Leaves: Compostable Item of the Month
Where dried leaves are concerned, it’s often feast or famine. The leaves are useful year-round, as a component of “brown†refuse that must be alternated with “green†refuse (grass clippings and kitchen scraps) in a successful compost pile. In summer and winter, there often don’t seem to be enough leaves, whereas in winter and spring there are always far too many.
Rather than putting the fall leaves out for yard waste collection, it might be wise to stockpile some under a tarp outside, or indoors (away from open flame, or anything that could start a fire). That way, they can be accessed throughout the winter for use in the compost pile, and as an insulation system, if need be. In the spring, the leaves that weren’t taken off the ground in the fall can be stockpiled once again, for use in the summer.
An additional tip comes from Mark Cullen, writing for Canada’s Canoe Network. He suggests putting excess fall leaves in garbage bags with holes poked in them for aeration. Add a handful of high-Nitrogen (21-7-7) to each bag, as well as some soil. Place the bags in an out-of-the-way place in the garden for the winter. In the spring, the leaf volume will be reduced and the decomposed remains will make an excellent soil amendment. Virtually the same thing can be accomplished by actually leaving some portion of the dead leaves on the ground in the winter and spring. More on that to come….
