19,355,686 members doing good!



Select names from your address book   |   Help
   

We hate spam. We do not sell or share the email addresses you provide.

Manual Mowers

Manual Mowers

The gushing exhaust from lawn mowing equipment currently contributes to a
staggering 30 percent of overall U.S. vehicle pollution! By the year 2001,
emissions from residential lawn mowers and tractors will have been reduced by
40 percent due to an agreement between the EPA and manufacturers.
While an excellent step in the right direction, manual mowers reduce
emissions by a perfect 100 percent.

If the blades are kept properly sharpened and the machine is well oiled
(jojoba oil works beautifully), manual mowers work well. Even
if you have to push a little harder here and there, they cut down on noise
pollution, save money, and completely eliminate hydrocarbon and nitrogen
oxide. Not a bad trade-off.

Read more: Nature, Lawns & Gardens

Annie B. Bond

Annie is a renowned expert in non-toxic and green living. Named one of the top 20 environmental leaders by Body and Soul Magazine, Annie has authored four books, including "Home Enlightenment" (Rodale Press, 2005) and "Better Basics for the Home" (Three Rivers Press, 1999).

Go to the Source

Homemade Money; How to Save Energy and Dollars in Your Home by Richard Heede, Owen Bailey

This book shows you how to save energy on heating, cooling, appliances, and household systems. It also gives construction and remodeling techniques to maximize energy savings. The book is organized to help readers sort through the huge number of choices and suggestions and set priorities without being intimidated. Virtually anyone can implement enough of these strategies to save energy and money almost immediately.buy now

Choose to Reuse : An Encyclopedia of Services, Businesses, Tools & Charitable Programs That Facilita

2,000 items neatly coordinated by subject, a local and national organizations listing, and examples of successful reusers make Choose to Reuse an essential environmental resource bible made specifically for any conscientious person looking to make a difference. buy now

15 comments

+ add your own
7:49AM PDT on May 8, 2012

Thank you for sharing.

11:24AM PST on Feb 6, 2011

Thanks.

4:44AM PST on Jan 26, 2011

Thanks for the article.

11:33AM PDT on Jul 31, 2010

Reel mowers become even more practical when you reduce the size of your lawn, and replace portions with perennial plants that require less fertilizer and water, don't need mowing, and provide a living mulch.

9:49AM PDT on Jun 26, 2010

I have had two reel mowers, one a gift(used) one I bought new. I had the same problem with both in that they do not cut what I have heard called, 'wire grass'. This plant sends up wiry stems with small seed heads and the manual mowers just pushed it down. I tried manual weed cutters but that really turns into a job after mowing!

6:28AM PDT on Jun 18, 2010

i use one for smaller jobs

12:32AM PST on Feb 17, 2010

thanks

6:21PM PST on Feb 2, 2010

Thank you, hand mowers sound like an environmentally friendly way to mow lawns.

8:47PM PDT on Jul 15, 2009

I just bought the Scott's 18" Supreme mower ($99; free shipping on Amazon). Put it together wearing carpenter's gloves (20 min) then mowed the lawn (in dress and flip flops). We have 1/4 acre and it took me 30 minutes.

Love it.

12:49PM PDT on Aug 29, 2007

I bought a "task force" 5 blade, 20" reel push mower from lowes and it works great! It was only $129, including a grass catcher. However, you are supposed to leave the grass clippings on your lawn -- they actually act as natural fertilizer. Of course, you can't let your grass grow too long or you will have to go over and over the grass to get it cut. Many people complain that they are too hard to push -- my comment to that is that it is easier to push a 30 pound push mower versus a 55 pound gas mower, and we all need a little excersize! Like the article points out, you cut out polution by 100% versus a gas mower, and your not walking behind a loud, fuming machine! I might add that my lawn is only 2000 sqaure feet, so everything is relative. It takes me 25 minutes to mow the lawn... a breaze. John

add your comment

20
20 log in or sign up to start earning Butterfly Credits today!


Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

people are talking

This article is so true. Women don't realize how indoctrinated they are. Call a woman a girl and mo…

Thanks

I've been clicking for Big Cat Rescue for a couple years now. Great to see rescued big cats and lit…

real sad their not in the wild but the way humans likes to kill everything off the better off in t…

customize your newsletter

This newsletter will be sent daily and will feature updates on all the causes you care about. Which causes would you like to include?

Copyright © 2012 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved