Investing in a Lawn Sweeper - Is it Worth it?

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Growing up in Palm Springs, I felt deprived of the quintessential autumn fun that most of the U.S. enjoys (Well, besides New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah - I feel you, desert states!).  I'm an October baby and I've always been drawn to the fall season.  I loved seeing the leaves changing colors, dancing gracefully to the ground in a blustery wind on movies and postcards. I even hung "Scenic Vermont" calendars in my room and dreamed of a "true Autumn" while trying to work flip flops and sunscreen in to my trick-or-treating costume.  I adapted to the heat and learned to expect it (It was 100 degrees on our wedding day - in December), but the monotony was always a disappointment. Sand, Ocotillo cactus, gravel, and Aloe Vera plants don't budge a bit as the seasons pass. No loss, no gain, no color, no change.
So, the first fall season here at Rehoboth Farm was a true delight!

A glorious time of celebration, leaf angels, acorn discovery, and jubilant raking.....all 2 1/2 acres....twice.

We keep a no-till garden (based on the principles taught in the Back to Eden film) and are forever looking for a healthy "covering" to apply each season.  We had invested in several loads of wood mulch to get started and intended to purchase more, but didn't have the money yet. So when "free mulch" just started falling "right out of the sky" we knew it was a blessing and an opportunity. So, we raked and gathered...

and raked and gathered....

and raked and gathered...

 

But, after the 20th wheelbarrow trip to the garden our enthusiasm was starting to dim. Somehow we managed to get every leaf moved to our garden patch for an overwinter covering, put the rakes away, and glowed in gratitude for all the "free" mulch.

 

 

The second year...not so much. I was 8 months along in my second pregnancy when the first leaves began to fall.  There was no jubilation to be had. The Renaissance Man was scrambling to complete a nursery (complete like 'walls and doors' not 'cute elephant pillows and teddybear lamps') and didn't have a free moment to gather his thoughts, let alone gather piles and piles of leaves and haul them across the yard.  Our 7 year old raked a pile or two, but mostly the leaves blew out to the back field and weren't dealt with at all. I felt helpless and frustrated (hormones weren't helping).

We started thinking quite a bit about a lawn sweeper and the pros and cons of the investment.  With the baby coming and the season over, we knew it wouldn't be something we considered seriously until the following year, so my husband started his typical research process (insanely thorough) and eventually narrowed it down to a few options. They were a lot more expensive than I initially thought.  I (ever the cheapskate) rallied for a push behind sweeper to save money, but with over 2 acres to sweep, I knew it really wouldn't be a wise choice.  We went back and forth on what we were willing to spend. I asked over and over would we really use it that often? Would it be worth it in the end?
We ultimately chose the Brinly Tow Behind Lawn Sweeper, 42-Inch and the answer is YES. SO WORTH IT!

We put it to use right away.  Late in the summer season my husband put the mower on the "mulch" setting, pulled the lawn sweeper behind him, and collected enough grass clipping to cover an 80'x65' garden area almost 12" high! We figured it would kill the weeds off and help prep the garden for overwintering. I didn't get a picture of that - but, here's the start of our new garden, using the same method:

Much to our surprise - without any watering, tending, or attention for over a month - the tomato plants, basil, Zinnias, and bean plants that were left over from a dud crop (and buried almost a foot under grass clippings) suddenly came back to life - with vigor!  They were blooming right out of the top of the heaping grass piles and we were enjoying a surprise fall garden! I know gardening logic says that the nitrogen overload would stunt fruit production if not kill the plants altogether (especially since they were pretty well gone to start) but, just look at these tomatoes:

 

So, we begin collecting lawn clippings regularly.  We found LOTS of uses for them:

1. We dumped them in the chicken run.  The chickens could level a 2 foot pile in a matter of minutes, digging and scratching for crittery treats.  And as the grass clippings decompose, they leave a powdery compost in place - no more mud!

2. We dumped them around the chicken coop. The weight and heat of the pile killed the Bermuda grass and weeds so our daughter could get to the nest boxes more easily - no more weed eater!

