Endless Lawn XXIII

BEAR BUDDING'S BILLIONS

by Chris Oxley

More than 40 billion dollars is spent on lawn care in North America each year.

That's almost double McDonald's yearly revenue.

That's almost half of Disney's yearly revenue.

That's approximately the same amount Elon Musk spent purchasing Twitter.

That's more than the U.S. spent on foreign aid in 2022.

Edward Bear Budding invented the lawn mower in 1830, the same year the rudimentary sewing machine was invented by a Frenchman.

The following year, the horse-drawn mechanical reaper was invented by Virginia man Cyrus Hall McCormick.

He held his first mechanical reaper demonstrations in Steeles Tavern, Virginia.

McCormick's farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

Two of Cyrus McCormick's children, Mary and Stanley, had schizophrenia. They inspired the novel Riven Rock by T. C. Boyle.

In the sixth episode of the first season of "The Sopranos," Tony Soprano's therapist is seen reading that book.

"The Sopranos" is set in New Jersey and yard maintenance can cost between $130 and $400 per month in New Jersey.

In the eighth episode of the second season of "The Sopranos," Gerry Rafferty's song "Baker Street" is heard in the background while The Sopranos family eats Chinese food.

Gerry Rafferty died in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England in 2011 at his daughter Martha's home.

Stroud, Gloucestershire, England is the birthplace and deathplace of Edward Beard Budding, who, again, invented the lawnmower in 1830.

C. Oxley, June 2023