People love their lawns, that is a clear fact. Why else would they water the lawn so it grows faster, just so they can come by and cut it shorter? Lawns are an odd fixation for many people in North America, and apart from a few communities in North America, you are not allowed to let it grow wild. So, how can you have a nice lawn that does not take energy away from the environment? It is easy enough to do, and all it takes is some manual lawn care.

My wife and I have found many ways to take care of our lawn as part of Our Green Year and the two best ways are with a manual lawnmower and a sickle.

First, we will address the manual lawnmower. You can usually find one for about $50 to $100, and it works just like a regular lawnmower. However, where it differs is that the only way the blades will cut is if you are pushing the lawnmower. There is no electricity or gas with this type o mower, it is all you. One added bonus beyond zero emissions is that you get some great exercise doing it. You will feel a lot better about yourself as well as you put in a good hour mowing the lawn, essentially by hand. As well, the grass clippings will stay on the lawn, helping your lawn get nutrients and become lush and green.

Second, instead of using a weed whacker, use a sickle. A sickle is a small curved hand tool that was part of the Soviet Union's flag. It is a nice little tool that cuts the grass quite well. It takes a bit more work of course, but it will prevent CO2 from going into the atmosphere from a gas or electric weed whacker. Again, like the manual lawn mower, you get some great exercise using it.

Lastly, we all like to water our lawns, but too many people water their lawns without ever thinking about the weather. Your lawn only needs about one inch of water a week. Therefore, instead of watering your lawn everyday, just water it once in the week and pay attention to the weather reports. If rain is called for, don't water your lawn. If you go a few days without rain, then water it a bit. Paying attention to the weather will help you save water and keep your lawn green.