Jock Doubleday was suspended as an author in October 2008. Despite his claims of censorship, none of his posts have been removed.
Leaf-blower Pros:
May save time in the short run.
Leaf-blower Cons:
Noise pollution
Dust pollution
Allergen pollution
Hydrocarbon emissions pollution
Gas consumption
Oil consumption
Water consumption (post dust-cloud car washing)
Non-recyclable
Machinery production costs
Machinery transport costs (nonlocal manufacturing plants)
Machinery maintenance costs
Machinery replacement costs
Health costs
Assymetrical muscle use
Back problems
Respiratory problems
Hearing loss
{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
Good point. Since there’s nothing more valuable than time, leaf blowers provide an essential benefit that no list of detriments can balance. Thanks for supporting these valuable tools.
our community members, who respect nature and family, who consciously garden or care for the land and the Valley, do not use leafblowers. leafblowers are used by those with no awareness, or regard for others. like Lake Casitas and the Water Districts, and the Parks, and the School District, and CalTrans, and the Forest Service, and the City and County, who poison the trails and roads and schools and rivers and creeks.
leafblowers never save time. the consumer wasting of nature has only eliminated the time, connectivity, our world once enjoyed.
Yes, only a handful of enlightened souls really care. The rest of humanity is, presumably, a failure. I guess that’s why you don’t let us play with your unicorn herd.
Humanity is merely fulfilling its destiny. Its not good or bad, it just is. And leaf blowers are part of that.
Like all ambulatory creatures, our essential function is to spread the seed of plants, which otherwise are at severe risk since they cannot move themselves.
Why is fruit so tasty? Because we eat it up, walk off or fly away, and poop out that seed somewhere else.
Our destiny is undoubtedly subservient to the far more evolved, more harmonious and peaceful plant world. We are designed to serve the needs of the trees and plants by spreading their seed.
When we became agricultural, we violated our basic function. We ran from our destiny. Alienation, domination and war have been our bedfellows ever since.
Leaf blowers are part of our quest home. We don’t eat the fruit off our own trees anymore, and we’ve neutered the seeds. But we regain a little bit of our essential humanity with every rev of the blower, as we push seeds and dirt to new places.
Remember, everything has a purpose that is greater than us. This purpose is so basic and essential to our nature that it is generally beyond our perception. But it is there nonetheless.
Ojai Municipal Code
CHAPTER 11 NOISE STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS
Sec. 5-11.05. Special noise sources.
(e) Leaf blowers.
(1) Residential zones, including village mixed use. No person shall operate a gas-powered leaf blower within any residential areas of the City after December 31, 1998; provided, however, that gas-powered leaf blowers may be operated within the confines of a condominium or planned development project with a minimum project size of at least seven and one-half (7 1/2) acres until October 1, 1999 providing the following conditions are met:
(i) The operator shall be a minimum distance of 150 feet from the nearest residence, school, hospital or residential care facility to the project.
(ii) Hours of operation are limited to no more than three (3) days per week (Monday-Friday) during a five (5)- hour period between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The project’s homeowners’ association shall designate the days and time periods when gas-powered leaf blowers may be used subject to the above limitations. Notice of the days and times designated shall be provided in writing to all members of the association and/or residents of the development. Additionally, this information shall be posted at any location customarily used by the association for informational postings or at another location easily observable to residents. Operation is prohibited on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
(iii) No cutting, refuse or debris is blown onto neighboring properties or into a street or gutter.
(iv) The standard factory silencer and/or muffler equipment shall be attached at all times and maintained in good working order.
After October 1, 1999, the operation of gas-powered leaf blowers shall be prohibited in all residential zones.
The operation of electric leaf blowers is permitted in residential zones providing the following conditions are met:
(v) Hours of operation are limited to 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays. Operation is prohibited on Sundays and holidays.
(vi) No cutting, refuse or debris is blown onto neighboring properties or into a street or gutter.
(vii) The standard factory silencer and/or muffler equipment shall be attached at all times and in good working order.
