As Kansas City moves into one of its most beautiful seasons, the call of the leaves falling has commenced. Yes, it is sad that summer is over, but Autumn represents change, and it is hard to reject the beauty of our beautiful city’s trees changing into incredibly vibrant colors that soothe the soul. Albert Camus once stated, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf changes into a flower.”
Leave the leaves alone
For those looking to become more #sustainable, consider not raking or blowing your leaves as a passive #zero-waste strategy that requires little or no effort. When the leaves break down where they fall, they return crucial nutrients to the soil and grass. In addition, the coverage the leaves provide suppresses weeds and sustains soil moisture.
Leaf litter is vital as it is where many species of moths and butterflies overwinter as pupae. Finally, forget about gas-powered leaf blowers, as they can emit as much carbon emissions as a truck.
Additionally, it seems incredibly counterproductive to take leaves rich in nutrients (takes our valuable time), place them in bags (extra service fee) and send them to landfills. In the landfills, organic matter such as leaves emits planet-heating methane gas, which we turn around and spend on water-conserving mulch and fertilizers. It is difficult to understand why we work so hard to deplete the soil, waste our time and money. Yet, over 31 million tons of yard waste are generated each year in the U.S., making it the second-largest component of municipal waste.
What About the Grass?
Of course, in Kansas City, many of us pride ourselves on our beautifully lush and green lawns. So the last thing most in Kansas Citians would do is kill our grass. However, it is a perfect alternative to rake leaves into large piles and repurpose them for sustainable uses such as pit compost, mulch, insulation, and brush piles. It is good for the environment, your time, your grass, and your pocketbook. But, of course, you don’t have to rake up every single leaf on your lawn unless you are all about maintaining a perfectly manicured lawn.
Hopefully, we all experience an incredible fall landscape filled with vibrant oranges, reds, and yellows. However, making sustainable choices means understanding nature and its beauty as leaves are a butterfly nursery and a free source of fertilizer and mulch. So, put your feet up and bask in its beauty.
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