The reel deal

by Maryjane Butters
| May 23, 2010 9:00 PM

"You may think I've sprung a leak in my good sense, MaryJane, but I am so excited to tell you about my new toy. Well, it's an old toy, actually, and it isn't really the kind of thing that most sane people would consider fun. But perspective is everything, isn't it?"

This ebullient message, sent from a fellow farm girl named Laurie, piqued my interest. What kind of contraption were we talking about here? I plunged into the rest of the letter to learn that Laurie had recently rummaged through her in-laws' garage in order to excavate a long-dormant reel lawnmower. Yes, the kind that you push along, spinning the happy "hamster wheel" blades without a lick of noise or exhaust. The mower, she wrote, is a Great States model (made in the USA) and although it has a few years on it, it's far from retirement age. "The beauty of the thing, right off the bat, is that even after sitting for several seasons, it doesn't require any kind of tune-up beyond a serious sharpening of the blades. And even though the blades are currently as dull as the edge of my thumb, they still cut enough grass to give me hope that this newly blossomed relationship is going to last."

If you're puzzling over why a farm girl would feel so giddy about a powerless lawnmower, let me explain. Like so many un-technological wonders, a reel mower is a blast from the past that holds promise for the future. Just think about the gasoline savings alone. Each summer, Americans pay so much money for petro-poison that was plundered from the Earth only to burn it in lawnmowers, releasing foul fumes into the air we all share. Old habits and vicious cycles are hard to break, but what's more satisfying than taking a crack at a new way of living?

As it happens, Laurie is not alone in her enthusiasm. A growing number of people nationwide are reverting to old-fashioned mowers. You might say they're "quietly" making a comeback. Of course, everybody has their own reasons. Some like the lack of noise; others enjoy saving money. And parents like Laurie appreciate the fact that they can mow with kids nearby in the yard - no flying debris, deadly blades or polluted air. And in case you're wondering about how hard it might be to heft around a reel mower, take heart. The modern reel mowers are made of lighter alloys and weigh about 25 pounds (far less than a gas-powered push mower). But the flip side is that pushing a reel mower at a steady clip is enough work that you breathe and sweat, and your blood pumps. These are great side effects! Suddenly, mowing the lawn becomes incredibly efficient exercise.

Another perk? Reel mowers are really quite cheap, considering the cost of most everything these days. Laurie's model would cost about $90 new, and the more deluxe models (including those with the option of electric power) are generally somewhere around $300. Popular brands include Scotts, Brill and Sunlawn. Plus, you can forget expensive maintenance issues - no oil changes, spark plugs, engine overhauls. The only maintenance required is brushing off the blades after each use, an end-of-season blade spritz with WD-40, and blade sharpening every two years. You can have the blades sharpened by your local hardware store, or purchase a DIY Sharpening Kit for Reel Mowers at www.composters.com. You can justify your reel mower purchase as an investment in cleaner living, but as soon as you get it home, I bet you'll be calling it a toy, too!

Here are some tips to make your reel mowing experience enjoyable and effective:

1. Push your mower at a good, steady pace to keep the blades turning smoothly.

2. Overlap your rows to make pushing easier and to help catch any spots you might have missed on the last row.

3. Experiment with your mowing patterns, since some grass patches may grow in different directions.

4. Mow weekly, or as needed, to keep the grass from getting too tall between cuttings. (Shorter grass is easier to cut.)

5. Adjust your blade height until you get the best results for your lawn.

6. Take advantage of your mower's quiet performance and mow early in the day, while the air is still cool. You won't bother your neighbors a bit!