Video: Brill Reel Mower Blade and Height Adjustments

Tips on sharpening, oiling, and setting the height of Brill Razorcut Reel Mowers.

Another customer contribution to our blog. Thanks for all your input!

Video: How Reel Mowers Cut down Pollution

Winner of the LiveEarth/MSN video contest! To fight climate change in our backyard, we use a reel mower to cut the grass. I made this video with my 8-year-old son Carrick to show the reasons why …

A customer just sent in this video as the reason why they purchased a reel  mower from us. We couldn’t have said it better (or more charmingly) ourselves!

Google’s Eco-friendly Weed Whackers: Goats!

No…Peoplepoweredmachines is not going into the goat business. But a customer sent us this info and it made our day. And we would rather you rent goats than use a gas powered mower any day.

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They cost the same as a lawnmower and they’ll even throw in their special blend of self-produced fertilizer. Google has found a “low-carbon” way to keep the expansive lawns of its Googleplex trim ::

From Google’s Blog ::
“At our Mountain View headquarters, we have some fields that we need to mow occasionally to clear weeds and brush to reduce fire hazard. This spring we decided to take a low-carbon approach: Instead of using noisy mowers that run on gasoline and pollute the air, we’ve rented some goats from California Grazing to do the job for us (we’re not “kidding”). A herder brings about 200 goats and they spend roughly a week with us at Google, eating the grass and fertilizing at the same time. The goats are herded with the help of Jen, a border collie. It costs us about the same as mowing, and goats are a lot cuter to watch than lawn mowers.

google's goats!

Wonder why goats :: (from california grazing)

Goat grazing is a cost effective, ecologically sound way to clear land and promote growth of native grasses and beneficial plants, particularly for large acreages and difficult terrain. It has been proven to efficiently handle areas that are inaccessible or difficult to manage with mowers, areas where burns are inadvisable, and sensitive areas where the application of herbicides is not appropriate.

Our goats restore plant species that better clean the air, reduce water pollution, prevent the spread of fires, eliminate mower emissions, and fertilize while they graze!

California Grazing provides a grazing management system that not only cuts back on the weeds, but also helps native grasses to survive. The company calls their 800 goats “self propelled weed eaters.”

But Goats aren’t Ideal for Lawns::

• in-depth article on what goats can and cannot do.
• find rental goats in your area

Easun Naturcut 4 Minute Adjustment

Naturcut push reel mowers

Easun Naturcut Adjustment:
While most of our customers have been pleased with their purchase of this powerful new push reel mower, some have had to make some adjustments due to shipping vibrations loosening a particular part of the mover. If your Easun is making a celebratory clanging sound, this post is for you!

Here’s the Adjustment::
Take off the hub cap. Take off the E-clip with a screw driver. Take off the two washers and take off the wheel. Now you can see a screw which fastens the handle stem. Tighten the screw with a philips head screw driver. Put wheel back, put washers on, put E-clip on, put hub cap back on. If noise persists, do the other side.

Naturcut Reel Mowers are the rebranded Sunlawn Brand Mowers. For more on that, see this post.

3 IPhone Apps Every Eco-Shopper Needs

I’ve had these apps for a while and it just occured to me that not everyone spends hours sorting thru the IPhone App Store…so here you go…my guide to 3 eco-apps I use at least twice a week::

Monterey Bay Seafood Guide App

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Guide ::
This iPhone application brings the latest Seafood Watch recommendations directly to your iPhone or iPod touch. Now you can make sustainable seafood choices quickly and easily—whether you’re eating at your favorite restaurant or shopping for dinner. And at a time when the world’s oceans are severely overfished, your seafood choices make a big difference. Get the app before you buy another fish! I was very surprised by some of the fish on the no-buy list!

IRecycle: What and Where you can recycle those #5 plastic things!

Earth 911’s IRecycle App::
Earth911 has put out a neat iPhone app that makes recycling locally super simple, telling you exactly what you can recycle and where to take it when you’re ready to send it off.

From Earth911:

Compatible with both iPhone and iTouch, iRecycle brings you Earth911.com’s national, comprehensive database of over 100,000 recycling and proper disposal locations for over 200 products at the touch of a button. Whether you need to recycle motor oil and CFLs in San Francisco or rechargeable batteries and paint in Washington, DC, iRecycle can connect you with real, local options.

Even when you think you’re eco-savvy, sometimes you still find yourself asking, “Can I recycle this? If so…who takes it?” Kinda cool your phone can now answer that for you. The app tells you not only what and where, but even the hours of operation of the facilities and directions on how to get there. Check out Earth911 for download details. And, it’s free!

Greenpeace: Stop using old growth forests paper prodcuts!

Greenpeace’s Recycled Tissue and Toilet Paper Guide::
The Guide makes it quick and easy to find out which brands of facial tissues, toilet paper, paper towels, and napkins are truly green and which should be avoided. Our experts have carefully evaluated over 100 brands and recommended those that: contain 100% overall recycled content; contain at least 50% post-consumer recycled content; and are bleached without toxic chlorine compounds.

