Each fall, even the most nature-oblivious humans can’t help but notice — and sometimes marvel — as the leaves display their spectacular shades of ginger, auburn, gold, and crimson before fulfilling their role in the cycle of life.
For most modern folks, this annual phase merely presages the colder weather and the shopping day countdown that lurks in their not-so-distant future.
But there’s so much more to be appreciated and protected if we’d only take a closer look. Here’s how the USDA Forest Service explains the annual leaf-falling phenomenon:
“Needles and leaves that fall are not wasted. They decompose and restock the soil with nutrients and make up part of the spongy humus layer of the forest floor that absorbs and holds rainfall. Fallen leaves also become food for numerous soil organisms vital to the forest ecosystem.”
The next time you’re outside, I suggest you take a good long look at the leaves that have changed color and are now breaking from trees and wafting slowly downward to finish their life’s mission… on the pavement.
Imagine the shock those nutrient-laden vessels experience when they land not on sodden, inviting soil but instead on the unforgiving asphalt we all know and loathe.
To add insult to injury, many of today’s humans view these leaves in search of soil organisms as nothing more than a yearly nuisance — something to be raked and bagged and lugged away as quickly as possible.
To leave leaves in front of one’s house is to risk the scorn of neighbors (and perhaps a fine). Ironically, dealing with the leaves they don’t like can sometimes take city dwellers away from making a long drive to “the country” to gawk and gasp at the leaves they do like.
They travel there, of course, in automobiles and sport utility vehicles which necessitate the highways, parking lots, off-ramps, and paved roads that — by definition — devastate entire ecosystems and leave leaves no place to land except perhaps on your two-car driveway.
Human hubris aside, this vicious cycle impacts more than just our leisure time.
On that note, I’ll leave you with this reminder: It’s never too late to turn over a new leaf…
Side note: You may soon notice some changes. Simply put, I currently do not have close to enough paid subscribers to maintain (or justify) the pace at which I’m posting and podcasting. Since I must dedicate more time to securing income, I may not always be able to post on a daily basis and/or keep up with comments — but I will do my best! Thanks in advance for understanding.
I just unsubscribed from something else and decided to subscribe to yours. I love this article ! I am one of these old people who like to ruffle through the leaves when they are in thick packs in the wooded area of my yard. I love to leave them to the dismay of my neighbors ! Every year they offer to come and help me 'clean' the yard and every time I say No thanks, I prefer it like this. I love the mushrooms that pop up after a rain, and my dog and cats love to hunt lizzard and what else is hiding under the carpet of leaves. And yes, next spring the plants will have the necessary food from their own 'waste' whereas my neighbors have to spread chemicals on their yards.... what is better? The free natural fertilizer or the poisonous clumps....
I used to make the best composted leaf mould. It's amazing stuff for kitchen and market gardens. Other people paid to have their leaves hauled away. What a shame. It doesn't take much effort or space to set up composting. The benefits are a constant gift.
Wikipedia has a reasonable description of it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf_mold