Category: Daily Living
Can or do any of you mow your lawns? I would like to try but I would like some tips from though's of you that do or just some stories of atempts at trying it.
It is absolutely doable. First of all make sure all pets, including out-door cats are all inside, as well as children of course. Next, walk the perimeter of your yard using a white cane in wide thorough arks, sweeping the entire lawn, moving in either concentric circles or a series of strait lines from points along your fence or yard's boarder. Also, be clear on the shape, size and boundries of your yard. Walk it often, have a sighted person walk it with you. Have someone sighted describe your yard in detail to you, especially if it is oddly shaped, or has a unique feature like a pool, gardin, tree, retainer wall, etc. Buy a lawn mower that is as quiet as possible so that you can hear someone's instructions if neccessary, the sound of a small child, dog or cat that might wander into your yard, the creek of your back gate, the hum of your pool filter's motor, the babble of your coy pond, whatever. Go slowly and have someone sighted, with a nice low blood pressure watch you the first few times you try this. Count steps if neccessary, keeping in mind that your lawn mower will proceed you by quite a few of these. You can also first practice pushing your lawn mower around while it is off, to give you a good idea of muscle memory and spacial relationships. I hope this helps.
This is interesting. I was recently wondering if this would be possible to do as a blind individual. Any more tips or articles would be welcome.
Just how does one know which is the quietest lawn mower? Can you test them for loudness by first turning them on in the store or something? Maybe it's a selling point.
Nem walks off the board scratching his head.
In terms of a "quiet lawn mower" I'd say that electrics are definitely quieter than gas. I know there are a few companies that sell robot lawn mowers. I think the same people that make the Roomba vacuum cleaner is one such company. Thanks for your post, Heather. I especially liked the low blood pressure reference.
Lou
LOL!!! Nem, you're funny!!! I certainly agree with Nem that you cannot check the decibel level at the store (post 3), but I agree with what Heather had said regarding knowing your yard and stuff (post 2). First, get to know your yard as if it is the back of your hand. Then, picture that shape in your head and try to divide the yard into many pieces of rectangular or square segments. Having done so, mow your lawn as if you are vacuuming your carpet. Using each segment as your reference (or guidance) point, walk back and forth till you are done with that segment. After that, you can move on to the next segment until you are done mowing your entire yard. Personally, I am not too hung up on the noisiness of a lawn mower. Most of modern-day mowers are pretty quiet. However, in terms of getting an electric or gas, as a blind person, I would recommend a gas powered mower. The thing that I don't like about electric ones is that since most of people's yard requires 50 or more feet of electric extension cord, if you are not careful, it is so easy to mow over the extension cord and cut the cord by accident. I learned this the very first time I used an electric mower. The danger, of course, is that you can easily start a grass fire with exposed electrical wire. Ever since that experience, I keep track of my cord and constantly toss the cord over my shoulder to ensure that I wouldn't cut it with the mower. Anyway, hope I added something to helping you decide.
interesting I agree. although my yard is so huge I'd probably run in to the woods or get lost trying to walk it with my cane. lol well thanks people, keep posting.
jenna
fuck that, i'd just hire someone desperate high school kid that needed money, hahahaha
Thats the best way to go.
If I'm not mistaken, when sighted people mo their yards, the mower leaves little lines i the grass. Some people have commented on how beautiful a neat a lawn looks when the lines are in nice, straight rows. Is there a technique for making sure the lines are straight if you cannot see them?
My dad used to mow our lawn when I was a kid, and the lines were always nice and straight. But we had a nice square yard, so it was easy and I think would have been easy even for a blind person. I guess a blind person could do it if they had a very good sense of direction and could detect immediately if he or she started walking in a not so straight line. And if the yard is shaped funny or has trees, flower beds, and other things that you have to go around, I'm not sure how you would manage it as a blind person. See? This is why I live in a condo and don't have to do my own outside maintenance work.
Yeah, that's why I want to live in a condo. lol.
I've mowed my yard several times, so that part of is doable! the real question is does it look good afterwords and the answer is no. it looks like a blind guy did it.
lol. If the grass is really high and it just needs mowing I'll do it. but I don't do it for looks. just to get it done!
for a quiet mower, you may want ot check in to old-fashioned reel mowers.
they don't have a motor, but are ground driven.
they sell them at www.lehmans.com
I've never used one, but have heard good hings about them.
I rather hire somebody or live in a condo.
I may have attempted this back at my parent's place, as they had a cookie-cutter suburban property that was pretty much square...but yikes, where I live now... we have a stream on our property, a few dozen trees, numerous buildings (house, garage, sheds, etc.) in non-liniear placements,... and a ride-on lawn mower. Haha I'm kind of hooped.
I agree though about it being entirely possible, and post two had a lot of good information. I'd also be concerned about mower over the cord on an electric mower though. Those old fashioned mowers seem like one of the safest bets in my opinion.
go to http://www.blindcooltech.com. Larry Skutchan is a blind guy, has that site. loads of podcasts, one of which is on this very subject. He does all sorts of yard work. Me personally, I suck at it, but the link is good though.
I'll just hire the kid who wants some extra money to do my yardwork. lol
I agree with you. You won't catch me mowing the lawn. I vere a lot as it is, especially when loud noise is going on so that would be a disaster.
Kerby