Read by Michael Flamel

“On Meadowview Street,” a charming children’s book, is about Caroline’s family moving into a neighborhood devoid of meadows. Undeterred, Caroline plants wildflowers that eventually take over the lawn, prompting her dad to sell his power mower. Inspired by this story, I’ve always embraced a hands-on approach to gardening and lawn care. My health club? A combination of weeding, planting, and pushing a non-motorized “reel” mower to avoid gas pollution.

Over the years, friendly neighbors offered to “upgrade” me by loaning a “real” mower. One curious child even walked over, stared at my reel mower, and asked, “What is that thing?” Had I known about Lawn Mower Magic back then, I could’ve shared Derek’s tale. In the story, Derek’s dad’s power mower breaks, and he’s forced to use an old push mower. The effort earns Derek enough goodwill (and money) for a train ticket to his friend’s birthday party.

My friend Gary once joked, “Just play a recording of a power mower when you’re outside. The neighbors will think you’re normal and leave you alone.” I never took his advice, but it always made me chuckle.

Fast-forward a few decades (and one preventive heart surgery later), I had to admit pushing a reel mower wasn’t as easy as it used to be. “Let’s look at battery-powered options,” Elaine suggested, nudging me past my “that’s too expensive” mantra. After some research, we landed on an EGO self-propelled mower. I was sold when I discovered the same battery could power their other tools. Who knew avoiding tangled cords could be so liberating?

The mower worked so well, I soon invested in an EGO chainsaw. It’s perfect for managing the trees around our compost bin, nestled in the woods where it can “observe” how the forest naturally composts. Though the chainsaw doesn’t provide the same upper-body workout as my trusty Swedish bow saw, it’s faster. Plus, it generates more firewood for cozy Winter nights in front of the fireplace—a close second to the joy of Summer gardening.

Apparently, battery-powered tools are contagious. For years, we relied on a plowing service to clear our 150-foot driveway. Elaine’s psychology practice, located on the lower level of our home, needed clear paths for her patients. But after acquiring the mower and chainsaw, I couldn’t resist a battery-powered snow thrower. It’s clean, efficient, and doubles as my Winter workout. Best of all, the money saved on plowing fees now funds better gardens and healthier food.

Every tool tells a story, from my reel mower days to the EGO-powered upgrades. Whether it’s a wildflower meadow, a log for the fire, or a perfectly shoveled driveway, I’m always reminded that a little quiet ingenuity goes a long way. ❖

About the Author: Larry Johnson weeds the Old Gardening Party (the OGP) to keep the world safe for children, gardening, and storytelling. He has always had a garden, including one by the gasthaus near the base where he served as an Army Medic in Germany. He and Tyler the Earthworm had a garden on the roof of Children’s Minnesota-Minneapolis Hospital where they started the first participatory pediatric TV channel for patients. Larry started school gardens and taught storytelling and video in the Minneapolis schools. He is author of Sixty-One, and has helped Oscar Wilde’s “Selfish Giant” share his garden with the children in many places around the world.