How would you feel if some stranger came and mowed your grass?

[Pete Judd]

I mow and brush hog for some people around here for free, as they are on small incomes, and it does not cost me much in fuel. As well as the good will it creates in this neighborhood is priceless. There is a house, less than 8 years old that has been abandoned, and the grass is now over 3 feet tall just down the road, it becoming an eye sore, and there is a notice from Bank of America on the door, so I just put a card in the door, but I will charge for this.

I have been tempted to just go down to mow it, But if it's Bank of America, I will charge.

 

[ultrarunner]

I mow and brush hog for some people around here for free, as they are on small incomes, and it does not cost me much in fuel. As well as the good will it creates in this neighborhood is priceless. There is a house, less than 8 years old that has been abandoned, and the grass is now over 3 feet tall just down the road, it becoming an eye sore, and there is a notice from Bank of America on the door, so I just put a card in the door, but I will charge for this.

I have been tempted to just go down to mow it, But if it's Bank of America, I will charge.

It's a little better now... two years ago I had mowed several foreclosed homes.

I live in an extreme fire area in the summer and also not to happy about weeds going to seed and blowing over the neighborhood...

 

[1GB]

Point is ...you just never know...different strokes for different folks...LOL

Exactly~!

I get the impression that tractor types like to mow, mow, mow, ... but I like to see wildlife habitat and would be rather upset if someone mowed back my "brush".

I had a neighbor come over to help my tractor unstuck once. On the way out of the field he started to excavate out some trees from the pasture, but didn't realize I'd planted some apple/crabapple trees on purpose for wildlife. Luckily I was able to explain what I had going on before any damage was done, but shared that I appreciated the gesture.

It was a very neighborly gesture, but I'd have made sure to check with them before just doing it even if you may have thought it was implied that they would like it.

 

[DwightD123]

I think the point that some are missing is that the people mentioned their kids couldn't play outside because it was so grown up. It would be a pretty "special" person to get upset and yell trespasser with this factored in. The OP did a kind deed that was actually brought up by the new neighbors. I don't think that the intention of the OP would go unnoticed. If so I am sure the OP would do whatever he could to help them get the situation straightened out, just based on his apparent demeanor.

 

[clemsonfor]

I'm going to partially disagree with most of the replies: Yes it was a kind thing to do and you're probably okay, but you should have asked first. I would have been pissed. I don't like people on my property without asking first, especially with large power equipment. Before I got a bush-hog, a friend came over and cut my back field without me knowing. He did a nice job and it looked really good. The problem is that there was a lot of black walnut saplings in there that I wanted to keep.

As a forester, unless they were like 10 feet tall, they will be just as tall the next year most likely, Hardwoods are very hearty things once established! One method of planting new hardwoods to encourage growth of the roots the first winter is to cut the thing off at the ground! It has been shown to be just as tall after the next growing season as it was before, and do just as well long term.

 

[yooper1]

This spring I took my tractor and tiller across the street and tilled 2 small garden plots for my friend and neighbor.

We had finished up and he asked if I had seen the new neighbors out in their garden turning the soil with shovels. I said I had not.

Just then those neighbors, newlyweds in their early 20's, walked out of their house and headed to their garden with shovels in hand.

My friend asked if I would be interested in tilling their plot and that he'd pay for any extra fuel.

I said sure, but no need to pay fuel.

So he and I walked over, introduced ourselves and told them I had the tiller right here and would till for them no charge, just being neighbors. They agreed and I tilled them up.

They supposedly thanked my neighbor, but I did not hear them

To this day they will not wave or say hello.

They turn their heads quickly if I walk or drive by and spot them.

They still start their junky, no-muffler car and race up and down the street.

So much for neighbors.

 

[dieselbeef]

I agree with others, you weren't out of line. I would just tell them that you wanted the kids to be able to play outside.

yep...thats what i was thinkin..perfect

 

[Car Doc]

I took it upon myself to mow the abandoned house every couple weeks next to me for about 10 years after the old gal went into a nursing home.

I did it so it would not attract attention and still looked lived in or at least had someone there a lot to keep the bums and thief's out it did help and it made the neighborhood look a little better for all of us that do take care of our property's.

No one ever once thanked me fact her nephew knew from the get go we wanted to buy it and once she died he still sold it to the guy on the other side.

And its STILL abandoned 10 years after that and run down something terrible and looks like holy crap grass & weeds 3 feet tall most of the summer and junk all over you just cant win in this old world. :laughing:

 

[clemsonfor]

This spring I took my tractor and tiller across the street and tilled 2 small garden plots for my friend and neighbor.

We had finished up and he asked if I had seen the new neighbors out in their garden turning the soil with shovels. I said I had not.

Just then those neighbors, newlyweds in their early 20's, walked out of their house and headed to their garden with shovels in hand.

My friend asked if I would be interested in tilling their plot and that he'd pay for any extra fuel.

I said sure, but no need to pay fuel.

So he and I walked over, introduced ourselves and told them I had the tiller right here and would till for them no charge, just being neighbors. They agreed and I tilled them up.

They supposedly thanked my neighbor, but I did not hear them

To this day they will not wave or say hello.

They turn their heads quickly if I walk or drive by and spot them.

They still start their junky, no-muffler car and race up and down the street.

So much for neighbors.

Your not my neighbor as well are you? Im not meaning im the no-muffler car neighbors but i feel the same way you do! Although my neighbors have 2 nice cars and a beat up leaky manifold International truck, but they act the same way, and i have tried nothing but to be nice to them. There the strangest folks?

 

[toppop52]

I think the point that some are missing is that the people mentioned their kids couldn't play outside because it was so grown up. It would be a pretty "special" person to get upset and yell trespasser with this factored in. The OP did a kind deed that was actually brought up by the new neighbors. I don't think that the intention of the OP would go unnoticed. If so I am sure the OP would do whatever he could to help them get the situation straightened out, just based on his apparent demeanor.

Bingo! I was raised in northeastern NC and neighbors were neighbors, we helped each other. You know it's no harder to help each other than to do it all yourself on your own property and they the same, and it's a lot more boring doing each of our jobs alone. This old world has become way to self centered and singular, I'm ready for some good old fashioned southern/country hospitality!