straw in an outdoor, pyramid-framed stack. Contact 1SR to register. $25

June16th, 2013 The World of the Scythe, Class 274 at Tillers International - Join us for a one day class on the scythe, with 1SR Adv. Scythe Instructor, Larry Cooper. Demonstrations include hay mowing, cutting hillsides, ditches and under fences, hay management for the small farm, creating a keen cutting edge with a hammer and peening anvil and maintaining that edge by honing using a whetstone. We’ll mow an area and show how to manage the cut grass with a simple collection of hand tools. There will be plenty of hands-on instruction and practice.
Learn to adjust the scythe to your body and correct movement for mowing. Bring your scythe to class if you have one, have it evaluated for fit and sharpness. Scythes will be provided to try. Discussion of different scythes will also be part of the class. NOTE: Class starts earlier than usual!

Register online at http://www.tillersinternational.org/farming/classes_274_scythes.html

June 29th, 2013 1SR Scythe Fest 2013 at Isidore's Mead, Osseo WI - A mid-summer scythe festival. Beginning to advanced mowing workshops, haymaking, and peening. Food and music? Still in the planning stage. Details to follow. 1SR Instructors Botan Anderson and Larry Cooper. Contact 1SR to register, or sign up on facebook. Attention out-of-towners. Our Scythe Fest is happening on the same weekend as Country Fest, in Osseo. The Super-8 and other motels expect to sell out quickly. I reserved a block of 9 rooms for Scythe Fest, for Friday and Sat night. The discounted rate is $79.20 + tax per room per night for double occupancy. If you want a room at the Super-8, call 1-715-597-5000, and ask to "personalize a room out of the Scythe Fest block." I also made reservations for 10 people at the Norsky Nook at 7pm on Friday the 28th. Let me know if you want to go, and if we have more than 10 people I will reserve more seats. Camping is also available at the Whispering Pines Campground in Osseo, WI. 715.597.2004 http://whisperingpinesosseo.com