Mowed Over
I am quickly learning, it’s not always easy being green.
Since the purchase of our home, we’ve had to invest in several “homeowner items”- rake, ladder, hose, etc. However, when it came down to purchasing a lawn mower, maybe we were in over our heads.
You see, we aspire to live green(er) when possible. We purchased a large capacity, front-loading washer to save on water and electricity, use re-useable grocery bags and energy saver bulbs. I’ve even posted a long list of other ways in my Project Support Beauty in Nature posts here and here. So when we strolled through Sears seeking a lawn-mowing tool, we immediately thought “Gas is expensive. Lets get a ‘Reel mover’” (the one without an engine).
Can you see the naivety in our actions already?
Well before you think we’re a bunch of tree hugging loons, please keep in mind that when we purchased our home MOST of our lawn was dead. I mean D-E-A-D, as in, nuthin’ but dirt kind of dead.
So this lawn mower would just be a simple tool to hold us over until we could afford some sod or as grass seed slowly grew in. Here is what our backyard looked like when we moved in…
See those tiny flecks of green beneath the vast landscape of un-raked leaves (thank you lazy previous homeowners)? I promise that was the ONLY patch of green on our entire property…until about 3 weeks ago.
Try mowing ALL of that, plus a decent sized front and side yard with this…
My arms feel like they’ve been rung through those dull ass blades all. weekend. long.
If you’re considering one of these an alternative to a mower with an actual motor…DON’T DO IT! Fork over the extra dough to get a real mower. You have to roll this heavy, non-powered contraption over a blade of grass 15 times to get it to cut evenly or at all. And dandelions? Ha! Their flimsy seeds that blow off in a stiff breeze will just scoff at one of these barreling down on them. It took me 2 hours to finish our yard.
Maybe next time I should try this…
However, something tells me there is no way I’m trimming our lawn again unless I have one of these…
Yes, I want the landscaper to come with the mower too.
Now if only we can figure out how to get one powered by vegetable oil 
Ouch! You think that’s bad… it’s just as well you can’t see my (tiny) garden – you’d think it was a field! *hangs head in shame*
Marylin’s last blog post..When you can’t think of what to write…
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
You are making me rethink buying one of those. But then again, I’m not planning on having very much grass… I’ll have to think about that one!
At least you got a workout, whether you wanted one or not!
kspin’s last blog post..Poolside Ponderings And Philosophies
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Buy one with a diesel engine, and you should be able to run it on vegetable oil.
Solomon’s last blog post..Things I’m Grateful For on Monday 2 June
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
you pay the airfare and babysit, i’ll mow for you. i could totally use the workout!
zoeyjane’s last blog post..Step One and Two are in Effect (and Three)
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Yes, those mowers are a big pain in the butt. But the noise it makes still takes me back to my childhood, and you can’t beat that!
Kathryn’s last blog post..Trying
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
The mower bike is genius! My kids would be mowing patterns all over the lawn with that. But I know what you mean about gas. We’ve threatened to pasture the ponies on the lawn this summer.
Karen’s last blog post..He’s A True Convert
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
You have a gorgeous yard!! I’m getting worried now. The new house I bought back in Malaysia has a big yard as well! Haha, oh well.. too late now.
LB’s last blog post..The Month of Abstinence
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Lol well good for you guys for trying to be green. Bad for you guys having to tackle that lawn monster with a non electric mower.
soge shirts’s last blog post..Star Wars vs Star Trek
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Haha! I love the bike version!
Asianmommy’s last blog post..Mommy Profile: AD
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:42 pm
the mower bike is awesome. just think of the calories you could burn without killing your back!
or not.
the planet of janet’s last blog post..Fun Monday: the “Look, Ma! I made it myself!” edition
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Have never mowed a lawn before…guilty! That’s just because we are not homeowners and don’t have the luxury of land YET! But when I do have my own patch of green…the bike mower looks excellent!
Jojo’s last blog post..Prettify my Pear Tree
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I live in an apartment so I don’t have to worry about mowing a lawn. However, this is very helpful advice. Yikes!
Linda’s last blog post..The Scent of Bond Girl 007
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
You are very brave.
