Choosing the Right Mower
Winter can be a difficult time to start a homestead, but that’s where we found ourselves upon relocating to Texas. One crucial element of homesteading is maintaining your land, and investing in the right equipment can make a substantial difference. Not having cows, or any of God’s lawn mowers, meant I would need to traverse the pastures and such to keep them in shape. Until we can buy a tractor for shredding, choosing the right mower was key. Winter also allowed me the time to shop around for a mower before the grass began growing again. Because modern life brings such a Paradox of Choice, with so many brands and features to review, I was going to need time, especially with this unfamiliar territory.
Zero Turn
There was no sense in buying a big mower with the smallest cutting area. Nor did we want to go too big with the beefy diesels or giant mowers. My priority is spending time with family and not lawn care. I opted for a prosumer or entry-level commercial zero-turn mower. For me, the priority was finding a zero-turn mower with a large cutting area to make quick work of the task at hand. These machines strike a balance between efficiency and cost, perfect for a family-oriented homestead where time spent with kids takes precedence over excessive lawn care.
My local hardware store was selling Scag mowers, which I wasn’t familiar with yet. When I compared all the usual ones from Tractor Supply I realized that the prosumer level should give the longevity and power that I need for the lawn and occasional pasture work. We struck a good deal at our local hardware store that included delivery, which was great because we also didn’t own a trailer yet. Oh boy, we were starting from scratch!
Mounting the light bar
In my excitement to buy the mower, I forgot one of the features I had been looking for – lights. In order to make short work of the mowing we bought a big mower deck. Next, I took it a step further by adding a Nilight LED light bar to the mower. This addition allowed me to extend my mowing hours into the night without sacrificing precious daylight hours with my children. Mowing under the stars not only adds a touch of tranquility to the process but also ensures that the job gets done without encroaching on the limited time available during the day.
I thought about mounting the light bar to the ROPS but drilling into the ROPS bar is usually a way to void a warranty and could theoretically compromise the safety equipment of the mower. Instead I placed the light bar on the ROPS and held it down with Nilight Magnetic Mounting Brackets and some bungees. I initially tried zip ties but they only last so long in the sun. After being bumped in the head a couple times, I gave up on zip ties and went with bungees. Instead of a large bump in the ground knocking me in the head with a light bar, it just slides around or off and I push it back on. One day I’d like to figure out something better here but this has been working for two years.
In the end, the choice of equipment for your homestead is not just about functionality; it’s about aligning your tools with your lifestyle priorities. By selecting a zero-turn mower with a large cutting size and enhancing it with a Nilight LED light bar, I’ve managed to strike a balance between maintaining my land and cherishing moments with my kids.
Next Steps
Even with the rough work I’ve demanded from the mower, I am still on the first belt. I’ve had three flats but that is not the fault of the mower but because of the odd crazy things I find when I drive around the property. With a few hitch adapter parts, this mower has come in handy with hauling a small trailer and also using a tow-behind broadcast spreader.
Now that we have cows, the pastures don’t require as much mowing and we will have someone shred them twice a year. Until we can afford the tractor, I know the Zero Turn Mower can handle the usual lawn care, and the extra off road work we may ask of it.
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