The City of Eustis, in Florida,
operated a Mow-To-Own scheme in 2016, offering property to residents in return
for their continued upkeep of the land.The scheme was implemented to reduce the number of city-owned properties
in the area, and also helped people to get their own property, which for some
would have been nearly impossible.Twenty
one properties were taken on by residents and charities in return for their
upkeep of the land, and after two years of satisfactory management the title
deeds will be transferred to those people, giving them security for life, all
in return for a bit of ground work.All
that is needed to apply for the remaining nine properties is a lawn mower and
some other basic garden care equipment.It is unclear whether other cities in America will follow suit, but it
is certainly a great scheme for anyone looking to get on the property ladder,
and also cuts down the maintenance bill for the city itself, a win-win
situation.
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Our next story may not result in home ownership in return for some work with a lawnmower, but it does fit perfectly with the theme of residents and city officials working together, to maintain the public environment. Budget cutbacks forced the city of Richmond in Virginia to stop mowing some public spaces over last summer, including grass verges and playing fields. Firefighters, schoolchildren and residents took it upon themselves to bring their own lawn mowers out of their yards and onto the streets, in order to keep the city’s green public spaces looking tidy. Officially, only a handful of residents had been granted permission to use their lawn mowing skills on public land, but that did not stop people from volunteering with the Richmond Department of Public Works or from simply getting on with it. It is hoped that during this summer the city can fund the mowing of public spaces, but given the response of residents last year it would be no surprise to find a gang of rogue lawn mowers doing their bit anyway.
Lawn mowers really do help bring communities, both local and worldwide, together for a good cause and whether that is maintaining a nice city, or helping people get on the property ladder the humble lawn mower seems to have a big hold over people. Charles Howard, a nine year old boy from Clearwater, Florida, spent weeks mowing lawns for a small fee in order to buy presents for disadvantaged children as part of a ‘Toys For Tots’ initiative. For some small children, Christmas last year would have been a joyless time with nothing to celebrate, but thanks to the touching story of Charles and his hard work they all had presents. He started in November, and thanks to some social networking by his mother, the story spread quickly; he soon had people lining up to have their grass cut by the generous young man, as well as donating items for the kids too.
Also aged nine at the time of her lawn mowing campaign, Addison Pickering used the family lawn mower to raise enough money to fund a trip to Disneyland to perform with her dance team at a parade. Addison, from Lubbock, Texas, asked her father how she could raise the money to go, and he told her of his own attempts to raise money for similar things when he was younger by mowing lawns. They quickly set up a Facebook page titled “A Girl and Her Mower” and requests came pouring in. By the end of the summer Addison had tidied over 100 lawns and raised $2,600 for her efforts; some of the money was given as a donation but most of it was earned by Addison and her lawn mower.
There seems to be a tradition in America of kids mowing lawns to raise money for good causes or just to have some pocket money, so when Noble Brigham, aged 14, helped an elderly woman with her front garden she naturally handed him $20, which he refused over and over again. A concerned neighbour had seen the woman, who is in her eighties, cutting her lawn with scissors so sent a community email asking if anyone could help. Aptly named Noble jumped at the chance to help out and the community is stronger for it, in yet another example of the important role that a lawn mower plays in bringing people together and enriching lives.