Time To Mow?

Try a rechargeable battery powered mower!

- Beth Hicks

I get asked about my eco-friendly mower all the time…

When the temperature hit 79 degrees last week, I figured it was time to get the mower out of the garage and get some exercise (and have a good excuse to get away from my computer!). This is the third season I’ve had this mower and I’ve learned quickly to only use it on the weekdays when foot traffic is lower in my historic neighborhood on Des Moines’ west side. My Neuton® mower is a novelty in town (but hopefully not for long). People are drawn to its lime-green color and quiet motor. They’re amazed that I can carry on a conversation and mow at the same time. And they’re not overcome by gas fumes – this mower runs on a rechargeable battery. I rarely mind the interruptions since half of my lawn usually gets cut when neighbors want to try out the mower.

As far as I was concerned, this new mower was a good deal all around - for the environment and for my family’s health and safety. According to the U.S. EPA, lawn mowers contribute more to greenhouse gases than driving an SUV. And Americans use 800 million gallons of gasoline to power their lawn mowers annually. So, until I can afford to replace my Subaru Forester with a biodiesel powered station wagon or hybrid car, I’ll make a bigger impact with my mower.

After I almost ran over my foot mowing my steep side yard with an old, heavy Lawn-Boy, I got on-line and ordered my Neuton®. This mower weighs only half as much as other mowers. I don’t worry about the price of gasoline. I also don’t worry about running out of fuel or spilling it on the grass or myself during refilling.

Low maintenance is another benefit of this mower. I just sharpen the blade (I haven’t even done that every season), make sure my battery is charged and off I go. I went ahead and bought the extra battery for convenience. I can finish my small city lot on the one-hour charge of one battery. I have a mulching blade and regular blade that I use with a bag (then put the cuttings on my garden for weed control). The coolest accessory to my mower is the trimmer attachment. It fits on the front of the mower and is adjustable – I’ve found that this is where I sometimes need my extra battery.

My mower isn’t perfect. I can’t mow when the grass is really wet or really high – although, I don’t think those are ideal conditions for any kind of mower. The blade path is narrower than a typical mower, but a new, wider CE 6.2 mower is now available.

Retail price for the smaller CE 5.2 mower is $379 and the new, larger CE 6.2 mower is $479 (with free shipping). Six-month, no-interest financing and a six-month risk free trial are available. Convince your friend or neighbor to buy one with you and you can each save up to $30.

I bought mine on-line at www.neutonpower.com when there was free shipping included. For some crazy reason, the website doesn’t list any central Iowa dealers. However, you can buy them at Midway Outdoor Equipment in Hiawatha; and they’re serviced at Bob's Mower Clinic in Atlantic or Holtz Small Engine in Avoca. They can also be serviced by anyone that services electric mowers (sewing machines, vacuums), like Sears. Black & Decker also carries a line of battery-powered mowers (no cord to run over like in the past).

Beth Hicks lives in Des Moines and is the Director of Advancement Services for Keep Iowa Beautiful (www.keepiowabeautiful.com) and is the co-founder and past president of the Center on Sustainable Communities (www.icosc.com).