When you’re doing your grocery shopping or just stopping by the corner store to grab a roll of toilet paper, make an informed decision as both a consumer and someone concerned about the world’s ancient forests. Below is the online version. Above is the Iphone app version. Interesting that CVS paper towels rank above many others.

Easun Mowers will not have Sunlawn Brand Name Afterall

ADDENDUM TO PRIOR POST: Sunlawn Reel Mower Brand Taken over by Easun

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Recently we reported that the Easun company filled the void left by Sunlawn’s closing, buying their designs and mower manufacturing setup. When Sunlawn closed its operations in May 2009, we were all very surprised, but also very relieved to have Easun keep these fine reel mowers in production for this 2009 season.

Originally, the mowers were going to keep the Sunlawn brand names and prepend Easun to them. Today we learned that the mowers will be completely renamed under the Easun brand as Easun prepares their marketing campaigns. We are about to head over to the site and change all the Branding on these mowers, but if you are in the middle of deciding/comparing/researching mowers we thought you’d want to know what’s up. See New Easun NaturCut Reel Mowers

Best…
David Temple
Peoplepoweredmachines.com

Sunlawn Easun shipment delayed one week by port office

Sunlawn Easun Reel Mowers are Coming!

First Shipment delayed at the port: We just received word that the first shipment of all Sunlawn Easun Classic and Ideal reel mowers will be delayed one week. Our warehouse is ready to ship them asap the day they arrive! We are now projecting shipping in late May.

Thanks for your understanding.

Enjoy your garden….
David Temple
Peoplepoweredmachines.com

Better Assembly Instructions for Brill Razorcut Mowers

Brill Razorcut Reel Mower Handle Assembly

Brill Reel Mower Line:
The Brill Reel mower line includes the  Razorcut 33, Razorcut 38, and Accu Razorcut . These mowers all have the same handle and handle assembly instructions…which we admit….are really easy but a bit vague in the manual. This mis-assembly has came to our attention this year when we   noticed our customers calling to discuss the lawn cut problems or the feel of the mower, it was usually this “mis”-assembly problem. It took us a while to figure it out, and here’s some pro-active info to help you off to a great reel mowing start!

Brill Reel Razorcut Mower Handle Assembly

5 Minute Assembly- But Easy Bolt Confusion:
About 90% of Brill owners find this assembly quite straight forward. However, we regularly have people who attach the handles to the wrong bolt…they are attaching it to the orange height adjustment knob. These knobs are red/orange and are shown in the picture. Attaching the handles to the adjustment knobs will eventually ruin your mower…but more importantly, you won’t get an easy or great mow and think it is the mower’s fault.

The Correct Bolt Is….
The user manaul directions show ( in an Ikea kind of way ) that you need to place the lower handle pieces over the bolts inside the reel blade housing. These bolts are NOT THE FIRST BOLTS YOU SEE. These bolts are found a bit more inside and close to the reel blades. So look a bit beyond that first set of bolts and that’s the one!

Surprising Water Footprints: 630 Gallons of Water to Make 1 Hamburger

WSj interactive on Waterfootprints

We are researching rain barrels and rain gardens this month in order to expand our line for summer. In that process I keep coming across water footprint sites and info. So while we usually look downstream, this post is about looking upstream at what it takes to produce things. Recently I posted about the Story of Stuff video which is a painless 20 minute look at the garbage produced upstream from your purchases. This is the water side of that.

First, why do we care ::

With water use increasing six-fold in the past century-more than twice the rate of Earth’s population growth-our demand for water is fast outstripping what the planet can replenish.

• Two-thirds of the world’s population is projected to face water scarcity by 2025, according to the United Nations.
• In the U.S., water managers in 36 states anticipate shortages by 2013, a General Accounting Office report shows.
• The FAO has warned that within the next 20 years, two thirds of the earth’s population could face serious water shortages.
• one flush of a toilet in the developed world, says the United Nations (PDF), uses as much water as the average person in the developing world allocates for an entire day’s cooking, washing, cleaning, and drinking.
• see water footprint for your food items here

Here are some water footprint calculators::

• The H₂O Conserve Water Calculator
• Waterfootpring.org quick calculator
• zerofootprint: your personal 1 minute waterfootprint calculator

And here are some tips and things you can do::

• h2o conserve tips
• stop using that sink garbage disposal unit, establish a compost pile or worm farm (besides, it is bad for the water to put more organic waste into them to go into our rivers and oceans and increase the nitrogen)
• Shorter showers with less pressure (this one is very hard for me and my bad back!)
• Install a water saving shower head – under $10
• Ensuring taps, water pipes and hose connections don’t drip
• Checking toilets for leaks. Use a few drops of food coloring in the cistern, wait for a while and check the bowl for signs of color – be sure to flush afterwards prevent staining.
• Buy clothing with fibers that aren’t so water intensive
• Installing rainwater tanks
• Using greywater from sinks  and washing machines (saved in rainbarrels) to water the garden
• install a rain barrel
• Using low water car washes
• Installing tap aerators
• Turning off the tap while brushing our teeth
• Turning off the tap while shaving
• Washing veggies in a sink partially filled with water instead of under a running tap
• Setting washing machines at the lowest possible water level for the load
• Watering gardens just after sunrise or just after sunset to reduce evaporation
• Mulching gardens to reduce watering requirements
• Installing drip irrigation systems
• Cutting grass a little longer during summer
• Reducing the temperature of water heaters which lessens the amount of mixing needed to be done in order to achieve a temperature that won’t scald your skin
• Insulate water pipes
• Installing low-water-use flush toilets or displacement devices in the tanks
• Fill a dishwasher completely before running it
• Use drought tolerant plants in your garden and drought resistant grass for lawn

