Remember manual lawn mowers?  After World War II, about 60 companies manufactured them. Then came gas- and electric-powered mowers, which became so dominant that today only one company makes them:  112-year-old American Lawn Mower Co. in Shelbyville, Ind.

Hanging around may finally pay off for American Lawn Mower.  People are getting increasingly concerned about carbon emissions. Lawns are getting smaller.  And more women are taking over the mowing duties.  And so for the last several years, the company has seen its sales take off.

In the 1980s, only about 50,000 manual lawn mowers were sold each year.  Five years ago, that number had grown to 250,000.  This year, it is 350,000.

“I’m not a tree-hugger, but I think we all think about being more environmentally friendly,” said Ben Kogan, a Chicago architect who just bought a manual mower.

Eric Skalinder, a Chicago teacher, felt a gas mower “was a little over the top” for his needs – his yard is no bigger than most bedrooms.

And Melissa Vespar of Arlington, Texas, said she didn’t worry about mowing around her children with her quiet new mower. “I can hear them and not worry about things getting flung at them,” she said.

This just in:  Heard about the environmentally friendly device that’s replacing the gas-powered leaf blower?  It’s called a BROOM! Pass it on!