Go green while cutting green

It only takes 10 cents to run this rechargeable electric mower for an hour. It's a quiet, efficient way to cut the grass and you'll get a gold energy star for using the Neuton Electric Mower powered by Duracell batteries.

The question is, can it do the job? On Dave's Garden Forum, reviews are mixed, but this looks like an older model that takes longer to charge. Organic Gardening Magazine chose the CE-2 model as an Editors' Choice, picking it over two other rechargeables.

Black and Decker offers some great rechargeable mowers, but if you really want to go green, check out Brill push mowers from Clean Air Gardening. I've used this German-designed model and it's a winner. It's light, easy to push and cuts well, just don't let the grass get too tall. It's nothing like grandma's push mower, which was heavy and hard to use.

When thinking about a new mower, look for something that will lessen your carbon footprint. The sound of whirring blades from a push mower are sweet and take many of us back to simpler times.