Question
I was considering the purchase of a new mower and strongly considering an old-fashioned hand mower which we don't see too much of any more.  There was one made by Scotts on the internet some time back but I have some well meaning relatives who think it's a bad idea, hard to push, uneven cut, not effective.  What's your take?

Answer
Bad idea?  Not effective?  Not according to the feature editor at MSNBC.  A little over a year ago, they ran this report, 'Manual lawn mowers are making a comeback':

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18866478/

A spokesperson for 112-year-old American Lawn Mower Co. in Shelbyville, Indiana, said to be the only U.S. manufacturer of those 'old fashioned' push mowers, told MSNBC that these items are hot right now.  They're selling around 350,000 of them each year.  Two-thirds of the buyers are women.  For one thing, they actually cut the Grass BETTER than those big, heavy gas-guzzlers everyone else uses -- they slice like scissors.  Next, you need no gas to run them.  But my favorite selling point is that they are SO QUIET -- quiet enough, in fact, that you can mow in the dark by the light of the moon while everyone else is sleeping:

www.helium.com/items/981330-how-to-make-mowing-your-lawn-greener

My mower is imported, purchased online from Clean Air Gardening, a Texas outfit:

www.cleanairgardening.com/

Although they also sell Electric Reel Mowers, their 'Tips on choosing and using a manual reel mower' will have you hooked on these relics of yesteryear.  Trust me, they do a beautiful, beautiful cut.

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER