Comments on: Get a push lawn mower http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html Becoming debt-free is the first step to building a better world. Financial independence is the second. Doing what YOU want is the third. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:07:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15642 John Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:47:15 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15642 I agree with most of your points as I see too many people obsessing over their lawns. All of the money spent on gas, fertilizers, and pesticides not only costs a lot it also harms the environment. I do however disagree about completely giving up your lawn, especially if you have kids. Having a lawn promotes them to be outside playing and running around instead of inside and it beats playing baseball in the street! I agree with most of your points as I see too many people obsessing over their lawns. All of the money spent on gas, fertilizers, and pesticides not only costs a lot it also harms the environment.

I do however disagree about completely giving up your lawn, especially if you have kids. Having a lawn promotes them to be outside playing and running around instead of inside and it beats playing baseball in the street!

]]> By: Photoguy http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15482 Photoguy Thu, 26 Aug 2010 01:11:57 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15482 @roscoe -- I simply meant that if people value their lawns as much as it seems, then converting a portion of your yard may make your home less desireable and reduce market value. So you may save $300 / year on food but if your house price drops by $2-3k then it hasn't paid off from a strictly monetary perspective. Small gardens may be easy to convert back to lawn, but I've seen many that would take a significant amount of work to revert. Also, unless you account for labor costs, I would tend to think of gardening as more of a hobby that happens to reduce expenses rather than an investment. @roscoe — I simply meant that if people value their lawns as much as it seems, then converting a portion of your yard may make your home less desireable and reduce market value. So you may save $300 / year on food but if your house price drops by $2-3k then it hasn’t paid off from a strictly monetary perspective.

Small gardens may be easy to convert back to lawn, but I’ve seen many that would take a significant amount of work to revert.

Also, unless you account for labor costs, I would tend to think of gardening as more of a hobby that happens to reduce expenses rather than an investment.

]]> By: Penniless Parenting http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15472 Penniless Parenting Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:19:00 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15472 We had a home before with a yard, but we just let our rabbits and chickens loose on it, and before we knew it, we had a dirt patch. It was great- it didn't take any water or care to maintain, and then when we wanted to start a vegetable garden, the work was minimal. Push mowers definitely seem cool though! We had a home before with a yard, but we just let our rabbits and chickens loose on it, and before we knew it, we had a dirt patch. It was great- it didn’t take any water or care to maintain, and then when we wanted to start a vegetable garden, the work was minimal.

Push mowers definitely seem cool though!

]]> By: mjukr http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15456 mjukr Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:57:14 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15456 We have begun the process of converting our lawn into usable garden space with the remainder mostly planted with native wildflowers/grasses. I don't know who decided that dandelions and clover are ugly! We have begun the process of converting our lawn into usable garden space with the remainder mostly planted with native wildflowers/grasses.

I don’t know who decided that dandelions and clover are ugly!

]]> By: Roscoe http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15405 Roscoe Wed, 25 Aug 2010 07:17:02 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15405 I don't know if we're defining investments the same way. I wouldn't be surprised, since I'm new to the whole discussion. I'm defining an investment as something you expect to return more than you put in, which a vegetable garden certainly does. Fifty dollars in pots, soil, seeds, and such can net you five times that (and I've seen garden blogs with numbers attached reporting returns as high as 800%) in vegetables you don't have to buy at the store...and more, if you turn your tomatoes into sauce and your cucumbers into pickles. And if you replant from your own stock, the largest ongoing expense of the garden (seeds) is gone. I don’t know if we’re defining investments the same way. I wouldn’t be surprised, since I’m new to the whole discussion. I’m defining an investment as something you expect to return more than you put in, which a vegetable garden certainly does. Fifty dollars in pots, soil, seeds, and such can net you five times that (and I’ve seen garden blogs with numbers attached reporting returns as high as 800%) in vegetables you don’t have to buy at the store…and more, if you turn your tomatoes into sauce and your cucumbers into pickles. And if you replant from your own stock, the largest ongoing expense of the garden (seeds) is gone.

