Push reel lawn mower
In an effort to practice more eco-friendly lawn care, save money on gas, minimize noise pollution and reduce our carbon footprint (hurrah), we recently purchased a push reel mower for our modest lawn.
One might mistakenly assume that only Depression-era penny-pinchers and DIY-zealots would use a non-motorized mower to cut their grass. But, the May 2007 issue of Readymade magazine examined green alternatives to the traditional gas engine mower, including electric and push reel mowers. So, practical? Yeah.
A visit to our nearest Lowes store turned up the affordable Task Force 16″ Cut Reel Mower. After a quick unboxing and assembly, it was ready to cut some grass!
Some initial observations:
- It is very lightweight and much easier to push than our gas push mower
- It cuts the grass a lot shorter.
- Working on the sloped berm in our front yard feels a lot safer now.
- Small twigs can jam the blades, so clearing away debris beforehand can help.
- The exposed blades on its back take some getting used to, but a pair of thick-toed shoes seems like adequate protection against any missteps.
- The scissor-like noise of the spinning blades is preferable to the din from all the other engines in the neighborhood on any given weekend.
In an effort to practice more eco-friendly lawn care, save money on gas, minimize noise pollution and reduce our carbon footprint (hurrah), we recently purchased a push reel mower for our modest lawn.
One might mistakenly assume that only Depression-era penny-pinchers and DIY-zealots would use a non-motorized mower to cut their grass. But, the May 2007 issue of Readymade magazine examined green alternatives to the traditional gas engine mower, including electric and push reel mowers. So, practical? Yeah.
A visit to our nearest Lowes store turned up the affordable Task Force 16″ Cut Reel Mower. After a quick unboxing and assembly, it was ready to cut some grass!
Some initial observations:
- It is very lightweight and much easier to push than our gas push mower
- It cuts the grass a lot shorter.
- Working on the sloped berm in our front yard feels a lot safer now.
- Small twigs can jam the blades, so clearing away debris beforehand can help.
- The exposed blades on its back take some getting used to, but a pair of thick-toed shoes seems like adequate protection against any missteps.
- The scissor-like noise of the spinning blades is preferable to the din from all the other engines in the neighborhood on any given weekend.