Turaida Youth Learn Traditional Hay Mowing Skills

Volunteers from nine European countries gathered at the Turaida Museum Reserve to master traditional scythe mowing and historic grassland management, according to museum reports. Most participants arrived as European heritage volunteers, serving as history, archaeology, and cultural heritage students who handled a scythe for the very first time.

Traditional Toolmaking and Field Preparation at Turaida

Before cutting grass, the volunteers crafted their own tools from scratch. According to the museum, participants walked into the forest to select suitable trees, then peeled, planed, and carved the shafts and handles for their scythes.

“We were in the forest on the first day, prepared the scythe shafts, peeled them, cut the slopes, and made the handles,” Turaida Museum Reserve master craftsman Jānis Spila stated. “Now they are working themselves with the instrument they made. The first steps… like dancing. Some people have to break those steps in longer, others take them right away and dance.”

Oshin Koe, a volunteer from Ireland, noted the shift from indoor study to outdoor work. “Most of us do academic work in history and heritage,” Koe stated. “So it’s nice to get this practical side and work outside, rather than being locked in an office all the time. You are fully involved in the process—from making the tool to working in the field.”

Italian volunteer Laura Fabiana drew parallels to her own home region. “Over these days, we had the opportunity to make tools from wood ourselves, which was very interesting and inspiring,” Fabiana stated. “In northern Italy, we have a very similar landscape in some places, so there are also some people who still mow grass in a traditional way.”

Biodiversity and Grassland Management Plans

Scythe mowing maintains local ecosystems rather than serving merely as a cultural demonstration. According to the Turaida Museum Reserve, the surrounding area contains approximately 10 hectares of natural meadows managed under a plan approved two years ago.

“This means that we manage about 10 hectares of the territory extensively—mowing about twice a year,” Turaida Museum Reserve specialist Ilze Lacāne explained. “This plan is designed to multiply this biodiversity and enrich the visitor experience.”

Public Meadow Day and Community Involvement

The Turaida Museum Reserve scheduled a public “Meadow Day” to let visitors test traditional farming skills and explore grassland biodiversity. Project manager Ieva Malceniece outlined the family-friendly program events.

“There will be a masterclass in making hay tools, a hay mowing demonstration, raking hay with wooden rakes, arranging it in piles and making hay twists,” Malceniece stated. “Everyone will also be able to learn skills in gathering various meadow plants, making wreaths and picking herbal teas. There will also be a yarn dyeing masterclass.”

According to project organizers, the hay collected and bundled by both volunteers and visitors will later go to a local farmer to serve as livestock feed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are European heritage volunteers doing at Turaida?

Volunteers from nine European countries are learning traditional scythe mowing and grassland management, which includes crafting their own wooden scythe handles from forest timber.

Why is scythe mowing used at the Turaida Museum Reserve?

According to museum specialists, extensive scythe mowing helps maintain roughly 10 hectares of natural meadows twice a year to boost biological diversity.

Can visitors participate in the traditional haymaking activities?

Yes. The museum organizes a “Meadow Day” where visitors can try hay mowing, rake with wooden rakes, weave herbal wreaths, and join yarn dyeing masterclasses.

What happens to the harvested hay?

The hay gathered by volunteers and museum visitors is given to a local farmer to use as feed for farm animals.