I’ve been pretty impressed with the number of rakes I’ve seen around the neighborhood this year. On a typical 30 minute dog walk this weekend, I passed several homeowners doing fall clean up.
Crepe Myrtle Leaves Soon to Join the Mulch Pile
And, not one of them was using a petrol-hungry, pollution spewing blower to clean up fallen leaves. Instead, families and neighbors were raking piles together. Kids were jumping into the piles. And, in a few cases, people were even mounding nutrient-rich fallen leaves on planting beds to protect and enhance beds over the winter. Sure, this might make for some tasty slug habitat, but it’s a simple way to bring a little permaculture to our own gardens.
Seeing all these healthy, happy families reminded me to encourage you to pull out the rake instead of the pollution machine for most — if not all — of your autumn leaves. (more…)