(2) All other zones. The operation of gas-powered and electrical leaf blowers shall be permitted on parcels in non-residential zones under the following conditions:
(i) If using a gas-powered leaf blower, the operator shall be a minimum distance of 150 feet from the nearest neighboring residence, school, hospital, lodging or residential care facility.
(ii) Hours of operation are limited to 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Operation is prohibited on City holidays.
(iii) No cuttings, refuse or debris are blown onto neighboring properties or into a street or gutter.
(iv) The standard factory silencer and/or muffler equipment shall be attached at all times and maintained in good working order.
anonymous #4: you write well and thoughtfully. consequently your rhetoric is seductive. but i question your basic premise even though i see your point about our biological function as seed dispersers for the plant kingdom.
you say,”Humanity is merely fulfilling its destiny. Its not good or bad, it just is. And leaf blowers are part of that.” that sounds like a cop-out to me. by that logic, are all of humanity’s actions of equal merit, neither good nor bad? loving a child is no better than murdering one? both actions are just someone fulfilling his/her destiny? is it not part of our human nature to discriminate between good and bad choices?
we are not like other “ambulatory creatures” in that our capabilities allow us to inflict great harm on others through our actions. do we not have some responsibility to the plant and animal kingdoms with whom we share this planet –including our fellow humans–to find a way to live in harmony with them?
i think anonymous #4 is a buddhist.
I think anonymous #4 is a parody of a Buddhist….. and in any case is a joke.
Kenley,
Is anonymous #4 a buddhist?
by the by,i think leaf blowers along with pledge of allegence are your tix to city council!!
In some neighborhoods, like mine, you hear them ALL DAY LONG. Thank the Lord if you do not live near a church parking lot!
Visit the Noise Free America website: http://noisefree.org/
Here’s a link that rebukes all the common arguments in favor of leaf blowers: http://noisefree.org/leafblowers/sqsrebuttal.php
And my tirades from last year:
It’s the ubiquitous leaf blowers. They’re back for another round!
http://www.ojaipost.com/2007/10/its_the_ubiquitous_leaf_blower.shtml
Another Week On Planet Ojai: The Leaf Saga Continues!
http://www.ojaipost.com/2007/11/another_week_on_planet_ojai_th.shtml
Thank you, Kenley, for posting the ordinance. Alas, the workers who use them rarely speak English and they are just following orders.
How do you complain? Do you call the City or the police? (I should know these things but don’t recall)
You call the City for Code enforcement.
thanks Suza,
I never attend the churches in the Ojai Valley … you will notice the parking lots are larger than the buildings normally, and many times larger than the gardens. no question what these people worship.
and, Jock, if it is not too far afield … thought you might tell us a little bit about all the Stock and Bond and Money market activities. record trade volumes? JP Morgan Chase gangster on the move again. Dow crashes, Bank bankruptcies!
imagine that, Bankrupt Banks, and a Bankrupt (European-owned) Banking system!!
..
28 January 2008 news from the UK — Royal Bank of Scotland issues alert for GLOBAL Stock and Credit Market Crash:
The RBS has advised its clients to brace for a fully-fledged crash in global stock and credit markets over the next three months as inflation paralyses the major central banks, Evans-Pritchard reports. “A very nasty period is soon to be upon us,” suggested the bank’s credit strategist Bob Janjuah, ”so be prepared.”
The RBS suggests the US S&P 500 stock index will fall by more than 300 points to 1050 (22%) by September as “all the chickens come home to roost” from the excesses of the global boom, with contagion spreading across Europe and emerging markets. Such a slide, on top of what has already occurred, would represent one of the worst bear markets over the last century.” !!
and that includes 1929 folks!
Thanks Jock for the pros and cons…
Thanks to Kenly for the ordinance…Yeah! we have one!!!
So lets all call the abundant police force to enforce the law. Or maybe just call the company having their guys doing it. Or talk with your neighbor…educate them…or try.
