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David and Danette View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Organic Gardening
    Posted: 05 Jan 2019 at 10:00am
   It is quiet now for most as far as camping so I thought about if there were any on this forum who may be organic gardeners. I listen to You Bet Your Garden on NPR on Saturday mornings on my way to work. We have a organic garden and right now there are only onions and broccoli growing. While listening to the radio program it was mentioned that the National Forest Service ask that you not rake your leaves during the Fall because if left they will deteriorate and nourish the soil and they will help hold moisture in the ground. And also it was mentioned composted leaves are about the best nourishment you can have to add to your garden. So I gather our leaves and add to our garden area and leave some behind to contribute to the top soil in our yard. I thought about all this when the topic was started on humans and there effect on nature. And it is sort of camping related because it all ties into most campers love for nature and wanting to preserve it for future generations to enjoy. 
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jan 2019 at 10:06am
My Dad always left the leaves on the lawn in the fall. He felt the extra layer on top of the grass provided food for the (already dormant) grass. He would rake up the left over in the spring before the first mow. Don't know that it worked, but his lawn looked good to me, and I know I had to mow it a lot. Ermm
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jan 2019 at 10:26am


Thank you! Yes, forum activity does slow down in the winter months. It is helpful when we can "fill in" with other things, just to help keep things going until spring.

My method, regarding leaves, has been to chop them with the mower in the fall but, leave them in place (no bagging or raking). The smaller bits seem to decompose more quickly.

Compositing does create a wonderful (natural) soil additive. Best of all, it's free! I've had compost areas at previous homes and liked it. I've wrestled with making one at this house but, don't truly have enough stuff to make it workable.

I have tried doing even a small garden but, it doesn't work well for me. I get inundated with say, tomatoes and just can't eat everything quick enough.

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teampitt View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jan 2019 at 2:21pm
It's also helpful to add grass clippings to the leaves. Grass clippings add nitrogen and help speed up the microbial decomposition process. The grass clippings also help balance the carbon/nitrogen ratio, as the leaves are high in carbon.
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jato View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jan 2019 at 2:40pm


For many years we made our own "mulching blades" for rotary mowers at the golf course for this very purpose.  About 19 years ago Toro caught the vision and since then has made this special style mulching blade that both chops and pulverizes turf clippings and leaves into tiny particles.  For the homeowner you can also find this style blade, they are called "atomic" blades.  They do a wonderful job on our multi-deck rotary mowers, the largest being our Toro Groundsmaster 4700 with a cut that is 12.5 foot wide.  Saves a lot of labor units as well as building up nutrient resevoirs  in our rough areas.  Also, since practicing this we no longer fertilize any of our rough areas, only greens, tees, and fairways.
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jan 2019 at 3:00pm
I mulch my leaves every year and do use some to fertilize my small garden. I also have areas seeded every fall and use the leaves to protect the seed. We have extended our lawn 30-40 feet over the years using this method and it has contributed to reducing water erosion. We have a very heavy leaf fall, but find it best to use the leaves not remove them.
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jan 2019 at 5:27pm
My Dad also ran an aerator in the spring. It was hilarious (to me) to see all the little dirt turds all over the lawn. Simple things to keep the kids amused.
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