Holly’s last blog post..Never wear sequined thongs in an aviary
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
we have one of those torture machines too except our yard is a lot smaller.
at least you can work out your arms right?
missy wiggins’s last blog post..Day one at Club In-Law’s.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:32 pm
(biting tongue so I dont say it was a fab arm workout)
the yard looks GREAT—-glad I didnt have to do it.
shall we have a fundraiser?
MizFit’s last blog post..Hey WOMAN Challenge Women!
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
my parents some how had one of those no engine push mowers… but an older one… when we were younger my brothers and i used to LOVE to mow with it… it was fun and a challenge and everyone would make a fuss about it… DUH!!! b/c it was hard ass work and only some foolish kids would think it was something “fun” to do. lol
I feel you girl… i could NOT imagine mowing any yard with that… not any more at least. i do, however, try to push my my lawn for some excersize, but i don’t do it very often… too much work. lol lol lol
i give you guys a lot of credit for doing the GREEN thing, but you have to also save your back so you can participate in living green other ways too.
i hope you are able to return your no-engine mower to sears and maybe get a push mower, that has an engine and will be less gas and more help for you.
btw… i love your yard… it is looking really nice.
good luck with your wishes for a landscaper to ride into save the day on his lawn mower. 
have a good one!!
xoxox’s jenn
Jennifer’s last blog post..Memorial Day 2008
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
whoa, I had one of those things back in the day, for my first house with the tiny yard, and even that was too much.
Maybe you need one of these robotic, solar-powered mowers… http://gizmodo.com/364924/husqvarnas-autonomous-solar-powered-lawnmower-never-mow-again
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Our lot is 100×250 feet. We own a John Deere lawn tractor. And a walking mower (power w/self propelled front wheels) for when someone feels like mowing just the front yard. I gave up on manually operated lawn care devices a LONG. time. ago. I would suggest you do the same. As I have stated elsewhere (oh, yeah, my blog. DUH!), “yardwork is punishment for owning a house.” As long as you’re being punished, make it as easy as possible.
lceel’s last blog post..Framed!
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Yah, I mowed my lawn growing up every weekend.. I now pay a landscaper to do that job.. hahah
Kim’s last blog post..Taking Off The Costume
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Hubby is sitting next to me reading over my shoulder. He nearly choked on his trail mix. “Is she crazy?” And then he read the rest.
“I’d rather chew the grass than cut it with that thing.” Really? Now that I’d pay to see . . .
LaskiGal’s last blog post..I Made Her Do It
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Those mowers only work if you have kids old enough to push it! Ho! That brings back a lot of memories. Just think of the great pipes you will have come next fall.
I had a friend that had a pet goat. It kept the lawn very short. They never had to mow. Now, her mom did have problems when she wanted to hang out the wash.
Christine’s last blog post..It’s A Dogs Life
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Ha! I did the exact. same. thing. Only stupider. See, I thought if we bought one of those it would be SAFE for the boy to use. And I could pay him! It would teach RESPONSIBILITY. I imagined him getting up all excited on Saturday morning and running out back wearing a little ball cap and mowing the lawn for pocket money. Yeah. Right. Three weeks later we were back at the Home Depot, and the push mower went to the landfill. For spite.
Lisa’s last blog post..Barbecue in a Box
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I have a landscaper that comes with my mower – it’s called my boyfriend! We have a riding mower that is so old, he has to jump start it off his car to get it to go. I refuse to possibly electrocute my butt.
Our friends got one of those mowers like you did – but their yard is about 5′ big. We have an acre – there’s just some things I’ve decided you can’t be green about.
Get the rider. It’s the most awesome thing ever.
Annie’s last blog post..The Texting Debate
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Thank God I have a 20 yr old son, an 18 yr old daughter and a 15 yr old son to do the mowing. The only thing is I have to keep nagging them…Hey the bike version is definitely old school. LOL
Chris’s last blog post..Drive-Thru Kids: Hold The Tantrum Please
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Good luck with that! Our yard takes 2 hours WITH a riding mower that goes FAST…like, buck me off fast.
Sandy, you should just buy goats. The only bad thing is the poop. Hmm…I wish you could buy goats that didn’t poop…that would be great for our yard.
