Y: Yardwork

Y: Yardwork

April 29, 2022

Dear CEO of the Toro Lawn Machines Company

It is amazing how much time and effort is spent on keeping our un-native lawns in pristine condition. Thanks to you and other companies like yours, there is a plethora of gas-powered machines available to us to maintain these lawns. 

While you work hard at building up these machines with more and more power, you have put little consideration into the fact that your machines create an incredible amount of noise.

In my research, I have discovered that gas-powered lawn mowers were first produced by you in the late 1920s. Leaf blowers came into existence in the 1950s. Weed whackers or String Trimmers began being produced in the 1970s. And Snowblowers, though not a lawn maintenance machine, were developed and sold by you in the early 1950s.

All of these machines, most of which require gas, which is another issue that I will not be discussing today, create enough noise to damage one’s hearing. 

Did the designers for all these machines on their resumés need to have expertise in motorcycle design? Have they not heard of mufflers and other materials that can be used to soften or eliminate the noise being made? Or is your excuse the that more noise a machine makes (again motorcycles) the more manly one can feel. 

Why is it that when an electric car starts up, you don’t even know that it has started? Something in its design quiets the engine noise. 

I will grant you that your battery-operated machines tend to be quieter than your gas-driven ones. But they are still loud. 

I live for the day when people decide that they are not getting enough exercise and choose to do their own lawn maintenance rather than hire all these costly lawn services that come to your house and run all of your machines at once with multiple people working. Yes, it may be more efficient, but when you compound 2 lawnmowers, with 2 leaf blowers, and a string trimmer per house, with multiple companies doing different neighbors’ lawns at the same time, it becomes an ear sore. 

What is even more dangerous to the people doing their lawns whether homeowners or lawn service, is that a lot of the users do not wear any ear protection. It’s no wonder so many people when they get older lose a lot of their hearing. 

So saying, I implore you to think carefully about the next generation of lawn and snow care products you develop. Think about the global impact of your devices both to the environment and people’s health. Move away from gas-driven products. Though the machines you design may end up looking different and weigh more, and maybe even cost more, make them as close to silent running and energy-efficient as you can. As time moves on, work on making them cheaper, safer, and easier to use. 

Until then I will continue to hand trim the edges of my lawn, hand rake the leaves when come Fall, and use my mower and blowers selectively and not as often unless absolutely needed. I encourage others to do so also.

I would write you more, but it’s way too noisy outside right now, and I can’t hear myself think. You can guess why.

SINCERELY,

                       I. M. FINISHED

(SORRY FOR SHOUTING. I WASN’T SURE IF YOU COULD HEAR ME!)