The leaf blower is a prime contender for poster child of everything that is wrong — read unconscious, energy hogging, overwrought, inconsiderate, self-destructive, ugly, loud — about The way we live now. Thank you, Jock!
whoops, sorry about the repeated posts — the system kept saying the post had been rejected and to try again. Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz!
I think that ordinance needs a little revision…….
Who can tell if a leaf-blower is gas-powered or electric??
Who can tell if it has its muffler attached and in good working order?? (I’ve never heard a leaf-blower that sounded like it had any muffler!!)
Who can remember the hours and zones of operation??
Let’s make it simple: BAN THE LEAF-BLOWER. Period. Now there’s an ordinance we can all understand and remember!
I concur!
It is so cool to have comments from Harry AND David!
Are you the same Harry and David that
sells gourmet fruit baskets?
You cannot imagin how hard we worked to get that ordinance through. It is a compromise. A certain council member lives in a condominium and he cannot imagin the gardeners keeping the grounds clean without them! (I tried to explain that “grounds” are not meant to be clean like the floors of a house… That fallen leaves provide nutrients for the trees…)
– “A certain council member lives in a condominium and he cannot imagine the gardeners keeping the grounds clean without them!” –
Wow!
Interesting how the municipal code excepts condos:
“Ojai Municipal Code
“CHAPTER 11 NOISE STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS
“Sec. 5-11.05. Special noise sources.
“(e) Leaf blowers.
“(1) . . . provided, however, that gas-powered leaf blowers may be operated within the confines of a condominium or planned development project . . .”
I guess if you love leaf-blowers, and you’re a “certain council member,” you don’t care about the environment or your neighbors or anything except keeping the leaf-blowers running.
Of course, the “certain council member” is not home when the leaf-blowers are running.
Does anyone know the name and address of this “certain council member”?
I want to get audio/video footage of the gardening work going on over at the honorable council member’s condo.
And I want to talk to the honorable council member’s neighbors about noise pollution, air pollution, global warming, and more.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jock Doubleday
jock@spontaneouscreation.org
easy jock-o — you pit bull!! you have enough on your plate already (9/11, spontaneous creation?, reverse 9/11, others..)
Save our State is against leaf blowers. Maybe we can join forces! It seems like a natural fit!!
I was actually attempting to be humorous when I said, “A certain council member.” (I thought everyone would guess who I meant.)
When I was on the council I recall that Joe Devito, who lives in the condos located at 410 Church Road, recommended that condos be excempt from the noise ordinance, for practical reasons.
(Ojai Municipal Code.
CHAPTER 11 NOISE STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS
Sec. 5-11.05. Special noise sources.
(e) Leaf blowers.”)
I am not 100% sure but I think that after Ellen Hall and I were no longer on the council the part about condos was added. Or possibly it was added as a compromise, so that the ordinance would pass.
The City of Ojai web site has the e-mails of all the councilmembers and they are listed in the Ojai phone directory.
It is possible that other council members also believe that condo complexes and apartments should be allowed to use leaf blowers, same as churches, hospitals and businesses.
One thing I feel strongly about: If anyone decides to complain, be polite and non confrontational. None of this is worth getting angry and violent over. There are days when I curse the leaf blowers descending on my neighborhood, but, thank fully, there are many days when peace and quiet is restored.
I’m going to call the City for Code enforcement and check (again) what can be done.
The worst offender in my neighborhood, the Presbyterian church, is allowed to vaccuum their parking lot all they like. (…where once stood lovely tall Eucalyptus groves filled with hawks, owls and other birds and wildlife).
My heart goes out to the workers. If the City won’t ban leaf blowers on the basis of noise and air polution they should do so because they are a physical and mental health hazard to the workers.
I gladly pay my gardener extra for the time it takes to use a rake and broom. In the end there is no money or time saved with gadgets that pollute!
thanks for Joe’s address Suza!!
That is the address for the entire complex. (I get “Creekside” and “Hitching Post” mixed up. It’s one or the other.)
Maybe we need a “Leaves are beautiful”campaign!