Stay tuned for our new rainbarrel and rain garden sections coming next month. In the meantime, really give thanks for that morning cup of coffee tomorrow….

Quality Putting Green Reel Mower for 1/5th the Price

In the 12 years we have been in business, we regularly receive requests for the best home putting green reel mower. After looking at the few that are in the reasonable to low end of the market, we have finally bit the bullet and added greens-type reel mowers to our line. The 2 Hundson Star Mowers we added are the higher end battery powered Signature Greens Reel Mower and the manual push version, the Hudson Classic Cut. These are really high quality machines, 11 blades, designed for longevity and ease of use. Others we looked at had hard to change mowing heights, were heavier, or felt cheap. Compared to other greens mowers that can cost $10,000 or more, this putting green reel mower is very affordable. Remember, standard home reel mowers do not cut low enough, and do not have enough blades to cut finely enough for a putting green.

The Classic-Cut Series:
The classic cut reel mower is designed to allow home greens owners to experience the same professional golf course quality greens care enjoyed by professionals. Due to its unique design and exacting manufactured standards, the Classic Cut Mower is used by golf course professionals to help solve those “difficult” mowing problems such as soft, sensitive, or newly seeded greens, inaccessible tees, restricted or hard to cut fringes, noise sensitive areas, or simply to obtain that “final touch” “manicured” look.

Look at all those Blades!

Features

• 11 Blade Computer Balanced Reel.
• 16″ Cut Width.
• 3-4 Cuts Per Inch (minimum).
• 1/8″ to 3/4″ Infinite Cut Height Adjustment.

The Classic Cut Mower is lightweight, rugged, quiet, easily adjustable and maintenance free. It is the perfect tool for the time sensitive enthusiast who just wants to relax and spend their time improving their game.

The New Signature Series Reel Mower:
The Signature Series mower is designed for larger or multiple greens. Fully powered, the Signature Series offers all the features of the Classic Cut plus quicker mowing time and virtually no effort. The powerful, rechargeable unit affords professional greens “manicuring” at the squeeze of the handle. Quiet, lightweight, rugged, and easily maintained, the Signature Series is a must, ideal for the golf enthusiast with expanded responsibilities.

What’s Better? Feed your NYT to your Worms or Recycle?

The New York Times has been regularly publishing articles about composting. It seems there are a lot of hip people in NYC apartments feeding their NY Times to their worms! I too shred my Sunday times (the only day I get a paper delivered) and use that on top of my can-o-worms composter. I was feeling like that was the best solution until this article today: Urban Composting: A New Can of Worms.

I was Wrong: Better to Recycle that Paper::
In this article they state that it is better for the environment to recycle that paper than to compost it. They also reiterate the importance of not throwing food waste into the landfills ::

Composting does not have as big an environmental effect as recycling, Environmental Protection Agency figures show: recycling one ton of mixed paper is four times as effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as producing the same amount of compost.

But keeping food discards out of landfills does more than twice the good of keeping mixed paper out, E.P.A. officials said, because decomposing food that is buried and cut off from air releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, at higher rates than paper. (The ventilation in composting prevents methane creation.)

I have always wondered this and am grateful to have an answer. Seems I’ll start using other forms of non-recyclable paper to lay on the top level of my wormery.

Sunlawn Reel Mower Brand Taken over by Easun

UPDATE TO POST: New 2009 Sunlawn Easun Mowers Added to our reel mower comparison chart.
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Sunlawn Easun Ideal Reel Mower

Sunlawn Brand is Taken Over by Easun:
Last month it became official. After months of struggle, the owners of Sunlawn, hit by the same credit crunch as many this year, had to fold their company. A shame since this was the year they had new and improved models of the mowers already designed and manufacturing started. The former owners of Sunlawn were visionary in that they were the original importers of the Brill Reel Mower and then developed the Sunlawn model in response to the U.S. market needs. They were even going to move manufacturing to the US this year before the economic troubles began. Fortunately for us, the Easun company was able to step in and purchase the Sunlawn brand, the great designed mowers and finish their production. The design changes in these new 2009 models include larger wheels, extra back wheels, and higher cutting heights.

Sunlawn Easun Classic Push Reel Mower

Sunlawn Easun Mowers in stock in 4 days :
The top-of-the line Sunlawn Easun Classic reel mower and the more economical Sunlawn Easun Ideal reel mower will be produced under the Easun label, but keep the Sunlawn branding for consumer recognition.  We expect the Easun mowers at our warehouse May 15

Why Reel Mowers are Still Best for the Environment

Most U.S. electricity is generated by burning coal.

