Posted by
Elana Safronsky, Managing Editor
Monday, July 12, 2010 10:05 AM EDT
Grass lawns aren't great for the environment (I bow my head in shame having recently re-sodded my lawn.) Opposing studies have played tug of war with lawn facts, with disheartening emissions studies finally neutering the argument that a grass lawn makes good by taking in lots of C02. Apparently, lawns en masse can create up to four times the C02 than they're able to store, simply by being maintained.
That maintenance chestnut again... It would seem that gas powered lawn mowers are at the heart of the problem. If we weren't so hung up on our homes not looking like this, then the C02 off-setting argument would have a chance. But alas, we continue to manicure in the face of environmental doom.
There is, however, another way: get a manual reel lawn mower.
This can't be news. We ALL know they exist, and some us, like myself, have even taken a solid crack at making the switch. The problem unfortunately arises when many of us, like myself, sheepishly switch back...
I tried (read: my husband tried), we really did. We bought two different reel mowers -- neither worked well enough. They got clogged, they matted down parts, which left longer tufts all over the lawn like a botched haircut, and let's face it: they require some serious physical labour! We're not sloths, but all in all, the manual lawn mower did not prove to be a friend... We couldn't stick with it. (I know you're thinking rechargeable electric mower, but for some reason, my usually altruistic husband said it would be a pain too.)
Is this not at all funny? Are we reprehensible? Before you blame though, fess up: how many of you lawn-lovers have made the switch to a manual reel mower? And stuck with it?
Take a Poll!
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