Blog of The Organic Gardener

LEARNING TO SWITCH OFF

Hello again. Today there have been more reminders in the news about how to reduce energy demands. This is necessary to slow the sharp rise in 'greenhouse gas' that is threatening our environment. While switching off electrical appliances that are on stand-by, and battery chargers left plugged in etc... were mentioned, I'd like to give a few ways to save energy in the garden.

Overall the massive and widespread expansion in the use of power seriously threatens the environment that sustains us. The development of power machines for every kind of domestic gardening job must also add significantly to this energy drain.

Nowadays, summer weekends in suburbia are shattered with the roaring din of not one, but many types of power machines all over the neighbourhood: mowers, hedge trimmers, blo-vacs, lawn scarifiers, strimmers, you name it. It seems that no one knows how to do a job without a plug-in. Nationwide 'power gardening' alone must cause a massive extra drain on resources and cause a massive significant increase in carbon dioxide production to generate the power needed.

But do these machines help us as much as we think? When I need every bit of encouragement to get out and mow the grass I find the thought of dragging out a heavy mower and messing around with electric cables is just enough to put me off. Wrestling with trailing cables for me, simply spoils the fun of gardening.

By contrast my manual mower is small, light, easy to get out, and carry around, and it can be wizzed around the lawn in no time. In fact, I can almost run with my side wheeled mower - and it does a good job on the grass too. (You've probably guessed that I'm frequently in a hurry.)

There's no doubt in my mind that for a normal domestic garden situation, a power mower is a waste of energy - and I feel so much healthier and fitter after doing the grass with a push mower.

If you must choose a power mower then can I suggest not getting an oversized mower. The extra weight, storage space and manouverablity are considerations. Take hover mowers for example. Qualcast only make a small hover mower because the additional weight of a grass box and the more powerful heavier motor that is needed - ...yes, to lift its own weight! - is so inefficient. A link to more detailed discussions on using and choosing lawn mowers and lawn care is on this page.

IS AFFLUENCE THE MEASURE OF ILL-HEALTH?

I believe that power machines, including cars, are for the elderly and the disabled, and those rough gardening situations (e.g. slopes), that call for a heavy duty machine. But they are also often used by the unfit (or, dare I say, lazy). But don't kid yourself that obesity is fashionable or good. Get into your garden and get healthy. With fresh organic food it gives you just about a complete work out.

Now if you're stuck in an office on weekdays you can really look forward to the garden at weekends.
First: flush out the stuffy office with a few deep, deep breaths in; each followed by an exhale right, right out...

Then do a few gentle bending and stretching exercises... do you feel better now?
Then get on with the lawn and take in the gentle smell of the fresh mown grass, cut chammomile, lemon balm etc...

It's a question of priorities where quality of life comes first. I hope that you have a good harvest.