3. We started a new garden a little closer to the house for herbs and seasonal veggies - no more trekking to the back forty for a tomato!

And soon enough, Autumn came again...and with it - more free mulch! 

 

I was so glad to see the lawn sweeper clear the yard in minutes - no more raking!

 

The whole 2 1/2 acres was done in under an hour - and I had beautiful piles of phosphorus-rich covering waiting to cover my new herb garden!

 

 

In conclusion, the Renaissance Man doesn't use the lawn sweeper every time he mows, just when the leaves fall, the garden needs a boost, weeds need controlling, chickens need a snack, mud needs covering, or we're starting a new growing area...etc.  And we've found that for us - that's enough to be worth it!

A few notes:

 

I am not receiving anything from the Brinly company for this review. I HONESTLY just love the lawn sweeper and want you to know it!

 

However, Rehoboth Farm is part of the Amazon Affiliate program. Our family business will receive a small commission if you choose to purchase this product through one of the links on this page. 

A Sustainable Home Garden - God's Way

 

I just watched an AMAZING documentary describing God's creation and His plan for sustainability in the home garden. What a blessing!

Here is the link:

BACK TO EDEN

Little Miracles and Big Celebrations - A Lesson from my Toddler

Our garden seems to be flourishing under the tender care of my little girl's green thumb.  She even got to taste the fruit of her labor (literally) last week when the first cherry tomato turned red!  

I don't know about you, but when I pour myself in to a task or project, I expect results, change, and progress.  I determine the worth of my efforts by the outcome.  I measure, judge, process, decide....and sometimes forget to enjoy. I water my garden every morning so that the plants will grow and produce a harvest. My daughter joins me every morning...with no intentions or expectations.  To me, I see the growth as slow and subtle...but to her, each change is radical and unexpected. She celebrates each new flower bud, then celebrates it again when it opens, and again when it bears fruit.  She points out each new leaf and every ant her eyes fall on.   I would miss most of those little miracles if it weren't for her enthusiasm.  It is a good reminder to recognize the sweet little miracles within every task, and to appreciate a project for more than the expected results.

We found a particularly large miracle in our herb garden yesterday...what a treat for my daughter. She was just bursting with excitment when she spotted this little guy. She celebrated his surprise appearance with squeals and giggles.

And she celebrated again when he blinked his eyes...and again when he popped out of the soil...and again when hopped out of the planter...and again and again....until he was out of sight. 

Here's to little miracles and big celebrations!

Wholesome Harvest: Planting and Praying

What is more gratifying than planting a garden?  Tilling the earth, planting a seed, and harvesting fruit (or veggies!) is a wonder to the young and a miracle to the old...unfortunately it is a lost art.  It has been trampled by the hectic pace of modern life and forgotten along with practical necessities like apprenticeships, domestic skills, and parenting.  My husband and I swim upstream as we fight our culture’s social disconnect and drive for self-fulfillment to provide our daughter with genuine, wholesome childhood experiences that will serve her physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Gardening is something we are just beginning to learn. Each season brings a new opportunity to apply what nature taught us with our last harvest.  We are hoping to model for our daughter, the faith it takes to plant a tiny seed, the patience to produce a budding plant, God’s glory in all living things, and appreciation for the bounty you are given.

Here’s how we got started:

My husband and I built a raised garden bed and made a canopy structure that can be removed during sunny days and returned during storms. (8’x4’x24”)  It is a small start to the garden we would eventually like to tend, but it is all we had the room for now.

 Our daughter and I filled jiffy pots with soil and planted the seeds (cucumbers, zucchini, lettuce, basil, cilantro, and parsley.) 

We also started with a few small potted plants (tomatoes and peppers).

 She watered them carefully and we kept them in the shade until they started to sprout.

 We laid down a soaker hose in the garden and made room for the plants. We invited friends over to help with the planting process since their yard is too small for a garden and we wanted to share the experience.  All the kids worked together to dig the holes and give the plants a home.

We already have two little green tomatoes starting, true leaves on our cucumber and zucchini plants, and the carrot seeds are in the ground. Now we wait... and pray for a wholesome harvest.