An ancient tool has recently found its way into the modern-day gardening trends of the internet. That tool is the sickle! TikTok user @blossomandbranchfarm posted a video showing how to use a sickle the correct way and showcasing just how valuable and versatile it is in the garden. Ancient technologies like the sickle are making a comeback, and for good reason — it’s incredibly useful when used correctly. Sickles are among the first tools ever invented and date back to our early ancestors as they transitioned into an agricultural lifestyle during the Neolithic Revolution.
However, the sickle has gone out of fashion, save for the traditional grain or old-school farmers who haven’t forgotten its value. This is partially because, after the Industrial Revolution, when many people moved to urban areas, we became very isolated from farming and our food. Sickles were replaced by scythes and later by machinery that was more efficient in large-scale agriculture.
Furthermore, people have been misusing these tools and subsequently stopped using them because they were deemed ineffective. However, with the resurgence of home gardeners and homesteaders, the hand sickle is making a comeback. We’ll share how to use the sickle correctly, where to find it, and why it’s such a valuable garden tool.
TikTok shows us how to use the sickle the right way
@blossomandbranchfarm
One of my favorite garden tools. No, there’s no link in bio. Go find an antique one, they’re everywhere and so underrated! Many people think you go swinging this around like you would a scythe, but this is the proper way to use it. Tag me when you get one! (Watch an expert show how to use one properly here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8nI0GK6qrdk) #gardentools #gardenhack #garden #gardening #sickle #yarrow #flowerfarm #farm #harvest
♬ original sound – Bri
According to various online forums and testimonies, people have long been under the misconception that the correct way to wield a sickle is to swing it around, sort of like a manual weed whacker or a scythe. However, this TikTok shows us that the correct way to use this ancient yet still useful tool is to grab a clump of grass, grain, or flower stems and cut through the stalks with a swift motion of the wrist. Be sure to leave a few inches between your hands and the sickle as you’re grabbing the stalks to not cut yourself accidentally.
Not to be confused with a hand scythe or nejiri gama garden tool, a hand sickle has a short handle with an almost circular blade, whereas a hand scythe generally has a slightly curved blade. These tools are typically used in similar applications; however, they are different tools with origins in different parts of the world. Additionally, a scythe typically has a long handle, like the one the Grim Reaper holds in his hand. Interestingly, there is historical evidence of the use of the sickle and the scythe throughout pre-Middle Age Europe, the Levant or Southwest Asia, Ancient Egypt, India, Nepal, and the Americas.
Where to find a hand sickle
In the video’s description, @blossomandbranchfarm states that she will not provide a link to the product. Instead, she encourages watchers to “go out hunting” for a hand sickle at an antique shop. This is a really cool, zero-waste way to get thrifty with your garden tools and bring back an ancient yet handy tool. If you don’t live in an area with antique shops or malls, you can always look on Etsy, as many vintage hand sickles are readily available. For example, here is one for $25 from TheRustyBucketCo on Etsy.
If you want to reduce your environmental footprint and save money, hand sickles aren’t the only tools you can thrift. Pawn shop power tools are usually a great bargain. If you find them in good shape, they can last you for years. While the sickle has a long history of use across cultures, it is no longer used to the extent it once was. Its resurgence is a reminder to return to ancient ancestral technologies and modalities that help us be better gardeners and connect deeper with our Neolithic agricultural roots.
