January 29, 2010
Leaves and more leaves. Today we finished an epic leaf-spreading, mass-garden-mulching task that has been looming on my horizon for weeks. Leaf bag stacks 5 high and 3 deep and were languishing in the bottom lands, paper slowly decomposing, waiting for us to act. Bare soil was crying out to be covered. And cover it we did. Hours and hours of hefting and toting damp bags full of leaves out to the field to blanket the beds and the isles. Pitchfork after pitchfork of loose leaves tossed onto the trailer, off of the trailer. Now, it's a beautiful sight. I look out over the fields and a mosaic of leaves stretches before me. Oak and maple, sweet gum and pecan, pine and pear--all nestled together in the rows. It's a good, good thing.
Why leaf mulch? It prevent soil erosion and protects soil microorganisms. It blocks out the weeds. Provides organic matter. Conserves soil moisture in dry years. And did I mention that it blocks out weeds? We've probably got an acre in leaf mulch right now. Wow.
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