]]> By: Photoguy http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15386 Photoguy Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:16:08 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15386 @jacob -- yeah watering sidewalks annoys me to no end. That kind of waste is unimaginable to me. @roscoe -- while I commend anyone who makes makes their own vegetable garden, I would hesitate to call it an investment. It may turn out that it actually reduces the resale value of your home. @jacob — yeah watering sidewalks annoys me to no end. That kind of waste is unimaginable to me.

@roscoe — while I commend anyone who makes makes their own vegetable garden, I would hesitate to call it an investment. It may turn out that it actually reduces the resale value of your home.

]]> By: Tracy http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15360 Tracy Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:42:01 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15360 Push Lawn mowers are awesome. They not only save you money but its a good little work out. Saving money in to places and things sounds really good to me Push Lawn mowers are awesome. They not only save you money but its a good little work out. Saving money in to places and things sounds really good to me

]]> By: Roscoe http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15353 Roscoe Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:45:52 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15353 I'd like to pitch in with everyone who suggests tearing the lawn out and putting in a vegetable or herb garden. There are very few investments that get you returns over 500%. A good vegetable garden is one of them. I’d like to pitch in with everyone who suggests tearing the lawn out and putting in a vegetable or herb garden. There are very few investments that get you returns over 500%. A good vegetable garden is one of them.

]]> By: Insurance Izzy http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15349 Insurance Izzy Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:14:48 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15349 I gotta say... if you live in California, stop wasting water on your lawn! Just let it turn brown, save money on watering it, and save time and money by not having to mow it any longer. Who cares what your lawn looks like? I certainly don't I gotta say… if you live in California, stop wasting water on your lawn! Just let it turn brown, save money on watering it, and save time and money by not having to mow it any longer. Who cares what your lawn looks like? I certainly don’t

]]> By: Kevin M http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15328 Kevin M Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:54:07 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15328 Even better than the lawn tractor folks are people that hire out their lawn care. We have several neighbors that never set foot on their lawns except to walk to the mailbox, yet they pay a fortune to keep it maintained. I was sweeping our grass from the street back on to our lawn the other day and my neighbor offered to let me use his blower. I said my broom was working just fine thanks. America is so lazy. Even better than the lawn tractor folks are people that hire out their lawn care. We have several neighbors that never set foot on their lawns except to walk to the mailbox, yet they pay a fortune to keep it maintained.

I was sweeping our grass from the street back on to our lawn the other day and my neighbor offered to let me use his blower. I said my broom was working just fine thanks. America is so lazy.

]]> By: brian http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15317 brian Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:16:49 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15317 I would add that to test the bladeadjustments, you may feed a strip of paper though the blades. You should get confetti across the entire width of the blade. I also sharpened mine with a drill and a wire-brush bit. I would add that to test the bladeadjustments, you may feed a strip of paper though the blades. You should get confetti across the entire width of the blade. I also sharpened mine with a drill and a wire-brush bit.

]]> By: Macs http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15316 Macs Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:47:33 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15316 Best lawn-mower I ever had consisted of three moving parts - one rabbit and two guinea pigs... :-) In a little moveable hutch, they ensured the finest sward, nibbled to perfection, and with added fertiliser too. If the kids want pets, they have to pay their way. Best lawn-mower I ever had consisted of three moving parts – one rabbit and two guinea pigs… :-)

In a little moveable hutch, they ensured the finest sward, nibbled to perfection, and with added fertiliser too. If the kids want pets, they have to pay their way.