The other day I was walking down the street, and, I kid you not, the owner of the house was actually leaf blowing around the tree trunk –he was blowing the innocent leaves off the branches. I guess so they would’t fall on the nice clean patio.
I tried really hard not to stare in disbelief!
Thanks Suza!
Carolyn told me just a few days ago — as we were preparing her land’s clay for an earthen floor for her house-in-renovation — that you are an advocate of sane gardening and specifically a promoter of a leaf-blower free world.
This came up because I mentioned that the sound of leaf-blowers — gas and electric — seemed to be everywhere and that the noise was intolerable. She agreed and mentioned your public stance on the issue.
Thanks for your great information.
Jock
You are most welcome!
Blowing leaves off the tree!!
Now THAT is Unbe*F*leave-able!
Jock-A-Roo DayTwo …
Nothin’s gonna change my world,
Nothin’s gonna change my world …
Why don’t y’all just buy some rakes and help one another clean up the leaves? Take all the hot air you blow out whilst complaining and expend that energy on raking.
… and after we sweep those acres of asphalt with a broom, why don’t we all get down on our hands and knees with a bucket of soapy water and hand-scrub the oily filth off the black-top till it shimmers in the sunlight and summons the lord to look down from the heavens…
Wee need nourishing dialog on this matter…
Aya-led-eee oh goddess!!
Further to #4:
It is modern sewers and the flush toilet that have done more to estrange us from our own essential humanity than anything else. Agriculture may actually fit our ecological reason for being; one cannot say for certain. But as long as we flush seeds down the toilet, we are a lost people.
For some, the leaf blower is part of that journey home. For others, that loud whine is existential torture, a reminder of what we have lost and how far we are from regaining it.
But the real answer is, the leaf blower problem will be solved we we start making a point of abandoning our toilets, and pooping God’s seeds in different places in the ground where they can take root. Once we start doing that, we will all see: Nobody will be using leaf blowers anymore, and nobody will be complaining about them either.
You speak with laser-like clarity #33…
Gas powered leaf blowers blow, but let me tell you about what’s unfolding as we speak.
At the 2nd Helpings Thrift store, people often leave stuff when it’s closed. Ironically enough they usually leave it behind a long sign that tells them not to, but whatever. Anyway, we noticed some crashing glassware sounds. Since I have a two year old, we were naturally curious, but the boy was not the culprit. Oh no, instead there was a naked, deranged, bald man apparently going through the various items in front of the thrift store and throwing anything glass, ceramic, or otherwise breakable onto the parking lot blacktop.
After bringing my son inside my wife called Ojai’s finest to report the absurd spectacle playing itself out at the thrift store. Well, the cops showed up and surrounded him in the usual fashion, one lurking behind with hand on gun and the other in front talking to him. The police officer in front apparently admonished the psycho that he shouldn’t break glass and crockery everywhere and made him pick it all up. They then made him put his pants back on, he had taken them off during his orgy of chaos I guess. After that, they let him walk off–wearing his pants but not his shirt.
I’m sure glad he wasn’t wearing pasties or anything cause then he might have been arrested.
Now that’s a punchline.
yesterday there was an incident at the Ojai Valley Athletic Club…. a strange man attacked a woman at the entrance to the club….. couldn’t tell if he was bald because he had a baseball cap on…. middle-aged, gray beard, short, somewhat fat…. police came…. wonder if it was the same character…..
Not my lunatic. My guy is not bearded and he’s pretty skinny. No, I think he just likes naked tableware tossing.
I don’t use leaf blowers but my neighbors on each side do and everyone else. I quietly refuse to use them; hate them; dream of living somewhere where they don’t exist; slam my windows shut. Wonder why men get to blow when women have to suck.
Wow. I just stumbled across this thread. Got to tell my ex about it when I can get through to her (she’s in Italy).
I hate to complain. I lie. But what’s with this purple page with the small fuzzy type? My eyes are going blind. I can’t bear to read the comments; a shame, they appear interesting.
