Love my manual push mower= exercise and beautiful lawn

[sylvia]

I haven't posted in years but I have evolved my life into simpler living. I got a manual push mower for my birthday last year and have used it ever since.
I get away with cutting my lawn 3 times a week in almost utter silence. I can get away with cutting it on an early sunday morning. I am the only one who is using it on my block. I will continue to and hopefully my neighbors will catch on.I also have used my old ice scraper to edge trim too. It pushes up that extra dirt and grass leaving a fancy and clean cut just the landscapers would do it, bur free. Most of all I get to burn those calories and everyone benefits.
If you have any additional ideas please share!

[SteveinMN]

I loved using my manual (reel) mower -- but it became very hard to wedge in lawnmowing time between work, other time commitments, and the weather. And, unfortunately, especially in the spring, the grass had to be cut weekly or the mower couldn't handle it. I had two reel mowers, actually -- a Scotts and a Brill, and neither one was what I would classify as "silent" when there's almost always 30 feet or less to a neighbor's open window. When I ended up being responsible for mowing a second property, I caved and bought an electric mower. I like the relative freedom it gives me over the reel mower and yet it's not as finicky as gas-engined mowers I've used and it's far cleaner than two-cycle gas mowers.

We don't have any other power lawn/garden tools. After going through three electric weed whips in one summer, I chucked 'em all and got a manual clipper -- the kind with the knife on the bottom and a waist-high shaft up to the levers. No worries about the whip picking up a chunk of wood or rock and I no longer inadvertantly beat distress marks into the house and fence posts. It's also lasted several summers so far. Recommended. I'd probably clip hedges manually, too -- if we had any.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

I have always wondered about using one of those. I wondered if they were hard to push? I hate the sound of lawn mowers and weed eaters, but that is all that is around me unfortunately. We have a guy who mows our lawn as DH is not always able (health wise) to do it and I used to try to mow most of it myself but found even the gas powered push mowers were hard for me to handle. I love the idea of mowing in relative silence!

[Simplemind]

I've posted on this in the past. I had one at my old house with a small yard. It was easy to push and silent. I would come home after work at midnight and mow the lawn before I went to bed. I would often hop over to the neighbors and mow theirs in secret. Nuthin like mowing by moonlight.

[Tussiemussies]

Hi Sylvia!!! I remember you from the old boards. You always had a great SL topic to talk about. Glad you are back. And glad too you got your old-fashioned push lawn mower! Chris

[Tussiemussies]

PS I love the sound of the old-push movers, it is almost meditative!

[sylvia]

Thanks for the replies. Hi Tussiemussies! I remember you too! Have further simplified since joining and then the forum changed addresses. I started living simply 7 years ago, came a long way though. It took me much work to simplify in a modern world. The push mower is easy to use. If the blades are sharp you will glide it forward with a little push. It is way easier than a gas powered mower. It may squeak so you can lubricate the edges other than that I am addicted. I also have a carpet sweeper in my home . I have been using it for years now. It even picks up well on shaggy carpets. The key is consistency.I cut my grass 2-3 times a week. But heck, that's 300 calories burned x 3!Can you imagine having the nicest grass on the street post apocolypse?Of course it may not be for anyone since it depends on the size of your lawn and time. You can pick one upat craigslist just make sure it is in good shape.Youtube has many demonstrative videos using them. Good luck! I also used my ice scraper to edge trim. That looks great now and it didn't cost me anything except effort!

[puglogic]

A gift from my father-in-law: http://www2.fiskars.com/Gardening-and-Yard-Care/Products/StaySharp-Reel-Mowers/StaySharp-Max-Reel-Mower#.UZWV2YJAtyA

It's a nice thing, as long as you keep up with our tough mountain grasses. If you let them get even an inch too high, the mower has problems managing.

But I do love it, even with its limitations. It even has a name: "Max" (as in, honey could you pull Max out and go over the side yard?)