]]> By: CB http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15293 CB Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:24:58 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15293 There are various grasses, such as the native California bunch grass that work very well in gardens. Ours is mostly fruit trees, raised beds of vegetables, compost area (to make more soil), and a variety of native and similar Mediterranean plants. Grapes were plentiful over the trellis where grape vines shield the patio from sun. Tomatoes, apples, figs (almost ripe), plums (already gone), carrots, kale, herbs, and more to pick and eat warm. Tall black bamboo provides privacy in the front yard. Two small ponds with trickling fountains add a natural sound. Mosquito fish eat any mosquito larvae. A little bit of the freeway smog is absorbed by all of this organic material. Trees and fast-growing shrubs and thick, insulated walls make it unnecessary to use much heat in the winter. We don't have air con, don't really need it. A clothes line is used to dry most of the clothes. It works fast. Few neighbors hire "mow-blow-and-goers" so there are not that many hours of high decibel scattering of spores and spewing of gasoline fumes. Most neighbors use a rake or ignore their little patches of yard. With a little knowledge and interest, they could feed themselves royally from it. There are a few yards with green grass that are sterile looking and big water sinks. There are various grasses, such as the native California bunch grass that work very well in gardens. Ours is mostly fruit trees, raised beds of vegetables, compost area (to make more soil), and a variety of native and similar Mediterranean plants. Grapes were plentiful over the trellis where grape vines shield the patio from sun. Tomatoes, apples, figs (almost ripe), plums (already gone), carrots, kale, herbs, and more to pick and eat warm.

Tall black bamboo provides privacy in the front yard. Two small ponds with trickling fountains add a natural sound. Mosquito fish eat any mosquito larvae.

A little bit of the freeway smog is absorbed by all of this organic material. Trees and fast-growing shrubs and thick, insulated walls make it unnecessary to use much heat in the winter. We don’t have air con, don’t really need it.

A clothes line is used to dry most of the clothes. It works fast.

Few neighbors hire “mow-blow-and-goers” so there are not that many hours of high decibel scattering of spores and spewing of gasoline fumes. Most neighbors use a rake or ignore their little patches of yard. With a little knowledge and interest, they could feed themselves royally from it. There are a few yards with green grass that are sterile looking and big water sinks.

]]> By: Hspencer http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15289 Hspencer Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:49:44 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15289 So I would suppose that one having a sodded St Augustine Hybrid lawn with a three time a day watering sequence of 30 minutes per station would be out of the question? I was reading an article just tonight in "Fine Homebuilding" magazine about some contractors who were tearing out their own recent work to make changes in the home for the rich clients. They had changed the landscaping three times already. So I would suppose that one having a sodded St Augustine Hybrid lawn with a three time a day watering sequence of 30 minutes per station would be out of the question?
I was reading an article just tonight in “Fine Homebuilding” magazine about some contractors who were tearing out their own recent work to make changes in the home for the rich clients.
They had changed the landscaping three times already.

]]> By: Jacob http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15281 Jacob Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:47:49 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15281 @Photoguy - One of my favorite pet peeves are the broken sprinklers which flood the sidewalks every night. Unfortunately, as a renter there's little one can do (other than not renting). I try to run the lawn under my command more in a natural state, which means it's currently almost the same color as the surrounding hills (brown). @Photoguy – One of my favorite pet peeves are the broken sprinklers which flood the sidewalks every night. Unfortunately, as a renter there’s little one can do (other than not renting). I try to run the lawn under my command more in a natural state, which means it’s currently almost the same color as the surrounding hills (brown).

]]> By: Photoguy http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-15279 Photoguy Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:37:59 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-15279 I think a lawn is very wasteful of water and other resources, especially in california where it is essentially a desert. We ripped out our front lawn and replaced it native garden. It needs almost no water and very little maintenance. Plus it looks a lot better (IMO) and is better for wildlife (insects, birds) At the time Santa Clara county was offering a rebate of up to $1000 to replace your lawn with a low water garden. We took advantage of this and supplied the labor ourselves making it very inexpensive to convert. If this is something you're interested in, I'd check with your county to see what kind of rebates you can get. Next up is the backyard... I think a lawn is very wasteful of water and other resources, especially in california where it is essentially a desert. We ripped out our front lawn and replaced it native garden. It needs almost no water and very little maintenance. Plus it looks a lot better (IMO) and is better for wildlife (insects, birds)

At the time Santa Clara county was offering a rebate of up to $1000 to replace your lawn with a low water garden. We took advantage of this and supplied the labor ourselves making it very inexpensive to convert. If this is something you’re interested in, I’d check with your county to see what kind of rebates you can get.

