We are very fortunate in that there are a number of trees on the almost acre we live on. We also have the option of raking the leaves or leaving them. If they are left where they fall the lack of fencing on the property allows them to blow to the road where the city comes and removes them. I’ve always have really great intentions of raking them but for one reason or another have missed doing it so far. Well, along with the cold frame this year I had decided several months ago that I would rake at least a good part of what falls this autumn.

Several blisters and many sore muscles later round one of the great leaf harvest of 2005 is over. Two of us worked for several hours and only nicked the surface of what will ultimately fall. Most of the trees are still holding tight to their leaves so the coming weeks will provide many more harvests weather permitting.

Where to put the harvest and keep it from blowing away? Well the thought of a lot of bags of leaves lying around just didn’t appeal to me so I opted for tossing our harvest into a 12’x15′ fenced area that I normally use to grow my lettuce and green beans. I had to fence it initially to keep the rabbits out of my plants. Yesterdays harvest filled about 20% of the area about 3 feet deep in leaves. The plan is to till them into the garden either later this fall or next spring.