Our family business sells both electric and reel mowers, and starting 2009,  solar powered mowers. We started over 12 years with a simple mission to retire as many polluting, noisy, gas powered mowers as we could. Originally we offered only one very perfect reel mower: the Brill Reel Mower.  And to this day, 55,000 mowers later, with countless customer feedback on all the mowers, we still believe manual push reel mowers are the solution for smaller lawns most of the time.

GENERATING ELECTRICITY IMPACTS THE ENVIRONMENT::
Why? Because generating electricity impacts the environment by producing green house gases. In 2004, 40% of the US total emissions of greenhouse gases was from electricity generation (pdf). Most of our electric power still comes from the traditional burning of fossil fuels, with the largest amount coming from the dirtiest source, coal.

THERE IS A MIDDLE GROUND::
So the compromise between the pure manual push reel mower and electric mower is the electric reel mower : Brill Accu. We love this mower because when we get back from vacation and the lawn is overgrown, cutting is easy using the cordless electric feature. And the rest of the year we can simply push this mower with out the electricity on. So it’s like 2 mowers in one. This also means when you run out of battery (because high grass is harder to cut and uses the battery up quicker), you can finish the job by just pushing.

So when choosing a mower, do consider that electric mowers are not without environmental cost…only reel mowers can claim that!

UPDATE TO THE MIDDLE GROUND- SOLAR POWER IS HERE! :
As of April 2009, there is a new solar powered mower that is a great choice. It is powerful, a rotary so a heavier and needs blade maintenance, but still a environmentally sound option for those whose yards are not candidates for reel mowers.

RELATED LINKS:
Chart to compare all the reel mowers out there.
Great site for more on the costs of electricity.

Story of America’s Stuff: Must watch Video

My teenager brought home this link for us to watch last night. I am passing it on and hope you will do the same…especially to our next generation.”The Story of Stuff” with Annie Leonard makes stats and statistics about consumption palatable to young people (and old people, for that matter).

The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

The Story of Stuff brings these facts to life in easy drawings and video::

• Each person in the United States makes 4 1/2 pounds of garbage a day.14 That is twice what we each made thirty years ago.
• For every one garbage can of waste you put out on the curb, 70 garbage cans of waste were made upstream to make the junk in that one garbage can you put out on the curb.
• In the past three decades, one-third of the planet’s natural resources base have been consumed.
• In the United States, we have less than 4% of our original forests left.
• Forty percent of waterways in the US have become undrinkable.
• The U.S.has 5% of the world’s population but consumes 30% of the world’s resources4 and creates 30% of the world’s waste.
• In the U.S., we spend 3–4 times as many hours shopping as our counterparts in Europe do.

So far, six million people have viewed the film at its site, storyofstuff.com, and millions more have seen it on YouTube. More than 7,000 schools, churches and others have ordered a DVD version, and hundreds of teachers have written Ms. Leonard to say they have assigned students to view it on the Web.

Remington Cordless Electric Mower Replaced by Epic Electric Model with Solar Option

So What Happened to Cordless Remington Electric Mowers?
Last year we were pleased to sell an electric mower made by Remington. This winter Remington Mowers (after announcing 2 great new models) surprised us all by filing for bankruptcy and went out of business. We were told that the employees tried to purchase the company but they were unsuccessful in their bid. Isn’t that a shame.

epic solar mower specs

Epic Electric Mower Can even be Solar Mower :
With that knowledge (and lots of customers to whom a reel type mower is not an option), we began a search for another powerful cordless electric rotary to round out our electric mower line. Features we looked for were those like a high-end gas model: mulching, push-button start, self-propelled rear wheel drive. After testing the new models out there, we chose the Cordless Electric Epic 21″rotary mower which utilizes a brushless system. The Epic mower is manufactured by Linamar and under the Solaris, Epic and Utopia brand names. Our customers are uniformly very happy with the Epic. They like the powerful features that are usually just on gas-powered models,  and the ability to go completely off the grid and add a solar charging station.

New 2009 Sunlawn Easun Reel Mower: First test mow results are great.

UPDATE TO POST : Sunlawn Mower Reel Mower Brand Taken over by Easun

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Sunlawn 2009 Ideal Mower

New 2009 Sunlawn Easun Ideal Reel Lawnmower:
We have been waiting for this shipment of the new and improved Sunlawn Eason reel mower for months now. We received ours last week and I just ran some test mows with this 2009 model. We happy to report it worked very well and we are excited to endorse this new reel mower as the reel that fits the mid-priced market.

Bigger wheels for more power, Higher cutting heights added:
The mower took about 5 minutes to assemble…not much difference there. What really impresses me are the new bigger ten inch rubber wheels. They feel to me like they power the mower better.  The ability to cut from 0.6″ to 3″ offers a wide range…and among the highest cutting heights in reel mowers out there. I mowed about 6000 square feet in about 30 minutes…and then went right to Sunlawn to confirm enough to stock our summer season! So if you are in the mid-range reel mower price point, this is the mower we recommend.

