Search Results for: blog turning fall leaves into compost

What to Do With Your Fall Leaves

Oh boy. It must be fall. There are leaves coming down everywhere, and everywhere people are raking them into piles. In our neighborhood, we have folks who come around in a big truck to take the leaves away. What? I want those leaves! What can you do with leaves, you might ask? Turn them into giant pumpkins. This might be a temporary solution, but if you have a lot of leaves they are perfect for slipping into a big orange garbage bag. Put a scary face onto the bag, and you have an instant giant Halloween decoration, no blowing up … Continue reading →

Magnifying Fall

At the nature center where I work, we have an Elmo. Unlike his Sesame Street namesake, Elmo is not an assuming presence. He’s a small machine, and rather gray. However, when you turn on the switch, Elmo turns kids on to nature. He’s a macroscope. What is a macroscope? Like a hand lens, it magnifies objects that are hard to see with the naked eye. Like a microscope, it’s a machine to assist your eyes in seeing things that are not necessarily noticeable with your eyes. Our Elmo also projects items onto a screen, so worms look as large as … Continue reading →

Fall Science: Combing Through Compost

It’s almost fall, which means that the season of quiet recycling is upon us. Why do I get so excited about this season? I love the fact that there is a time when plants and animals start to go to sleep and when plants prepare for the winter by sending many of their parts for recycling. When the deciduous trees drop their leaves, that’s a boon for many soil-dwelling animals that rely on leaves for food and homes. You can explore the plants’ recycling process at any time of the year by combing through finished or almost-finished compost. Gross! Yuck! … Continue reading →

Composting 101

In one of my last blogs, I talked about making your kitchen green, but failed to mention composting. That is because I felt composting deserved its own blog! Composting is an easy way to help reduce the amount of garbage you send to landfills, plus your garden will love you! What? You don’t have a garden? Well, we will get to that later. The first thing you need is the right container or bin. This can either be open-aired or closed. Keep in mind that the closed bins break down the material faster because they retain heat better. Some people … Continue reading →

Turning Fall Leaves into Compost

  Compost really makes sense. If you have some fall leaves just laying around (ha, ha), why not put them to work? Don’t trash or burn those leaves when you can use them to enrich your garden. You may have been following my continued ramblings about the fall leaves. First I talked about my love/hate relationship, and then I went into some of the useful things for which leaves can be used. Now, let us look at one of the most useful things of all for leaves: compost! You can have a natural bit of compost if you have leaves … Continue reading →

Home Month in Review: November 2008

Is your home ready for the holidays and winter? Now that November is over, it is time to gear up for the December ahead. Take a look at last months articles and see if there is anything you missed! November 1st Home Blog Month in Review: October As I sit here looking out my window at the backyard, the birds are hovering in the pine tree against a strong wind and steady rain. The temperature is chilly today, and the calendar reminds me that we have left October behind. November 2nd Fall and Holiday Decorating with Nature 2 Isn’t it … Continue reading →

Home Week in Review: November 17th Through November 23rd

Home sweet home! What would you love to see in the Home Blog? November 17th How to Build a Fire Pit Welcome the fall and the cooler weather with a cozy fire pit. Dreams of roasting marshmallows and gathering with friends and family to enjoy the show of the fall leaves isn’t far away. And while this project may be in the advanced category when done because of fire safety issues, with careful planning it isn’t that hard to do. If you want a tamer project, you can consider purchasing a ready-made fire pit and still enjoy the ambiance. Home … Continue reading →

More Simple and Affordable Ways To Spruce Up Your Garden

We’ve established that despite the bitterly cold temperatures wreaking havoc on most of the nation, there are still some lucky gardeners (the world over) who are busy cultivating their prized petunias. Most gardeners here in the United States are anxiously waiting a good spring thaw—-but let’s get through Christmas first. Until then, consider tucking away these simple and affordable tips for your garden. Make Your Own Compost This is my neighbor’s second job (I say that with a smile). She is a die-hard when it comes to turning household organic waste (vegetable peelings, grass cuttings, fallen leaves) into compost and … Continue reading →