The Push Reel Mower and I

I must confess that lawn mowing is one of my least favorite activities.  If I had my way I’d let the grass grow wild and waist high, but I do live in a neighborhood where keeping the lawn looking presentable is an honorable activity – so I mow.   I do like to keep a modicum of respectability!

For about four years now, I have been using an old-fashioned push reel mower.  I had just about reached the end of my rope with the gas-guzzling power mower I was using.  It was extremely loud, heavy, hard to handle and hard to start.  Clippings would get caught in the shoot and twigs got caught in the line.  I was forever running over to my neighbors asking for help with the mower.  This got very tiring.  I thought that there just had to be a better way.  There was.

Despite the protests of friends and family, warning me that there was NO way I was going to be able to push-mow my lawn I purchased a push mower.  From the start, the pure simplicity of the machine was a beautiful breath of fresh air.  I guided it over the grass and lo and behold, it was cutting it!  No noise, no fumes, no energy used (except my own)…amazing!  At first I used a clipping catcher because I was so used to putting my grass clippings in the yard waste recycling.  Now I just leave the clippings on the grass for mulch.

My neighbors are now accustomed to me and my push-mower.  At first, I had neighbor kids quizzing me about what this strange contraption was.  Adults would just smile at me with odd puzzlement.  Believe me, with my clothesline and push-reel mower I definitely stand out in the neighborhood-ha ha.

So even though I really don’t like lawn mowing, I have come to an acceptance of it.  I find that while I’m mowing I often space out, think and even meditate.  Something about being in the fresh air and performing a mundane repetitive task seems to activate this.  My arms get stronger too.

~Happy Mowing!

Marilyn