For the past week, an odd group of over 100 gardeners has consumed Valparaiso Hill in Menlo Park.
The City of Menlo Park hired this team to cut down the dry grass on the hill that poses a fire hazard, but their strange and secretive methods have captured the attention of locals.
Intrigued by their efficiency, the M-A Chronicle attempted to interview the gardeners, but were met with extremely standoffish behavior. Several gardeners hid behind trees, ran away, or stared blankly in response to our questions.
Their unique method of mowing doesn’t use lawnmowers or any other tools. They also lack social awareness, driving the city to set up an electric fence, since they are so passionate about mowing that sometimes they can’t control their urge and mow sidewalk grass, which can lead to traffic accidents.
Unlike most gardeners who collect grass clippings in trash bins, it is unclear where these gardeners dispose of the grass. The group also never takes breaks for food, yet they seem to gain considerable weight despite long work hours under the scorching sun.
Since the gardeners were so reluctant to be interviewed, the M-A Chronicle interviewed some local residents to ask for their opinions.
“I saw one of them with grass in their mouth,” one person said. “It almost made me think they were eating it.”
The gardeners also work for days on end without showering, which many people have noticed. “These gardeners are so weird, they have Menlo Park smelling like a petting zoo,” another said.
Although the gardeners have some strange quirks, the community has grown to love their unique ways of working. They sure know how to get the job done. They cleared all the grass from Valparaiso in just a week, fertilized, and have now moved on to the grass in Sharon Park.
