MowGreen.US - Reel Mowing; Quiet, Clean & Green - Expanding

Fairfield, CT. MowGreen.US, the reel mowing; quiet, clean and green company, enters its second year of operations with plans to expand its grassroots environmental movement.
MowGreen reduces noise and air pollution, while cutting out spillage and consumption of gasoline by using of people-powered reel mowers.
MowGreen's first customer in 2007 was Larry Kaley, of the Fairfield RTM and Chairman of Fairfield's Earthday Celebration.

Larry Kaley & Dan Delventhal

The noise and pollution of traditional lawncare has always disturbed me", observes MowGreen founder Dan Delventhal, "Many people don't realize that gas guzzling lawnmowers, trimmers, and leafblowers run 20 times less efficiently than cars and literally create tons of pollution. Further, more gas is spilled nationwide around this gear in one year than the entire Exxon Valdez spill (which they have yet to pay damages for, btw). Lawncare related combustion represents 5 - 8% of our pollution in the US, and the noise destroys the beauty and tranquility of our neighborhoods."

MowGreen.US's, Reel Mowing; Quiet, Clean & Green service costs about the same as traditional mowing services.

Delventhal with Reel Mower.

My testing has determined that the American Lawn Mower 20" Reel Mower Design is best so far. Some of these mowers are manufactured in the US by The American Lawn Mower Company (sales were up 25% plus last year), but it appears the design is licensed out and some are made in China (I avoid those (Scotts Classic) because of the adverse environmental impact of that approach). Contact MowGreen.US to find out how to purchase one from the US. Although it requires sharpening more often than say, the Sunlawn or Brill imports more hardened steel models, it is the only 20" wide unit I am aware of and it adjusts higher than others as well, easily set to as high as 3". Its easy to sharpen! There is a kit for about $20 which consists of some grit, a brush and a handle, to pop the wheel cover, slap it on and grind it backwards to sharpen it against its own counter/cross blade. Piece of cake! And you can still push this thing with one hand its so much lighter than the older models.

If you own a reel mower and need it sharpened, you might try one of these kits and see if you can do it that way, or you can take it to Charlie Guerra of Sport Hill Lawn Mower Service where they dissassemble and grind 'em like new for $40.

For reel mowing to work most easily, it needs to be done slightly more often than with rotary mowers, which rip the grass and are not as good for your lawn as the nice scissor slicing motion from reel mowers. If the grass gets too long they don't cut as well, and you have to do it twice to get it right. Really long shoots don't get cut well and you have to whip them afterwards, or snap them off by hand when you have to.

MowGreen customers are encouraged to buy their own mowers and use them too! With a mower at your site, our green and fit staff may be able to get there to work without combustion (think bikes, walking, rollerblading, smaller vehicles). Your cost for mowing will be lower if you own the equipment. It will be lower still if you allow the use of your reel mower by MowGreen on other lawns nearby so MowGreen partners don't have to travel carrying gear. While you're at it (the greening of your home that is), you might consider picking up an electric cordless weed wacker or at least some hand clippers and some plants like pacasandra to reduce your lawn's footprint. Grass is really not that good for the environment, as it relates to the water system (it promotes "fast run off" due to poor "soak-up" power).

We are leveraging web-based ordering and job matching (and soon payments, balances, other client/partner services) and can join you mowing or do it for you - whichever you desire. We'll have a sharpening service too, soon. If you jump in and mow with us, we'll credit the portion of the yard you did from the bill. We want to see everyone getting the benefit of quiet, clean, & green, reel mowing.

House by house, in concert with other "residential greening" associations, Fairfield Earthday Celebration team,  school-based e-groups and local administration, we'll map out a quieter, cleaner & greener America, the old-fashioned way, (or as an original Fairfield Earthday composting sage might say, "you know, old-school wisdom"), with a movement at the grass roots level.


MowGreen can be reached at: Mow@MowGreen.US (www.MowGreen.US.)