Leave the Leaves!

by Arlene Coulter

Are you concerned about the Town’s budget and the environment? We can help both. Let’s get together to convince the Town that they shouldn’t pick up leaves at curbside any longer. They’re too valuable for us to give away and the Town is spending too much to take them from us.

Using your leaves by composting is a very simple procedure. The easiest way is to make a rectangular pile of leaves on top of the ground in a secluded and shaded part of your yard. You can wet them down some to hold them until they compact. If you prefer, and your property is edged by woods, just toss the leaves into the woods, in a fairly even layer—not too deep. Leave them and they’ll become leaf mold by the next fall, even without turning. Partially rotted leaves, known as leaf mold, become natural humus: food for our soil.

If you want a more organized pile, make an enclosure from inexpensive wire fencing. Encircle your composting leaves to keep them contained.

You can also mow the leaves which have fallen on your lawn to shred them and leave a light coating of them on the lawn as nutrient. Not too many if you have a lot of oak leaves, because they’re acid.

You can find lots more ideas on the internet by googling: composting leaves.