Dear Santa,

How are you and the missus? The elves? The reindeer?

I’m well, thank you.

I know how hectic things can be this time of year, so I wanted to let you know exactly what I’d like for Christmas. I am even sending along the addresses of where to find everything so you won’t have to spend hours and hours shopping for me.

I have to warn you that it’s more gardening stuff. I know, I know. I ask for that every year, but it’s all for the greater good, don’t you think?

OK, here goes.

What I’d really, really like is a scythe.

Don’t be shocked. You see, I talked with the scythe guy, Elliot Fishbein, last week. He’s from down in Perry, and since April he’s been selling scythes over the Internet. His site, www.scythesupply.com, has everything a novice like me needs to get started: Not only does he sell all the equipment, but there’s a book on scything and online workshops that describe how to tend the blade and how to cut a swath, literally.

When I first talked with Elliot, I was a little wary. I remember a scythe from way back and they were not easy to use. I told Elliot this and he understood. That’s because I was using an American scythe, he said. The scythes he sells are European, and there’s a world of difference between the two.

The American scythe is heavy and rather crudely made. The blade isn’t even parallel to the ground, which means you have to contort yourself to cut anything, let alone a blade of grass.

But the European scythe is handmade and “looks like a bird’s wing made out of steel,” he said. “Its efficiency is amazing.”

Plus the blade is made by a company in Austria that must be doing something right because it has been around since 1540. (Maybe you remember when they went into business?) And you know how much I like things with a history.

Anyway, according to Elliot, the scythe wins hands down against a string trimmer. The scythe will cut a 7- to 9-foot half-circle in one sweep. Do you know how long it would take me to cut that much with our electric trimmer? Not that I am knocking the trimmer; it has its uses. Even Elliot owns one.

Plus my back hurts if I have to use the electric trimmer for very long. It weighs a lot. One of Elliot’s scythes weighs less than three pounds.

It doesn’t require any gasoline or oil or electricity to run. You know how much I hate the noise and fumes from the lawn mower. I want to hear the birds and listen to the rustling leaves when I’m working outside.

And from the way Elliot talked, using a European scythe is nearly akin to eating chocolate. “You go out and do it because it’s an enjoyable thing to do,” he said. He had me wanting to swing my way across overgrown hill and dale, scythe in hand.

“When you’ve powered the mechanism … there’s a whole new sense of personal achievement,” Elliot said.

That would be how the reindeer feel, wouldn’t it?

In addition to my scythe outfit – which Elliot will custom fit if you send him the information on my height and so forth – I also would like one of the wooden rakes or forks that Elliot sells. They are made by an American company founded in 1872. I especially like the bow-head rake. It’s quite elegant. It would rake up the little windrows from my scythe nicely.

Those are the practical gifts, Santa. For my frivolous presents, you can go to www.giftsfromme.com and click on the garden button to find things right here in Maine. There are plant baskets, tools, birdhouses and buckets, but I’d like another buoy bell from North Country Wind Bells so I can pretend I’m near the ocean while I garden. I think the birds like that fantasy, too.

Dory planters are sold there as well. I’d like a small one to go with my new buoy bell. I think the cranberry dory with the green trim is attractive.

For my stocking, you should check out www.snowandnealley.com. I think a hand dibble would be useful. I find my hands suffer from the digging (especially when I forget to wear my gloves) to plant seedlings and seeds. Snow & Nealley also sells a long-handled dibble, but that wouldn’t fit well into my stocking, would it?

The Bangor company has introduced a line of stainless steel garden tools that would be nice to have. Just don’t get me the dandelion weeder because I like dandelions.

If you need another trifle for my stocking, you should try www.gardentoolsofmaine.com. I talked with the man in charge this week. Peter Sonderegger said that his company generally distributes its imports of tools and supplies to other companies like L.L. Bean, but the Web site is the direct sales link to consumers – which you definitely are.

You know, Santa, this might help the elves out on their garden tool assembly because you could get them already finished. The forgings, Peter said, are made in England and then shipped to Auburn, where they are polished up and attached to Maine-made wood handles. “Maine has an incredible reputation of quality workmanship,” Peter said. The warehouses are actually in North Carolina, he said. But that’s not so far for the elves, is it?

They also offer gloves from France and cutting tools from Germany, but I really am enchanted by their ceramic water jugs. The pieces look like different birds, but you fill them with water and pour it out the beak, I think. It’s a sneaky way to keep water handy near those thirsty potted plants scattered around the house.

I also would like one of the Haws watering cans. The company imports those from England and I’ve always wanted one. I bet my plants would like how elegantly the water showers down on them from one of those beauties.

I know it won’t fit in my stocking, but maybe you could stuff my stocking in it.

That would work, wouldn’t it?

Happy holidays, Santa. And thank you so very much.

Love, Janine

P.S.

I nearly forgot to give you my checklist of companies.

Scythe Supply, www.scythesupply.com, info@scythesupply.com, 496 Shore Road, Perry 04667; telephone 207-853-4750.

Gifts from Maine, www.giftsfromme.com, 7 King Ave., Lewiston 04240; telephone 207-777-3965 or 1-866-551-8060.

Snow & Nealley, www.snowandnealley.com, 60 Summer St., Bangor 04401; telephone 207-941-6456 or 1-800-365-1215.

Garden Tools of Maine, www.gardentoolsofmaine.com, info@gardentoolsofmaine.com; RR#2, Box 2208, East Holden 04429; telephone 207-989-2226.

And Santa, if you have time, you can always drop me a line at jpineo@bangordailynews.net.