Fall leaf edition Happening now Oct 24 to Nov 30
Keep the Soil Covered Month
This fall, put your leaves on the soil, not in the trash.
Bare soil dries out, blows away, and washes off. Leaves are free soil cover, and they are falling right now. Pick one way to join below, and tell a neighbor.
Count me in
A "Count me in" is a small promise to try one of the ways below. It lets us tell the community how many neighbors are taking part. Visitors only see a total, never names. Site admins can see names so they can thank you.
Three ways to take part
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Put your leaves on bare soil
Shred them with a mower if you can, spread 2 to 4 inches over bare beds, and keep them a few inches away from plant stems. Covered soil loses less moisture and topsoil over winter, and the leaves feed soil life as they break down.
Skip thick leaf mulch where slugs are a serious problem, or on beds you plan to sow very early in spring unless you rake it back first.
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Give away extra leaves
Post what you have on the Exchange so a neighbor can pick it up. Say whether your lawn was treated, because some lawn treatments can harm garden plants.
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Take leaves from a neighbor
Need cover for your beds? Someone nearby probably has more leaves than they want. Ask where they came from before you spread them.
No yard? You can still help: join a volunteer project that covers soil, or help a neighbor rake. See how to help without a yard or projects in this challenge.
So far
Nobody has joined yet, so this is a good moment to be first. Pick a way above.