Mowing

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Whats the plan for keeping the grass, weeds and other greenry beat back after PAW?
The vegetation will need to continue to be cleared IMHO for clear fire zones, fire danger reduction and bug/critter control. Not like a manacured lawn but keeping the danger down.
I dont have the luxury of grazing animals and have considered one those manual mowers like I grew up hating. (see attached)
Any other ideas or thoughts? Am I "out there" on this one?

[Cimarron]

Only other thing comes to mind would be livestock...goat or horse type model

[LizardKing]

I hate to think of how many years I've pushed one of those and never found that they worked too good on anything except a well manicured lawn.

[Klayton]

Goats, definitely goats....

[dilli]

we only mow paths now.. cut other stuff back as needed for critters ... weeds and natural settings are great for gardens, it keeps things in balance bug and pest wise and makes for a great habitat.. dogs roam free n keep deer and other larger wildlife at bay

[Lowdown3]

Definitely needs to be budgeted for in fuel storage IMO. In one of the Survival Gardening videos we did for youtube we had a big stand of corn. I placed a single small sillhouette target just inside the corn patch. From a distance I walked up to the corn patch. You couldn't see the target till you were almost on top of it.

Your going to need to avoid similar circumstances where you can. Vegetation management is an important part of retreat security IMO.

[NWMT]

We have moved to our retreat and use solar hotwire to move the pigs around clearing as they get moved........as for the corn patch........3 German Shepherds run loose on our twenty and the NF surrounding us........as for mowing......picket pins and haltering the horses out........SHTF and no fuel.......saddle up! lol

[610Alpha]

How about a wood handle weed cutter or a scythe if the grass is tall enough. Don't want a manicured lawn in a PAW situation cause that will attract attention but at the same time don't wan't to give the zombies cover/concealment......hmmmm tough call.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

How about a wood handle weed cutter or a scythe if the grass is tall enough.

That I do have "some folks it a sling blade mm hmm" LOL
here is one of my thoughts and why i asked. Every year here in Oklahoma and Texas and other places like Kalifornia there are massive fires. Ours here are because the grass, grazing pastures etc in the early spring and late fall get very dry and the humidity goes real low then the winds increase. Man has an uncanny knack for idiocy when this happens and they throw out cigarettes, try and weld in the pasture etc. and manage to burn up half the country and folks houses, barns, animals. I can only imagine 6mths after PAW when Mr. Iwatchedbeargrylsdothisonce lights his first fire or tries to weld using batteries and coat hangers like on colony and poof here comes the blaze and no Fire Dept. and I'm hauling water as it is just to survive

[eeyore]

If you cut it don't let go to waste, use it for hay or at least compost. If you choose a reel mower, then stock the necessary supplies to sharpen it. Heyman has one and has promised me a article on how to sharpen one. Maybe i can get him to make a utube vid.

I have both swing blades and a reel mower, for the purpose.

[Blowmax10]

they do make solar powered lawn mowers - I've never used one

http://keetsa.com/blog/eco-friendly/solar-powered-lawn-mower/

[Klayton]

@Blowmax10: I LOVE IT!!!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

they do make solar powered lawn mowers - I've never used one

http://keetsa.com/blog/eco-friendly/...ed-lawn-mower/

Great they make this but not a solar powered trolling motor for fishing. Is there no justice in the world?

[Erg]

Mr. Iwatchedbeargrylsdothisonce lights his first fire or tries to weld using batteries and coat hangers like on colony...

LMFAO...too true. I can see it now.

You're not crazy. It's definitely something one has to consider. Important for many reasons.

Meh...my experience with goats; they prefer woody or very dry stuff. If the grass is still have moisture and you don't want to swing a scythe than I'd suggest the ol'wooly livestock. They're really good at mowing grass and when the season's right, break out the spinning wheel to make yarn. :D

hehe...love the lawnmower. Of course, if you learn how to make your own solar panels and or cells...the sky's the limit. Someone already took my idea:
:eek:

[Bearman202]

On my last trip to Amish country last fall, I saw a guy mowing his lawn. He had a rig that was pulled behind a horse. It was a sickle-bar mower, and the movement of the wheels causes the sickle to operate. It was really interesting. I'm sure Lehman's probably has them. As Matt said, in fire country it's very important to keep the weeds down. As for keeping goats to do it for you, they can be extremely destructive to your fruit trees and other types of trees. The problem with using sheep is the one the cowboys found when the sheepherders moved in; the sheep don't chomp off the grass, they pull it up by the roots, and it doesn't grow back afterwards. At least that's what someone who was in a position to know told me. I don't think I would do that if I had any other livestock, or even if I planned to keep sheep for another year. Anybody know how they dealt with this?