Thumbs up for David Darby! He’s got the guts to follow his instinct, desire and green idea. And he is smiling all the way too! Darby is the man behind Fossil Fuel Free Lawn and Garden Care, a bike-powered business based in Southeast Portland that provides lawn care services in uber green way. Using only hand tools, he travels to his job on a bike that tows a custom-made trailer, complete with holsters for the tools of his trade — a broom, a rake, a shovel, and several other gardening implements. Tapping on to people’s eco-senses and contributing his bit to environment, Darby is also doing good for his business. Watch him in action after the jump….
He quotes, “Landscaping companies that have a lot of power tools and the big trucks to carry them around in, their overhead is insane. Our overhead isn’t that much and we can charge less than them and still make the same and even more money than they do.” He does agree that using human-powered tools may take longer, but he also charges much less per hour than other companies. Most clients are concerned about the environment, they don’t want leaf-blowers out in front of their house.
Via BikePortland
Comments
At first I was quite amused by this post. This may become news in developed countries, but in most underdeveloped countries, its quite common to see gardeners come on their bicycles and use simple hand tools to maintain gardens.
But then I realized this post also highlights something interesting. ”Development” leads to increase in carbon footprints while people from poor countries, even if not out of their conscious effort, but still live a very environment friendly life!
Imagine the amount of fossils fuel used in all the developed nations just to move their lawns while its almost zero in underdeveloped countries.
And same may be the case in many other simple day-to-day task.
Interesting point of view! I like your way of thinking and also interest in our eco blog :)
Thanks Deepa. And if I have not said it before, allow me to say that you guys are doing a fabulous job here.
I was told about ecofriend by a friend and its now become my primary source of information on eco-happenings. I make it a point to spend some time here each day to update my eco-gyan :)
Thanks to you and other writers here for the efforts in bringing these news to us.