Lawn mowing

[jwaller]

Strange topic, I know, for this time of year. But I REALLY hate mowing the lawn. Oldest granddaughter has done it for several years for me (on the payroll) but at 14 she seems to have other interests and activities that take up a lot of time in the summer. And driving the lawn tractor just isn't as exciting as it used to be cuz she also drives pickups and farm tractors now.

Youngest granddaughter just turned 10. She drives most all tractors and pickups with supervision but not ready to go on her own yet. Maybe next year-would be similar to older girl starting then.

Have thought of stringing some electric wire and let the cows mow the yard. Kids think this would be too "eccentric Norwegian bachelor farmer" like. But I wouldn't have to mow or trim.

Opinions please.

Finally, have been served notice by kids that if I do anything stupid during recovery from the second round of surgery on my left knee they are done helping with chores and the livestock go if I can't do my own chores and field work by myself even for a recovery period.

They made reference to my mowing, raking and cultivating last summer with the 8N Ford and my walker hung over the hood. And baling with the WD Allis with my quad cane in the crank holder and the walker tied to the side of the baler. And the rope I had tied to the seat of the A JD so I could pull myself up for combining. I had best behave myself this time. Was lucky last spring and summer.

And I know I can't get by with an early discharge this time by claiming I had a 'capable and willing caregive in my home-Nick". Worked once but got busted when DIL expressed her displeasure to hospital staff that I was discharged too soon and only was able to be home for a couple days then back to complete the knee reconstruction work.

Heard several times that "we have accepted stubborn but will not accept stupid". DIL claims that if what I have is genetic, she's praying for an early and sudden death.

[pipergrey93]

ROFL - But you are "eccentric Norwegian bachelor farmer" - that's exactly what I love about you! I say have the cows do the mowing for you AND stop over-doing it so that you can heal. Otherwise, you'll be stuck listening to DIL carry on. ;D Sandy

[dexterfarm]

I was thinking about doing this my self next year. Seams like a waste of good grass to just mow it off with a mower and just leave it there.

[Donna]

I think it's a wonderful idea!

Here's a picture of Gracie mowing our yard! We put up temporary fencing (2 strands w/rebar) last year for Gracie to "mow" the yard for us! Worked beautifully! We mowed less last year than any other year. Shhhhh! Don't tell her there's NO ELECTRIC on that fence!! ;D



Donna

[BasleeBackwoodsFarm]

I've done it for about 10 years now with our horses. Works great! I say go for it.

[kristi]

Well, I think letting the cows mow is a great idea. You might remind your family that by letting the cows eat it you will be less worried about it and therefore NOT out there doing it yourself. I will say that they have a point about you taking it easy and giving yourself time to heal. This time you really do need to take better care of yourself. We all want you back up and running. That's hard to do when you are putting too much strain on yourself, causing reinjuries that thwart healing. I know...someone has to do it. It just won't be you. Think of it this way. You'll have a wonderful opportunity to aggravate the poo out of your DIL about what needs doing at your place.

[jakl1]

I like cows and horses in the yard!!! Then turn the hens loose on the manure they leave, and TA-DA raked, areated(SP), and fertilized!!!

Then, while DIL is there, you can have a bell (the crystal kind, realy fancy) beside you so you can call her when you need something!!! (Please take with a bit of salt, and laugh, they do mean well).

My grandma's brother farmed all of his life, only died recently, and no health problems (well, there was the combine incident...) ok, no health problems that weren't caused by farm machinery untill the day he died. He was in his 90's, his mother lived on her own to the week before she died, in her 100's. Keep at it!!!

[simplynaturalfarm]

It is the only ecologically sound thing to do - let the cow mow your lawn. You are saving gas, time and growing food with the grass! Last year I did not mow my lawn in the front yard once, but I did mow the pasture once last year with my push mower. I spent the entire summer mowing the pasture because I would just do the small area behind the cows when I moved them forward each day. I am trying to re-vamp an old CRP pasture full of weeds and the cows would eat them and then they would grow back faster than the grass and go to seed. Neighbors thought I was loonie!
Heather

[Shawn]

The first year that I suggested we string up some electric and let the cows mow the clover down in back of the garage and the back part of the yard, DH had a hard time with that. I finally talked him into it.
Step 2: I suggested letting them mow the front yard - got a serious frown.
Step 3: After a few years more of mowing this place, when I suggested the front yard, he said "I don't care, let 'em have it all!" LOL Now I haven't done it cause it's easier said than done. But am working on extending the grazing season.

And Emma, who has now been with me for 2 years, actually would stop at the half door in the milking area and beg to be let out into the yard last spring and summer after evening chores. I had to latch the door or when I forgot, she'd let herself out. When she first came, she was timid and hated being away from the herd. Now, she relishes the yard grass and knows her friends are just a fenceline away and it's ok, she can go enjoy the "other side of the fence" and be back with buds in the morning. She spent many nights in the yard last summer grazing while it was cooler. And shhhh, don't tell her either, but it's usually never on!

[parndt]

Lawn? What on earth is a lawn? Isn't that patch of grass in the front just an extension of the pasture??

[jwaller]

I really think I'm going to do it this year. When I was a sprig here, there was a netting fence just around the house. All the rest was grazed. The fenced in area was small but grandma didn't like chicken or cow poo close to the porch or summer kitchen. Still using the gate that was used to get into the yard. It's by the silo now and I go through it every day to get to the barn.