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

Janne Wester: Scything, Meadow Restoration & the Nordic SnathHost 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 Background02:12 Swedish Scythes, Ergonomics & the Nordic Snath08:03 Scything Revival, Peening & Sharpness19:10 Teaching Workshops + Common Beginner Mistakes30:23 Meadow Contracts, Mowing Work & Tools35:32 Scythe vs Brush Cutter 39:38 Starting a Meadow + Restoration Basics42:31 Avoiding Fake Meadow Seed Mixes46:34 Why Scything Feels Right55:59 Final Thanks and Wraphttps://www.youtube.com/@slattergubben6702/videosslattergubben.seslattergubben.se/produkter/kopa-lie/the-nordic-snath?tm=home