Redesigned and re-engineered, the Sunlawn Ideal 40 reel mower has 10″ rubber wheels and cuts from .5″ to 3″.

• 16″ cutting width
• easy height adjustment
• 5 hardened steel blades
• Contact-free cutting system
• 10″ wheels with rubber tires
• compare all the Sunlawn and Brill mowers side by side
• compare the Sunlawn to other model manufacturers

Quick stats on the Hudson Star Greensmowers

Two Models: The Classic Cut weighs 82 lbs. The Signature weighs 103 lbs.

Cutting Range: The cutting range for both units is 1/8″ to 3/4″. This allows for not only close golf course quality cuts, but allows trimming of fringe areas and tees as well.

Changing Heights: It is very easy to change cutting heights. The full cutting height range is accessed by simply turning a single hand knob. There are no bolts or nuts to loosen or tighten. There is no adjustment from side to side.

Reel Blades: Both units are manufactured with an 11 blade reel. The reel is balanced and backlapped at the factory and gives approximately 4 cuts per inch.

Easy to Push: Properly maintained, the Classic Cut is easy to push and can be used by women and even fairly young children. Conditions such as dull blades or excessively wet or tall grass will increase the force necessary and will effect the quality of cut.

Sharpening: Normally very infrequent sharpening is required. Conditions such as frequency of mowing cycles, condition of top soil, and frequency of top dressing can affect the condition of the blade. Both units come with a backlapping kit allowing the user to sharpen the cutting blades easily.

Catch Clippings: Yes the mowers catch clippings! Clippings are collected in our unique molded catch can. The can “clips” on the front of the mower allowing quick and easy dumping and reattachment.

Moving But Not Mowing: Both mowers are manufactured with a unique multi-position handle assembly which allows the unit to be transformed into a transportation mode. Not only does it protect the cutting area of the mower, but it allows the unit to be used as a “smoothing” roller for the green.

Maintenance: Under normal conditions little maintenance is required. All materials are powder-coated or manufactured from corrosion-resistant materials. All bearings are sealed and the drive-train is enclosed requiring no lubrication.

Shipping: Normal shipping time is within 48 hours.

Manual: The mowers come with a complete and detailed owners manual including identification of all replacement parts

Cleaning: The mowers should be cleaned after mowing. Normally light spraying with a water hose and lightly coating with something similar to WD-40 or a silicone spray is sufficient.

The Signature: The Signature Series is fully powered. Not only is the reel powered, but motion is powered also.

When Fully Charged: The Signature Series, when fully charged, will cut approximately 50-60 minutes before it will need to be recharged depending on the conditions of the green.

Charge Time: It takes 3-4 hours to recharge the unit. The charger will shut off automatically when fully charged.

Assembly: A little assembly is required when the unit is received. Simply bolt the handle in place. The mower is ready for the green.

Mowing Time: Depending on the size and condition of the green, normal mowing time for most “home” greens would be approximately 10-20 minutes.

Hudson Star

For Zoysia Grasses: We have added the American Reel Mower

We have customers looking for mowers for specific grass types so after testing, we decided to add the American Reel Mower to our line for zoysia grass types.

The American Reel Lawnmower 1705-16:
The The American Reel Lawnmower 1705-16 cuts zoysia very well. It is made specifically for cutting low lying grass. This specialty Push Mower is equipped with a 7-blade reel assembly designed specifically to cut low-growing, creeping grasses such as Bent and Bermuda found in the South, Southwest and Southeast.

American Reel Mower Features:
• 4 spider 7 blade, ball bearing reel
• Tempered alloy steel reel and bed knife blade
• Unbreakable steel side plate and 1″ welded torsion bar frame assembly
• 10″ durable composite wheels with radial tread tires
• 2-3/4″ Molded hub caps
• Cutting height 1/2″ to 1-3/4″ with adjustable 7-section roller
• Powder-coated handle with flared design
• Cushioned handle grips

Planting Time: Worm Castings + Pre-soaked Seeds

After a happy winter of worm composting…I harvested my can-o-worms worm castings earlier today, grabbed by my pre-soaked seeds, and went to town planting. This year I am trying the Gurney’s lettuce and radish seed tapes. Will keep you posted on how they well they germinate. I pre-soak and plant them every 2 weeks or so apart. Right now I tend to think they are a bit close, but they are really easy to tuck into the garden quickly so I am more apt to keep planting into late spring. I also really like my little mini-seed-master to plant rows of things like onions, leeks, carrots…little tiny seeds.

worm castings, soaked seeds, ready to go!

testing seeds in the paper-towel plastic-bag method.

On a somewhat related note, I saved a few absurdly expensive seeds from last year, and didn’t ever get around to freezing them. Before investing time, a garden bed and my energy in them I tested them by soaking them and watching their sprouting percentage. Not as complicated as it sounds. Here’s a simple explanation.

