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Post by snoozy on May 30, 2015 23:17:19 GMT
I've burnt out yet another corded Black & Decker. Our clearing is about 3/4 acre, I think. I really don't like the stink of gas mowers. Nor the back-wrenching pullcords of them. So it's either another electric mower of some sort, or...if I get this place fenced as I hope to so I can have a proper dog or two or three, maybe I should just get a couple of sheep. What do you think? Or can you recommend any electric mowers, at least for the timebeing?
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Post by Ken on May 30, 2015 23:52:45 GMT
I've been using a Homelite for about 6 years now. It works great, the noise isn't bad (I can hear neighbors mowing while I'm mowing, lol) and NO GAS! I live in a suburban neighborhood with approx 1/4 acre lawn and if I let the grass grow to tall, the battery won't let me get it all done (though close). It's not self-propelled but I need the exercise, heh.
I have a Ryobi trimmer that uses the same lithium batteries as my cordless power tools.
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Post by Ken on May 30, 2015 23:55:46 GMT
I was trying to say I love electrics, but I don't know of any cordless ones that will do 3/4 acre.
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Post by ketoriverfarm on May 31, 2015 0:02:32 GMT
I've burnt out yet another corded Black & Decker. Our clearing is about 3/4 acre, I think. I really don't like the stink of gas mowers. Nor the back-wrenching pullcords of them. So it's either another electric mower of some sort, or...if I get this place fenced as I hope to so I can have a proper dog or two or three, maybe I should just get a couple of sheep. What do you think? Or can you recommend any electric mowers, at least for the timebeing? Definitely a couple if sheep!  |
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Post by barefootfarmer on May 31, 2015 0:16:22 GMT
We have a quarter acre in fruit trees at the moment. My husband was spending a LOT of time trying to keep it mowed. Not to mention gas etc. I started with hair sheep- Katahdins. Bad mistake. They were more goat like and went after limbs. Currently I have a dairy breed of sheep running through it. They are fantastic! They keep it mowed, eat around the trunks of the young fruit trees and never touch any of the branches.
Next season I'm going to buy about 15 of the dairy bottle lambs for the orchard. I have milk cows, so lots of extra milk to raise the lambs. Keeping them as bottle lambs, they are super friendly. I can just call "Hey babies!" and the current ones come running to me. At the end of the season they will be turned into ground lamb and I'll start over next spring.
The important part was training them to electric wire early on. Someday when I have more money, I'll fence the orchard with board fencing. Hot wire works great for now.
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Post by Bear Foot Farm on May 31, 2015 1:44:38 GMT
Buy a real lawnmower and put up with it for the hour it will take to mow
Sheep are not lawn mowers, and will require far more of your time and energy
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Post by Skandi on May 31, 2015 9:32:38 GMT
Can't do much about the petrol smell, but most have a version with electric start now. Mine has, and I MUCH prefer it! There's also a pull if the battery is flat, but I've not had to use it yet. I've also gone with a 4 stroke, becasue I hate faffing with the oil mix. I had a look at cordless electric. most of them were saying a max 20min run time then a 40min recharge. I've probably got 1/2 acre under grass but I can't use anything with a cable as my "lawns" are small and surrounded by bushes and trees! so I had to bite the bullet and go petrol.
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Post by karenp on May 31, 2015 11:23:35 GMT
What about one of the non-powered lawn mowers with the spinning blades? I've never tried one, but they're suppose to work well if you keep the blades sharp.
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Post by wolfmom on May 31, 2015 11:58:49 GMT
electric-lawn-mowers-review.toptenreviews.com/I have a small (14" cutting width) Works electric lawn mower. I needed a light one for a hillside area and, like the op, have a hard time pulling a gas starter cord. Plus they are too heavy for me to wrestle with on the hillside! It holds a long charge. I figure you could get 1/2 your lawn cut on a single charge, snoozy. If you find a mower you like, how about getting 2 batteries? I also have a Ryobi string edger. It's dual electric. I usually run it with an electric cord as the battery is worthless for running it for any length of time. BTW: I also had a corded Black & Decker lawn mower. When it stopped working, I found out it was not the motor, but the orange plastic lever in the handle that makes the electrical connection connect was worn down. (does that make sense?) Easily replaced.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 15:02:16 GMT
Lawn is such a waste on a homestead. We don't have a lawn, we have a tiny yard, flower beds for a little color, a patio, garden area and driveway to keep animals off the front porch. The little goats keep the "grass" trimmed outside the fence. Lambs would do the same and give wool, meat and/or milk if you got the right breed. We have a gate at the end of the driveway that we close, as needed, to let the goats eat the grass along the driveway and under the fruit trees that line the driveway. Sheep or goats do an excellent job eating grass, right down to 1/2" tall, if you let them. No mowing what so ever. AND, little ones are sooooooooo cute, make me smile. Big ones are like a big dog and will even cuddle. Much better than a smoke belching noisy lawn mower, or an electric that wastes electricity. I, personally, don't even own a weedeater, can't use a scythe. I do have a weed whip and a little grass blade....James
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Post by snoozy on May 31, 2015 18:35:42 GMT
James, when I say "lawn" I mean a conglomeration of grass, dandelions, quackgrass, plantain, nettles, blackberry upstarts, buttercups, ferns...on and on. I wouldn't want you to think I have golf turf here.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 19:16:41 GMT
All the more reason to "pasture" "it". smile....James
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Post by snoozy on May 31, 2015 19:24:08 GMT
That is a good link, Wolfmom. Although, of course, a lot of consumer review sites are bogus, it did give me a nice chart to compare various factors, and that is very useful. Thanks!
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Post by snoozy on Jun 2, 2015 16:40:43 GMT
So after evaluating the details on that comparison chart and reading reviews, we went out and got an Ego cordless. Mainly because it has the highest voltage and yet a quick recharge, and has a lithium battery which is only 3 lbs, instead of a lead acid battery which weighs a metric ton. Works fine. Recharges within 45 maybe even 30 minutes. Perhaps our clearing is bigger than I think, or maybe I was going slow because the grass is long, but I've only got 1/2 the area mowed and that was on 2 charges. I don't mind having to take a break when the battery needs recharging. My back usually needs a break then anyway!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2015 14:45:40 GMT
ALPACA's. I have llamas and have not mowed in 4 years. Alpacas are smaller. May not challenge fences like sheep. I know my llamas do not challenge them. Just my .02
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