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Push Mowers Gaining New Popularity

Mowers Say Mowing Lawns Without Gas Is Good Exercise

POSTED: 1:46 pm EDT August 12, 2008
UPDATED: 6:52 pm EDT August 12, 2008

What is old is new again in many yards around New England.

Push Mowers Making Comeback? | Send In Your Push Mower Photos | See Pictures

High gas prices and a concern for the environment have many people pulling out their old push lawn mowers.

NewsCenter 5's David Brown reported that Nadine Suhrbier has had a love affair with her push mower for nearly 40 years.

While many of us have been cutting grass with gas guzzling air polluting lawn mowers, Suhrbier has always used a push mower.

Every blade of grass growing in her Winchester, Mass., lawn has been trimmed the old fashioned way. She doesn't have to fill a tank or worry about emissions, she just gets out and goes.

"It gives me time to see whats happening in the yard. It may lead to a full days work at other things, becaue one thing goes to another to another. At least I know whats happening out here," Suhrbier said.

Nadine is not alone. According to the American Lawn Mower Company, sales of push mowers are up 60 to 70 percent this year.

At Harvey's Hardware in Needham, Mass., the push is on to keep the hand mower in stock.

"People are starting to go green, and they are thinking about energy and they are thinking about the environement and they are considering using a push lawnmower for both exercise adn the environment," owner Gary Katz said.

The EPA said nearly 800 million gallons of gas are used by Americans cutting their lawn, emitting 5 percent of the nation's air pollution.

Not in Suhrbier's yard, though. She even still has her very first push mower.

"This one has the sound of a real mower. It's just very satisfying. Do you hear that? With a push mower you actually hear nature. it greatly reduces noise pollution as well. Plus this is great exercise. In about 30 minutes, I'll burn over 500 calories," she said.

"You're out of breath a little bit. I was up and down that hill. It's a good work out. It's a good work out yeah," Suhrbier said.

Push mowing isn't for everyone. A yard needs to be small and not that hilly. For many, however, it's the only way -- the natural way -- to cut grass.


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