If you tested 10 seeds from a leftover packet and only six sprouted, you should expect a 60 percent germination rate from that batch. Plant extra to compensate. If very few germinated, buy new seeds for this year.

Planting Time: Quick Newspaper Seedling Pots

newspaper seedling pots

Today I spent the whole lovely day in the garden! My grass is sprouting, my seedlings started inside were planted, and I needed just a few more little peat pots for some things like sunflowers and other warm-starting seeds.

EASY NEWSPAPER POTS: NO GLUE, TAPE, STAPLES NEEDED:
In an attempt to avoid jumping in my car I found this cool shortcut to quick starter pots…newspaper seedling pots. I quickly assigned these to my kids to do (which they happily stopped raking and hoeing, got a lemon-aide, and sat down and followed the you-tube video). The newspaper will decompose in your garden or you can remove it before setting the plant into the garden. Worried about toxic ink? Never mind that… most daily newspapers are printed with food grade soy based ink nowadays, and even the color ink is made from it…just not the shiny stuff. The only thing to remember is to make sure the newspaper is not above the ground when planting or it will wick the moisture from your seedling.

Rather have a picture tutorial than a video…here you go. Or another one here.

Earthday 2009: Our Top Ten Must-Read Articles

We have looked thru all our favorite environmental posts from this year and rounded up our fav top ten. And just so you know we can count, yes there are 16 here…after looking thru all our writing, some could not be left off the list! Enjoy. Let’s change our world…

1. America Spends More Money on Lawn Care than Foreign Aid: Why We Need Less Lawn
2. Recycling Market Plummets 90%: How to Help Your Recycling Center
3. Stop the Noise! How Leaf Blowers, Gas Mowers and Snow Blowers are Effecting Our Health
4. 3 Plastics to Avoid: #3, #6, #7, and Why…
5. Massive Honeybee Die-offs Linked to Pesticides: A Big Reason to Grow and Buy Organic
6. Save 41 pounds of paper and lots of time…opt out of junk mail.
7. Why Reel Mowers are Still Best for the Environment
8. Non-Toxic Dry Cleaning: How to Make Sure Your Cleaner is Not Greenwashing Their Eco-Services
9. Use a Rain Barrel for Easy Greywater Diversion Systems
10. Stop! Don’t put Shredded Paper in your Recycling Bin
11. Stop! Opt Out of Getting Telephone Books
12. Worm Composters: Spring Tips, Troubleshooting, and FAQ’s
13. Really Happy Worms! My Easy Winter Worm-Composting
14. Coffee Grounds : Perk up Your Compost Pile More Effectively Than Manure
15. Plastics: New Way to Recycle those “Unrecyclable Number 5’s”
16. Trees: Study Finds Exact Placement for best Energy Savings

Worm Composters: Spring Tips, Troubleshooting, and FAQ’s

Now that it’s time to bring worm composters out from the basement and to the outside, we are getting quite a bit of email with questions, comments, and even pictures that we thought we’d share.

Q. What temperature can we bring  the worm bin outside?
A. Once temperatures reach above freezing reliably, you are good to go. Worms like temperatures are between 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Red worms generally prefer temperatures in the 55 to 77 degree range.

Q. We are seeing little red round mites in our bin now that it’s outside. Do we need to start our bin over? Are they hurting the worms?
A. No and Maybe. So, don’t start over, at least yet. Mites can be a worm composter friend. But in big populations they can bother your worms and send them down below the surface. How can you tell if your worms are bothered? Are they hiding in clumps below….time to think about mite reducing strategies.

mites gathering on melon

Q. OK, so what are mite reduction strategies?
A. First mites are not necessarily bad. Red (or reddish brown) mites find the conditions in a worm composting bin an ideal habitat. They are part of the composting cycle, helping to break down any tough fibrous materials. Increased mite populations happen when a bin is too wet, or the pH becomes too low. How did the pH become too low…probably you put a bit too much food in the bin, it got nice and fermented and then the pH dove down. Then the mites threw a reproduction party! So now that you know the reasons, here are a few solutions ::

• You can raise the pH with lime, egg shells, or even wood ash.
• open the lid and let the sun UV light kill off some mites.
• trap them on melon skins or bread soaked in milk. Lay these on the surface of the bin, and when they are covered in mites, lift them out and dispose of them. Repeat the procedure till numbers are reduced.
• scrape the top layers of worm castings off each day and the mites go with it. It took me about 4 days doing this on the 3 layers of my own can-o-worms worm composter and the mites were back to levels where I didn’t notice them anymore.
• lastly, I offer it up but do not recommend it…some people use a propane torch on the top layer of the bin to kill the mites. My son offered to help me with this one!

Q. Are you sure these red worms will not escape into my yard, killing all my native earthworms and take over?
A. Nope…some will escape. But they can’t live in a typical garden setting so they are not going to compete or even fight with your native earthworms. Know there is actually no way to get all those little worm egg sacks out of the worm castings you harvest. However, the red worms that we recommend don’t live in gardens well because they can’t burrow or take dry conditions. They can live in piles of stuff, compost piles, and bins where the moisture level is high and even.

