Breathe Easier This Fall
Kids are back to school, the days are getting shorter and the leaves are starting to turn. Of course all those leaves will be coming down soon. The last few years leaf blowers have become all the rage and their droning will soon be heard from the Bronx border to the Connecticut border to the mighty Hudson and everywhere in between. If you are the unfortunate user of such a device you may want to know that the fumes coming off of the engine are not filtered and contain far more particulate matter and carcinogenic pollution than come off of any gas burning vehicle. (Now picture that within say 2 feet of your head for an hour or so every weekend.)
But they are so convenient? Don’t forget to figure in the time it takes you to drive to the gas station, pump the gas, (inhaling gas fumes), transporting the gas back home in your vehicle, (inhaling more fumes), finding a “safe” place to store the fuel, filling the blower, occasionally maintaining the blower, getting the darn thing started when it’s feeling finicky, and the time it takes you to say “What?!?” to everyone who attempts to speak to you for a few hours after you use your blower. Even if all that takes less time how good is that “extra” quality time you think you earned when you are hacking up dust and leaf chunks in front of the TV at night?
If you are one of the lucky ones who has someone to do lawn care for you, think through this: While you are at work blissfully unaware, back at home where your kids are, ther is a cacophony of sound, dust, particulate matter and exhaust fumes being spewed about your yard in the name of tidiness. Your family, the neighbors, and all who pass by are getting their dose of blower byproducts.
The solution? Behold the humble rake, a tool that has been around since the dawn of civilized man. Look at the side benefits: Minimal dust (while no method of leaf and lawn trimmings removal is dust free the rake kicks up a small fraction of the dust) Exhaust free (except your breathing). When used well a great upper body work out (Caution: You may end up with Pecs like Arnie). Avoiding the “You blow leaves into my yard on Saturday and I’ll blow leaves back into your yard on Sunday feuds”, leaf piles for your kids to jump in. (Blowers just can’t match the piling power or beauty of the rake) Economy for about 15 bucks you can buy one of these that will last you until your raking days are over. And the blessing of peace as you quietly commune with the lawn that you worked so hard to come by.