Dennis Leary
Wow. I just stumbled across this thread. Got to tell my ex about it when I can get through to her (she’s in Italy). She was recently evicted from Mallory Way (I believe in retaliation for my long standing public opposition to the project there that will replace historical landmark affordable housing with big rich privately owned condoes; and her calling city hall for months when leaf blowers were blowing dust in her face at Mallory. She got the usual run around with no action for months. Until just before she was evicted we noticed men with rakes. Could be coincidence and it could be that city hall actually informed the landlord of the law, and he was pissed.
About six weeks ago she and I spoke to the council about the law, and how the city planning clerk would say: “Yes. You’re right but…we’ve only got one man… and he’s busy, etc.? Anyway, could it be that she was evicted because of her activism AND her calling city hall so often that she got under their skin. Activists can be so damn irritating and obnoxious. Why won’t they just go away and leave us alone. Get a life.
Oh, I could go on and on about this story but I got to get ahold of this addiction of shooting off my mouth. Maybe I’ll suggest she post; I doubt that she’s ever done it here.
I hate to complain. I lie. But what’s with this purple page with the small fuzzy type? My eyes are going blind. I can’t bear to read the comments; a shame, they appear interesting.
Hey I just previewed what I posted and made a great discovery. On the preview the small fuzzy purple print is gone and big white readable type appears. So I can now go back and read the comments without eyestrain on the preview of my post. If this doesn’t post now I going to be pissed. I better check to see if it does so I don’t waste any more of my worthless time.
Dennis Leary AKA Anonymous
Dennis Leary
Oh, I just thought of something. The reason I’m attempting to post again is that the first post, if it takes, left out the reason that I would notify my ex of this thread: namely the story of her eviction and her tattling on the landlord’s hired leaf gunners.
i just thought of something. hard to think over these leaf blowers. that’s right, small town, political agendas and vengence dominates. have to get the word out, of the violations by the powerful, in a clear and anonymous way, so as to not be a victim of their retributions.
You can’t “save time in the short run” . You either save time or you don’t. Idiots.
Suza! For obvious reasons, I have been away from this nuthouse for quite awhile. Is this leaf blower thread STILL going? Or is it a new one?
My advice is to ‘leaf’ this off your platform…
Mike
sock hop is making noise – don’t listen
Hi Mike,
Nice to hear from you!
The last comment above today’s date is dated June 30,2008.
Don’t worry, I’ve made it through two forums and seven interviews without breathing a word on leaf blowers.
However, next Monday, 7 p.m. at Chaparral Auditorium, there is a forum devoted solely to environmental issues. I might not be able to “leaf” it alone then!
This reminds me, about two weeks ago I almost ran over a gardener while driving 25 MPH down East Aliso Street. He was leaf blowing the side of the street when all of a sudden, without any warning, just as I was about to cruise by him, he began walking backwards into the middle of the street. I hit my brakes and made a dead stop right beside him. He was wearing ear muffs and was not aware of my presence till I stopped the car.
I startled him as much as he startled me!
Thank God I did not hit him. Can you imagine the headlines?!
Is this really a serious debate? I am shocked that with all the things going on in my world that the universe would be affected so much by me simply pushing my leaves out to the street. I was simply doing some research and came across this site. I didn’t realize how much time people had to waste on this subject. I seriously doubt me blowing my leaves really matters to the world.
Stepen (Commenter #47 above) is the kind of person sane people have to deal with to right the world.
Stephen is the kind of person that is happy to destroy the solitude of people and animals and birds to save himself two minutes (in the short run), who is oblivious to the effect of his/her actions on others.
This kind of person includes:
- public cigarette/cigar smokers
- non-mufflered motorcycle operators
- power-tool landscapers
- “send-it-downstream/into the ocean” polluters
- etc., etc., etc.
Thanks, Stephen, for giving us a small window into a prevalent psychosis.
Jock
“a small window into a prevalent psychosis”
really, jock? you’re responding to a thread that’s 6 months old!
didn’t we ban this troll?
Jock’s not a troll – he was suspended as an author, he’s always been able to participate in the conversations.
Yes, he is responding to a thread that is six months old.