Eisenia fetida, known under various common names, including redworms, brandling worms, “tiger worms” and red wiggler worms, is a species of earthworm adapted to the environment of decaying organic material. It thrives in rotting vegetation, compost, and manure, i.e. it is an epigeic worm. It is rarely found in soil, and instead, like Lumbricus rubellus, prefers conditions where other worms cannot survive.

Q. Yikes, my bin is smelling all of a sudden. What’s up? Is it because it is moved outside?
A. Nope. It’s because the pile is too wet or there is food decaying before the worms can get to it.

And that brings up something very important…worms don’t actually eat the food scraps…they eat the microorganisms and bacteria that are breaking down the food.

That said, if the problem is rotting food, you may be feeding too much or need more worms. If it is stinky food on top of the pile, I have found if you bury anything stinky, the odor goes right away. And in general, I leave onions out of my bin because I hate that smell.  If the problem is a wet pile, air it out, add some dry bedding, and mix it up. If you are using a home-made bin, consider drilling more air holes.

Q. Why are my worms laying together on the top of my can-o-worms side-by-side?
A. They are having a party of sorts. Shut the lid and come back later!

Q2. OK, I shut the lid. Now my worm numbers have quadrupled in size. How did this happen?
A. Time for a worm “birds and bees” talk::

Worms are hermaphrodites — each worm has both male and female reproductive parts. When a worm has the urge and finds a suitable partner, they lay side-by-side with their heads pointed in opposite directions, glue themselves together with mucus bands and deposit sperm in pores on their partner’s body. After each “mating event,” which can last up to an hour, both worms go to work making a number of little cocoons with their partner’s sperm and their own eggs. The eggs meet the sperm inside the cocoons, fertilization takes place, and a few worms emerge from the cocoon several weeks later.

You may ask: Why not just stay home on Saturday night and fertilize ones own eggs? That’s an option, but not a popular one due to the desire to diversify the genetic pool for worms. Generally, worms are self-fertile only when they can’t find a mate.

Q. I am harvesting my castings and trying to save all those lovely egg cocoons. Help my motivation, please tell me how many worms am I saving each time I do this?
A. Sure! You are saving the lives of approximately 5-20 worms for each little sack you find. I can pick roughly 10 cocoons a minute out of my castings so at the rate of between $20 and $50 per 500 worms, I think that worth the time and truthfully, I just love to keep every single worm in my bins!

Each cocoon can hatch up to 20 worms within about two to three weeks depending on temperature and moisture. Cocoons can also lie dormant in the soil for over two years until temperature and moisture conditions become tolerable for survival.

Q. Mold is growing on the top of my worm bin pile. Is this bad?
A. Mold actually helps break down the food so worms can digest it. However, molds and fungi also serve as an indicator, telling you if the feeding rate is adequate. Mold grows most prolifically in still, quiet environments, so large amounts of mold and fungi indicate there is more food than the system can quickly manage. So that means get more worms or reduce the feeding rate.

Q. Is it true that if you cut an earthworm in half, it will grow into two individuals?
A. No! No! Absolutely No!

Q. What are the foods I should never feed my worms?
A. Well, obviously meats, cheese, oily things. But in the vegetable family, the 3 no-no’s are citrus, onions, and rhubarb which send the worm bin ph acidic quickly.

Q. What are these blind weird crawling maggot-like things in my wormery?

critters 1

critters 2

A. They are both actually the same bug. They are the larvae from soldier fly. I hate them, as I often see them chase the earthworms out of my outside composter in mid-summer. However there is a whole world of soldier-fly composters and fans out there and they are very effective aggressive digesters. They are just not as lovely to me as earthworms. So I snip them in half when I see them and my worms eat them up! A bit persnickety…I know. Unless your worms are hiding from these critters tho, there is really no need to get rid of them as they hatch and fly off. This is truthfully, a personal vendetta and dislike so you should pay no attention to my advice here!

Q. I’m off to a Tropical Island for a week. Do I need to hire someone to watch my worms?
A. Nope. A well established wormery can be left for up to a month before the worm numbers start to fall. If you are going away give your worms a good feed just before leaving. IMPORTANT: Leave the tap open while you are away to ensure the wormery does not get waterlogged and your worm drown. I personally have forgotten to do this and after just one week I came back to a nasty smelling pool of dead worms in fermenting liquid at the bottom of my can-o-worms.

That’s it for today. Next up we are gathering the tips for the spring maintenance for your sun-mar continuous composter and getting it’s pile off to a great hot start.

RELATED POST :: Really Happy Worms! My Easy Winter Worm-Composting

New 2009 Rolypig Composters: Improvements, Shipping Dates

New Rolypigs: We are delighted to announce that the new 2009 model Pink  Rolypig Composters are on the water and should be at our warehouse in a month.

Four Improvements:

• The new Pink Rolypigs have bigger fixing brackets.
• The new Rolypigs have adjustable head flanges for easier assembly.
• They have a one-piece nose which is simpler and stronger.
• Lastly, the internal partitions are more streamlined for better material flow.

