Last year I cleared a small area of some brush and small trees with a
pair of cutters, but couldn't get close to the ground, both because of
the angle and because some of the stumps are more than an inch around
at the ground.  For the same reason I found a handsaw too difficult as
well.  This year I'd like to cut the stumps flat to the ground so I
can mow.  I've never used a chainsaw, and would like to find something
safer.  What tool should I use to take care of these stumps?

Hi caecias-ga,

  Two years ago I cleared out some small
  and medium trees and had that problem.
  I went down to my local rental shop and
  took out a "stump grinder" for 6 hours.

  In fact, I think I had this machine:

http://www.tracmaster.co.uk/Stumpgrind.htm

  The machine worked wonders on those stumps.
  It took them down to a little below ground
  level, and I was able to mow without trouble.

  I think using a stump grinder is your best bet.

         dogbite-ga

If you just want to cut things off at ground level (and not actually
extract the stump) you might try an electric (not gas) chain saw,
which is lighter and safer (but still requires care, of course). I
think that's the safest SAW to use in that kind of setting. No matter
what you use, however, you won't get actually to the ground level
perfectly because the dirt will damage the saw, so things may stick up
a little. (You could dig aound them first, and then saw, I guess.)
Anyway, your idea of getting them low enough to mow over may be hard
to do if the ground is at all uneven. I'd hate to get the mower jammed
on one of the 1/2 inch high stumps! So, when I have just one or two to
do, I sometimes resort to an old hatchet that won't mind a few dings
in the dirt. You can try one and see how long it takes you. You can
really chop things down low that way. A rambling comment, but I've
been in your situation!