Everyday Systems: shovelglove: message 90 of 649

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Hi there

I've only been on the list a week or so, but in a quiet moment today 
I got to thinking about an alternative scenario for the shovelglove 
(SG).

In keeping with the idea of functional movements that may reflect 
some previous generations' "real life" activities, I was thinking 

about a series of movements built around "The Wheat Harvest".


http://history.powys.org.uk/school1/agriculture/changes.shtml



1. Ploughing - this is a movement I'm still thinking about but the 
idea is to hold the SG in front of you like a mop I suppose and push 
it away sort of like brushing the floor, pushing the head of the SG 
back and forth in front of you.. The idea is of a plough being 
forced through rough hard soil.

2. Sowing - the idea is of scattering seed. The seed is held in the 
crook of your left arm and you grab a handful and scatter it with the 
right arm....only the right hand is wrapped around the head of the SG.

3. Reaping. Stand in place with legs shoulder width apart and scythe 
the fully grown wheat. Swop sides.

http://www.kenchikubutsu.com/gardening/gardening_archive/sometimes_the
_old_ways_are_better.htm

http://www.motus.mb.ca/scythe.htm



4 Winnowing. The grain is on the floor but must be separated from the 
chaff. Using the SG like a shovel the grain is lifted and tossed in 
the air, allowing the wind to blow away the chaff.

http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Commerce/agri-wheat-winnowing.html

5. Grinding the mill - hold the SG vertically in front of you with 
the head downarms shod be bent but held in front at shouder height. 
Keeping the level of the SG head constant make a circular motion, as 
if you are rotating a large mill wheel lying horizontally at your 
feet.

http://www.farmradio.org/english/60-4script.html


This may need some more work........

Chris