On the Cutting Edge

Jon Jackson is committed to taking the Good Neighbor Policy a step further. Six years ago, the Dayton industrial engineer founded Global Neighbor Inc., a company dedicated to creating nature-friendly lawn-care equipment. First up was NatureCut, a battery-operated, computerized lawnmower that detects and discards debris in its path and declumps grass clippings — all while producing a mere 70 decibels of sound, a feat your next-door neighbor who sleeps in on Saturday mornings is bound to appreciate.

Now, Jackson’s tackling weeds with the same deliberation. His newest invention: NatureZap, an electric canelike device that gets to the root of the matter.

“My company’s mantra is to propose alternative solutions for lawn and garden problems that are environmentally benign,” Jackson says. “Our goal is to kill weeds without using any chemicals.”

NatureZap uses thermogenic eradication — also known as heat — to disrupt normal weed growth. Simply plug it into an extension cord, apply the low-wattage heating element directly to the weed and — presto! —broadleaf varieties are toast, with no harm to surrounding grass or mulch.

The tool, which retails for $139, has generated enthusiastic sales.

“At first I thought it would be tree huggers like me who’d only be interested in it,” says Jackson, “but the response has been pretty far-reaching.” His customers range from gardeners wishing to protect their children and pets from pesticides to those allergic to chemical lawn treatments.

Jackson adds that the device is so easy to use that even a child can do it — and that includes his 12-year-old son, Nicholas.

“I have to admit killing weeds is not his favorite job,” he says with a laugh. “But this makes the task a lot easier.”

For more information, call 937/285-0990 or visit www.naturezap.com.