Janne Wester of Sweden - Scything, Meadow Restoration & the Nordic Snath

Janne Wester: Scything, Meadow Restoration & the Nordic Snath

Host Steve Smith talks with Sweden-based scything teacher and entrepreneur Janne Wester (Slåttergubben) about scything technique, meadow restoration, and the development of his Nordic snath for better ergonomics and control. Janne shares how he got started, why peening and sharpening are the biggest challenges for beginners, and how scythes fit into modern meadow management in Sweden. They also cover workshop teaching, municipal meadow contracts, why removing cuttings matters for biodiversity, and how to avoid misleading “meadow” seed mixes.

00:00 Welcome + Janne’s Background

02:12 Swedish Scythes, Ergonomics & the Nordic Snath

08:03 Scything Revival, Peening & Sharpness

19:10 Teaching Workshops + Common Beginner Mistakes

30:23 Meadow Contracts, Mowing Work & Tools

35:32 Scythe vs Brush Cutter 

39:38 Starting a Meadow + Restoration Basics

42:31 Avoiding Fake Meadow Seed Mixes

46:34 Why Scything Feels Right

55:59 Final Thanks and Wrap

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slattergubben.se

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