Ashley’s last blog post..I AM.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Your lawn looks amazing now, though! I can see how the recent post is just not gonna cut it (graon, sorry!).
We had a push power like yours when we lived in the city, but we had very little lawn; nevertheless it was very gratifying to know that it was all manpower. A pet goat, now that’s an idea!
Karen MEG’s last blog post..No Baby Story – Part Deux
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Oh yeah…I’m with you on the riding lawn mower landscape guy. Luckily my husband takes care of our yard and unfortunately, we’re not very green with a gas powered John Deere rider…only takes 30 minutes to mow a 1/2 acre though
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Ummm, I thought you just pay the neighbor kid to do it;)
Nap Warden’s last blog post..Tennis & Life…
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Maybe get a goat
Nola’s last blog post..Mariner’s
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I keep forgetting that if we move back to the Midwest, there will be grass to mow.
Yeah, you have to get something better, even if it’s a self-propelled gas mower (or electric, actually). Good luck.
Jennifer H’s last blog post..…But now I’m found
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
goats dude, goats
Tasina’s last blog post..Epic Fail
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:54 pm
You know the best thing about getting a rider? The tyke will be willing to mow for you! A true win-win.
Anglophile Football Fanatic’s last blog post..I’m Gonna Go Bruce Banner on Yo Ass
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Ahh, the joys of owning a home. This is the only part that makes me glad that we are in a townhhouse right now. I commend you for making the effort to buy something more eco-friendly though.
Karen of Sillymonkeez’s last blog post..Silly Monkey Stories: Forgive and Forget
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:00 am
Oh those push ones SUCK!! I had to use one when I was a kid.
Can you compromise with a battery operated lawnmower? My mom has one. We have the one in the last pic but we have over an acre. To heck with everyone that thinks I should do it with a push one on 1.2 acre.
Grandy’s last blog post..A Long-Awaited Biased Review
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:27 am
LOL, I’m extremely impressed that you actually mowed the lawn with that contraption!
Jenty’s last blog post..Three Corners – May
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:22 am
My neighbor has one of those! hehe I have always thought about getting one, but my husband doesn’t let me mow the lawn! You see, he likes the lines you mow to be straight, I just mow whatever, in a circle, in a star it doesn’t matter to me, as long as the darn grass is cut! Apparently, there is a precise way to do it!
Meagan’s last blog post..Happy birthday!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:26 am
Too funny, I was actually telling my husband that I want one of those…I figured I could do the front lawn with it, giving myself a workout and my man a break. I think it’s awesome that you have one and actually used it! Girl lawn power! Yeah, not enough coffee lets the lame out.
Victoria’s last blog post..Duran Duran, Baby!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:58 am
huh,
I have a 50 yr old reel mower that we absolutely love! We take it once a month to get the blades sharpened and have never had any problems mowing.
Cakes’s last blog post..Proud Mommy Moment brought to you by the U.S. Treasury
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:15 am
LOL! I’ve ALWAYS wanted one of those mowers that you have!! I’ve never seen any sold around here though. Big difference in the back yard pics! Love your yard!!
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:20 am
Get a goat? That’s what my Danish son’s family did.
Jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..PSA Tuesday – Older Women and Blog Blast for Education
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Good luck with the whole lawn mowing thing. Ugh…
Rebecca’s last blog post..Home cold home!
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Ah yez … I remember the simple joys (and hard work) of settling into a new home … deciding on lawnmowers (& making the wrong decision on the first go around). Good luck on the ‘vegetable oil’ mower idea. Just remember it will smell like fast food french fries ;–)
Hugs and blessings,
storyteller’s last blog post..Heads or Tails #9 and Ten on Tuesday #8
June 4th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Those mowers are lame I tried to use one back in high school. They have electric motors too but they don’t work as well as gas.
kristi’s last blog post..I’m Back! Gardening Challenge Update
June 4th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I had one of those when I had a teeny little rental yard. It.took.hours. My neighbor finally took pity on me and said that he would mow mine when he did his. I looked pretty darn pathetic.
Autumn Dahlia’s last blog post..Ready to enter the Sinead OConner look-alike contest.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pm