Lawn Mowing Techniques
An Illustrated Guide.
In my limited experience of lawn mowing, I have very rarely done straight lines. In fact, straight lines seem like the most difficult way to cut grass. Here is an illustrated guide to alternate maneuvers that I find handy when performing this chore.
The Vacuum Cleaner:
Standing in one place while pushing and pulling the mower around you. It’s the same movement as vacuuming an area rug. Perfect for those pesky angled corners or small areas like near a mailbox.
The Curious Dog:
Walking forwards while dragging the mower behind you with one arm while the mower faces the opposite direction.
This is the technique that I use the most. I think it helps with curved areas and hills because it saves time from having to turn the mower itself around and you’re always walking forward in potentially difficult areas.
The Hungry Hungry Hippo:
Inspired by the Hasbro game, this technique is used for very tall weeds. You know, the weeds that are at least 3ft tall and have scary thorns that you don’t want to touch. Or flowers that have wilted and it is time to cut them down in the fall.
An alternate name could be “The Drinking Bird,” like those desk buddies.
The Shuffle Crab:
Used for very tight, usually square shaped areas. Basically using the Hungry Hungry Hippo technique, but instead of moving forward, you’re forced to move sideways. It’s important to bend your knees into a horse stance or else you won’t get the leverage needed to maneuver.
The Pin Wheel:
Working the perimeter first and then spiraling in. This works great for large, curvy areas. We have “islands” in our yard where there are flowerbeds and between the islands are curvy plots of grass where this technique is most helpful. Be mindful not to get too dizzy.
The Monster Truck:
When you want to go fast AND your yard has hills. Going forward at any cost, you let the mower bounce as you take it to the top and over. Perhaps the most reckless of all these techniques, but also the most fun.
I made these animations in Procreate Dreams, and I have to say that it was probably the most annoying and frustrating software to learn. Yes, self guided - but it took me forever to figure out how to just export an animation. I have used a lot of editing and animation programs over the years and am a fan of the original Procreate, but Dreams was really not that fun.
If I were to do this again, I think I would film paper cutouts on a green screen. I also think that this would be a fun idea for a pop-up book/zine. It’s a Great Father’s Day gift idea.
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