"Cat(h)" wrote in message
...

....

My Dad used to
have a fab hoe, and an equally wonderfully scythe, which are both
still used by my brother - the latter to cut the meadow grass in the
upper part of his very steep garden.

Spouse would use a sickle in the apiary unless we'd missed a visit and the
grass was too long, then he used a scythe. It's still in the shed but no use
to us in the garden - grass doesn't stand a chance with the chickens around
:-)

There's a sickle in each of our caravans though, they're so useful and can
get into places where grass will grow but few other tools can get.


And Spouse MAKES skeps! They didn't need to be lifted by a stone for the
bees to enter or exit ... he's made several for museums and films.

That's a lovely skill.

It's a very calming thing to watch, the only noise is snipping stray straws,
the movements are small and swaying. He's a quiet man so even when he's
giving demonstrations he doesn't talk unless he's asked questions. I
remember when he first saw someone making one, George Hawthorne is now dead
but he was just as quiet. His movements, though, and the minimal tools he
used, made light dawn in Spouse's mind. Suddenly he understood and wanted to
do it himself.

There aren't many people who do it so the ones who do are in demand. They're
all keen to pass on the craft, if they don't it could die. I think Spouse is
the only one who uses primitive tools though, his fid is a lamb leg bone.
Many use cow horns as a funnel but anything of the right diameter will do,
even a plastic bottle.

Sorry, rambling ... but bees and gardens are closely linked!

Mary

The famous 'Orkney Chair' is made in the same way, and lots of other items.
It's called lipwork.