We are excited to be bringing in new and improved Rolypigs.

Do You Know The Back Side Pledge

The Pledge: Years ago, when I was teaching, we began each year by taking the back side pledge. The pledge is to use both sides of every piece of paper. Since doing the pledge years ago, I have continued that practice on a daily basis.

Printing: When we print out orders, they are done on paper with printing on the other side. This practice has meant using half the amount of paper required to run a business.

If you have not taken the pledge, do so today!

Brill Razorcut Reel Mowers: Handle assembly

The Brill Razorcut Reel Mowers:

Brill Razorcut Reel Mowers have two bolts and nuts which fasten the handles together. Some folks have found that the threading is not perfect on their reel mowers. To remedy, hold the bolt with a wrench and tighten the nut over the threads when assembling your Brill reel mower. This has happened on a few Brill reel mowers.

Driving Responsibly

To become more environmentally responsible, one step taken by my family is to drive between 55 and 60 miles per hour. When we started doing this two years ago, we would be the slowest moving car on the highway for five hours. Slowly, more folks are driving at speeds which their vehicles operate most efficiently.

On our recent trips to New Jersey, we’ve actually passed a few slower moving vehicles. In two days we are heading down to New Jersey again. It will be interesting to see if more folks are driving efficiently than before.

7 Blade Push Reel Mower For Bermuda

7 Blades: The 7 blade bent-grass mower is designed for low creeping, fine-bladed grass like Bermuda in the South, Southeast, and Southwest. This 7 blade push reel mower is similar to the reel mowers which are used by golf courses, but it does not cut finely enough to be used for cutting golf greens.

Inspection: To assure a precise fine cut, all of these push reel mowers must pass inspection. They must cut paper which is 3000ths of an inch thick. This is much thinner than a blade of grass.

New for 2009: Epic Solar Powered and Cordless Electric Mower

The Epic Mower is arriving at our warehouse in days. We’ll begin shipping on Monday March 23, 2009

Epic Mower: The new Epic Cordless Electric Mower uses a 24 volt system comprised of two 12 volt batteries. The Epic EP21H is a rotary mower, self-propelled and will run for approximately 45 minutes.

Arriving Soon: The only high-performance cordless electric mower with features typically found on high-end gass models:

• mulching
• push-button start
• self-propelled rear wheel drive

One Powerful Cordless Mower

• cuts the average lawn in one charge
• 21″ inch extra wide cut
• battery powers mower for 45 minutes on one charge
• 24 volt system powered by two 12 volt batteries

Maintenance + Hassle + Pollution Free

• requires no gas, oil, maintenance or annoying cords
• low maintenance costs, hassles, and pollution
• solar panel option

YouthBuild: Takes back abandoned buildings, rebuilds, gives to homeless

great kids!

This 30-year old program YouthBuild began when East Harlem youth were asked a question: what would you want to do if you had adult support? The answer: take back abandoned buildings from drug dealers, rebuild them, and give them to homeless families.

I came across this event on the Washington D.C. mall by accident today and was fascinated, humbled,  and very inspired ::
Over 100 students and graduates from YouthBuild USA programs around the country showed off green building techniques on the Mall and, in a tent next to the building going up, took seminars about green building-related practices (event program (pdf)).

FROM YOUTH BUILD WEB SITE::

In YouthBuild programs nationwide, low-income youth ages 16-24 work toward their GEDs or high school diplomas while learning job skills by building affordable housing for homeless and poor people. About 90 percent of YouthBuild students have quit high school, and 40 percent have been through the court system. Emphasizing leadership development and community service, YouthBuild creates a positive peer group to compete with the lure of the streets while developing new young leaders who have transcended poverty in America’s poorest communities. In 30 years, 84,000 students have built 18,000 units of affordable housing and have transformed their lives and communities.

Easy, Odorless Worm Bins: Build or Buy?

First, know this ::

1/3 of all methane emissions come from rotting organic matter in our landfills.

Mother nature takes 500 to 1,000 years to produce one inch of topsoil or humus. Earthworms, under a stand of trees where leaves drop and animals stand for shade, can produce on inch of humus in five years!

So no matter what you have to do to avoid throwing away organic matter…compost bins, wormeries, even buying your waste…let’s get everyone we can on board! This video below…is hilarious and shows you how you can have a worm bin for very little money. It’s not ideal…mostly because sorting out the worms with this type bin is a time consuming pain, but it’s better than nothing. Our favorite worm bins have stacks or trays so that as the organic matter gets digested, the worms just move up. Yes, there are a few worms who just don’t like to move up, and some lovely worm egg cocoons…but it is way more segregated and will save you hours to purchase a stack version for about $40 more dollars. The one we have in our basement this winter is the Can-O-Worms and it has handled the organic kitchen waste from a very vegetable-eating family of 4. And you can see…. our worms are really happy!

So without further adieu…How to build your own worm bin, and why, from The Environmentalists!

And this from the Worm Guy…explaining why we each need to adopt a pro-active response to our organic waste…