Work Out With Human-Powered Lawn Tools, Part 1

For the last couple years, I've been paying a neighbor to mow my lawn because, well, I "got over" mowing lawns as a kid. But I've changed my perspective.

The permaculture lifestyle is about building virtuous cycles for the environment and for people. I finally realized that if I mowed my lawn myself using strictly human-powered tools, I could:

• Save money
• Get a much-needed workout
• Reduce air pollution

Gas Lawn Tools Pollute

According to EPA statistics gathered by People Powered Machines, gas-powered lawn mowers account for 5% of U.S. air pollution.

Each weekend, about 54 million Americans mow their lawns, using 800 million gallons of gas per year and producing tons of air pollutants. Garden equipment engines, which have had unregulated emissions until the late 1990's, emit high levels of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, producing up to 5% of the nation's air pollution and a good deal more in metropolitan areas. (Read more at People Powered Machines.)

And that doesn't account for the exhaust from two-stroke engines on edgers and trimmers!

Electrical Lawn Tools – The Middle Ground

Electrical lawn tools, including mowers, cause much less pollution. Even if the electricity comes from petroleum- or coal-powered electric plants, I'm sure the pollution per joule of energy is much less. Exhaust from power plants is more regulated and controlled. And if you, as a homeowner, purchase wind- or solar-powered electricity – or produce your own on site – there's barely any pollution.

But you're still using a more-complicated device. Batteries, if the tools have them, are nasty polluters once discarded, not to mention the environmental effects of mining their heavy-metal components. Trimmer line is just plastic waste. And you're still dependent on a supply chain of steady power and parts.

It's better, more "permaculture," to buy something durable and simple that you can maintain and fix yourself most of the time. And the extra effort and exercise is good for you!

Human-Powered Lawn Tools Are Best

My basic lawn toolkit, as of today, comprises the following tools, shown in the photo, from left to right:

• Great States 16-Inch Specialty Push Reel Lawn Mower
• Half-moon lawn edger / spade
• Truper Tru Tough Rotary Lawn Edger
• Fiskars Long-handle Swivel Grass Shears
• Truper Tru Tough Weed Cutter
• Bow rake

Not shown, but in my arsenal:

• Weed puller
• Shovels
• Wheel barrow
• Pruning shears
• Telescoping pruning saw

Things I could use but don't have:

• Leaf rake
• Spreader
• Aerator
• Push broom

How Do You Use Human-Powered Lawn Tools? And Do They Work?

I'll save that for another blog post this week. Stay tuned for details and lawn-in-progress photos in Part 2 of this article.

#permaculture #lawn #yard #tools