Next up is the backyard…

]]> By: Farmwife http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-68 Farmwife Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:17:25 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-68 For what it's worth, goats don't really eat much grass :) They would however, love to trim back all your bushes and trees -- especially roses! You'd need a sheep or cow :) If I lived in town, I would convert as much of my yard to vegetable garden as I could. Since I don't live in town, I use my steers and lambs on the yard with movable electric netting. Once they eat down an area, they are moved to another. Works like a champ! For what it’s worth, goats don’t really eat much grass :) They would however, love to trim back all your bushes and trees — especially roses! You’d need a sheep or cow :)

If I lived in town, I would convert as much of my yard to vegetable garden as I could. Since I don’t live in town, I use my steers and lambs on the yard with movable electric netting. Once they eat down an area, they are moved to another. Works like a champ!

]]> By: m http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-64 m Tue, 01 Jan 2008 02:33:52 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-64 We had one at our old place, where for the first time we had a lawn to mow, and esp. since it was a rental, we knew the money spent on a power mower would be too much for the short amount of time we'd prob. need the mower. Plus the environmental component, the lack of noise, the easier storage (smaller), easy maintenance and use, etc. all made it a good decision for us. Granted, we did not have a massive lawn, but it was definitely a good choice for us at the time. However, since it wasn't loud, all the neighborhood kids loved to follow my husband while he mowed and beg to push the mower and generally drove him crazy (in a cute, kid way), but I think he wished for a loud mower at times so he could have some peace from the posse of kids that swarmed around him every time he mowed the lawn! Anyway great post, I think both the push mower and the suggestion of no grass lawn at all are great ideas, some that simply may not occur to some people but that once those possibilities are considered may end up being great environmentally friendly and frugal choices that work for many. We had one at our old place, where for the first time we had a lawn to mow, and esp. since it was a rental, we knew the money spent on a power mower would be too much for the short amount of time we’d prob. need the mower. Plus the environmental component, the lack of noise, the easier storage (smaller), easy maintenance and use, etc. all made it a good decision for us.

Granted, we did not have a massive lawn, but it was definitely a good choice for us at the time. However, since it wasn’t loud, all the neighborhood kids loved to follow my husband while he mowed and beg to push the mower and generally drove him crazy (in a cute, kid way), but I think he wished for a loud mower at times so he could have some peace from the posse of kids that swarmed around him every time he mowed the lawn!

Anyway great post, I think both the push mower and the suggestion of no grass lawn at all are great ideas, some that simply may not occur to some people but that once those possibilities are considered may end up being great environmentally friendly and frugal choices that work for many.

]]> By: Amanda @ Me vs Debt http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-63 Amanda @ Me vs Debt Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:55:13 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-63 This is a great post. First of all, most gasoline powered mowers have no emission control. It makes me mad to think that people have a positive net carbon contributions from maintaining their lawn. Especially that jerk on the tractor! What a joke. I personally don't have a lawn and if I did it would consist of mostly flowers and garden vegetables. I'd be willing to try a push mower on whatever square of grass was left to cut. Sounds easy enough to maintain, no additional fuel cost, and the upfront cost is much lower. Sounds like a win-win-win to me. This is a great post. First of all, most gasoline powered mowers have no emission control. It makes me mad to think that people have a positive net carbon contributions from maintaining their lawn. Especially that jerk on the tractor! What a joke.

I personally don’t have a lawn and if I did it would consist of mostly flowers and garden vegetables. I’d be willing to try a push mower on whatever square of grass was left to cut. Sounds easy enough to maintain, no additional fuel cost, and the upfront cost is much lower. Sounds like a win-win-win to me.

]]> By: Brooke http://earlyretirementextreme.com/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html/comment-page-1#comment-62 Brooke Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:00:34 +0000 http://earlyretirementextreme.com/2007/12/get-a-push-lawn-mower.html#comment-62 We don't obsess over our grass. It gets mowed when it gets mowed and we don't really worry about it until it comes time to sell our house. Then, we might water it a bit and/or edge it. I agree with you about the OCD thing...I choose my battles, i.e. I choose what I'm OCD about!!! We don’t obsess over our grass. It gets mowed when it gets mowed and we don’t really worry about it until it comes time to sell our house. Then, we might water it a bit and/or edge it. I agree with you about the OCD thing…I choose my battles, i.e. I choose what I’m OCD about!!!

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