cordless lawnmower in SA

When I was living in Ontario five years ago, I bought a cordless lawnmower. But I haven't seen one here in South Africa - until now. The Brio cordless electric 500 Rotary Lawn Mower is available from BesTech Outdoor for just under R4,000. They have other cordless garden tools too. Since most of South Africa's electricity is produced from coal, this is not emission-free gardening - but the emissions from the coal-generated electricity used by the mower is far less than what spews out of petrol-driven lawn mowers, and if you charge it with solar panels or a wind turbine, then the benefit is multiplied.

Of course it would be better if we just had less grass, but until everyone converts their gardens to mini urban farms, or indigenous gardens, this is the next best thing for reducing environmental impact - a compromise not unlike buying a hybrid car.

Comments

[Duncan Drennan]

Or even better, use a push mower. They work really well, are emissions free, no harder than pushing a normal mower, quicker to get going (no cords, fuel, etc.) and cheap.

[Rory]

Well ok, you got me there, Duncan. I should have known I couldn't slip that one past without a comment!

[Erica Tsujita]

I agree with Duncan, although our push mower does a lousy job cutting weeds like dandelions and plantain! As far as less grass, we've decided to get rid of all the grass in our front yard and make a rock garden (I'll have to send you pics, Rory, when it's all finished) with perennial flowers and ground cover. We're certainly not the only folks in North America to think of this and I see more and more front lawns landscaped this way.

[Rory]

Thanks for your comment, Erica. Can't wait to see the rock garden. You've also got veggies in the back, which score lots of points! We are trying to get a vegetable garden going too, but time is the challenge.