True Grit Outdoor Services in Elk River

I am a disabled veteran who no longer can do even the basics of yard work. We have more than an acre of movable lawn. Last fall I was unable to blow, rake, mulch and mow a huge amount of leaves from our countless oak trees. Through the Elk River Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program a Facebook post went out on a Saturday. Sunday morning Robert Moinichen, owner of True Grit Outdoor Services, responded. He told me he wanted to help a veteran in need and offered to do my yard work for free. That of course was unacceptable, but I choose not to argue the point, but to make good when he was done. Robert came to our house with the biggest mower/mulcher I've ever seen, yet he started not with the lawn, but blowing leaves from our flower garden. Much of this garden was still wet from the snow so the blowing and raking were obviously harder. What blew me away was he got down on all fours and was scooping leaves by hand, including from under our decorative wheel barrel flower holders. He then started mowing and mulching the completely covered yard. Several times I heard his machine turn off; when I looked out the window he was pulling leaves, which must have become clogged, in the machine's chute. After about the fourth time I came out and he couldn't stop apologizing for the machine not working correctly. He then picked up his rake and with my wheel barrel (workable) finished the yard, all the while apologizing. Knowing that I had another part of the yard that needed to be cleaned, he then, at nearly 7 p.m., took his rake and started on that. As he and his wife have a five-month old, I told him to stop so he could be with his family. He kept raking said "it will only take a couple more minutes," but realizing it wouldn't he asked if he could return the next day. Robert initially told me that he expected the job would take a half-hour; I'm sure he was at our house for more than three hours (and he's coming back today to finish). All the time we talked he was professional, conscientious, focused and more on doing not a good job, but a great job for us. Remember, he started out by offering his services for free; however, at the end I made him take our payment. Robert is a former police officer who is transitioning to his own business and he deserves to succeed. From just my experience I will say he is the most conscientious and customer-friendly business owner I've ever contracted. If there is a five-star rating, he gets 10-stars from me.