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Leaf blowers are a scourge. Why is it hard to get rid of them?

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Re: Leaf blowers are a scourge. Why is it hard to get rid of them?

#41

It’s just a symptom of the larger problem of manicured lawns being the number one “managed crop” in America. Eliminating home lawn is probably one of the singular things that would significantly slow down our destruction of the planet I’m sure someone will post some reason why their lawn is different somehow [1] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lawn-largest-crop-america_n_5... [2] https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisf…

[deleted]

Re: Leaf blowers are a scourge. Why is it hard to get rid of them?

#42

It’s just a symptom of the larger problem of manicured lawns being the number one “managed crop” in America. Eliminating home lawn is probably one of the singular things that would significantly slow down our destruction of the planet I’m sure someone will post some reason why their lawn is different somehow [1] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lawn-largest-crop-america_n_5... [2] https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisf…

Really? More than manufacturing or vehicular emisssion, and agricultural waste? Color me deeply skeptical of that priority...

Re: Leaf blowers are a scourge. Why is it hard to get rid of them?

#43
Americans use more than seventy million pounds of pesticide annually to maintain their lawns. That's ten times more poison per acre than all of America's farmers use on their crops: https://progressive.org/magazine/vox-populist-lush-lawn-kill...

Re: Leaf blowers are a scourge. Why is it hard to get rid of them?

#44
What is this article about? If it is getting rid of noisy gas leafblowers im sure we are all on board. If it is about getting rid of beautiful suburbia and replacing it with Magnasanti then I think only a tiny minority want that.

MAGNASANTI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTJQTc-TqpU

Re: Leaf blowers are a scourge. Why is it hard to get rid of them?

#45
> some landscapers may charge Montclair customers as much $95 per man-hour for leaf removal, compared to ~$60 per man-hour with gas-powered blowers.

It seems strange to charge more per-hour for raking vs blowing. Per job? Sure, but per-hour seems weird.

Re: Leaf blowers are a scourge. Why is it hard to get rid of them?

#46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty sure driving 1-2 ton cars every day and flying planes do a way better job of destroying the planet than mowing the lawn with a small four-cycle motor once a week.

Lawns use ridiculous amounts of water for zero agricultural productivity.

Very important to append: when they are irrigated.

Not everywhere irrigates their lawns.

But I agree with the sentiment. The amount of energy I see in the US being put into maintaining an artificial environment in places that otherwise would be barren is astounding.

Re: Leaf blowers are a scourge. Why is it hard to get rid of them?

#47
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even without lawns people will use leaf blowers to blow leaves, off their driveways or xeriscapes or whatever. So we should ban gas powered leaf blowers regardless.

I think he means that everybody should be made to live in apartments or condos, without any sort of garden, patios, etc. Dense urban living for everybody.

That is not what GP said at all?

Re: Leaf blowers are a scourge. Why is it hard to get rid of them?

#48
Leaf blowers have always seemed to me like a very inefficient use of technology (when used on grass, not asphalt). I see people struggling all the time to scrape those few leaves at the bottom that just won't move no matter how much air you blow on them.

I've always preferred to use a rake.

Re: Leaf blowers are a scourge. Why is it hard to get rid of them?

#49
post #13

It’s just a symptom of the larger problem of manicured lawns being the number one “managed crop” in America. Eliminating home lawn is probably one of the singular things that would significantly slow down our destruction of the planet I’m sure someone will post some reason why their lawn is different somehow [1] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lawn-largest-crop-america_n_5... [2] https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisf…

Why people would put so much effort into growing useless grass is astonishing to me. You can grow anything there and you choose grass? Why? I assume it has to do with an HOA? Or aesthetics? Or it’s easier?

The historical fashion trends behind it are fascinating.

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/anthropology-in-practic...

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