Then a miracle happened. The landscapers mowed up those leaves and placed them in 35 large composting bags. I made Hubby stop the car on Tuesday and ask if I could have them. They of course looked at me like I was nuts. Then he said he just needed the bags back. Hubby and I made plans to get the leaves on Thursday. Then yesterday another miracle! The landscaper came down and said he needed the bags sooner than he thought. So, he and his helper hauled them all down in his truck and helped me dump them on the garden! All free! All for me! Yes, I realize I need help. We even made plans to do the same thing next year.
While talking to him, I realized we really weren't all that different. He was working hard to try to buy a place to do the same things. He had rented a place that he thought he would be able to buy. He had chickens, both hens and meat birds. He wants a big garden as well. I felt a kinship to this wonderful man. It also turns out that he's a friend of the homeowner up the street. I now have a leaf dealer! He can feed the need for leaves!
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16 comments:
Hear, Hear, for being weird.
Congratulations for being weird. I am known as the "weird" garden lady. I live in a trailer park where even the drug dealers shy away from me!
I get leaves,and all sorts of stuff for my compost bin and stack that I have way back in the lot where my modular sits.I rob the neighbor's lawn clipping bin before the garbage truck comes. Get leaves from the neighbor's trees. Get odd looks and I am told I'm totally nuts! Its doing pretty good.
Again, I salute you for being weird.
Just always be careful they weren't full of mould. If they have been moulding on the trees during the summer... that mould can and will transfer to your garden.
Which is why I use straw and simply mow my leaves and let them blow away in the wind.
Denimflyz, it's good to be weird!
Farmwife, they don't appear to have any mold. They were healthy trees and healthy leaves.
I love leaves in my compost and I also always do a bin of leaves that is just leaves that I allow to moulder into "leaf mold" which is better than regular compost. Divine stuff but takes a long time to get to the final stage. Our maple trees are just beginning to drop their leaves so around Thanksgiving I will probably be starting my annual rake and feed the compost piles process.
Congratulations on your find (both the leaves and the individual with similar interests!).
Come now you aren't weird at all. Well OK I do get weird stares occasionally when I pick up leaves, but my last neighbor didn't blink and eye when I said I wanted his leaves. I think he was happy not to have to bring them to the transfer station.
Laura, I'm thinking about setting up a few areas for leaf mold and having him bring me back some more leaves. These were mostly oak leaves and thinner types. They'll be almost completely broken down by spring.
Daphne, I took another neighbors leaves last year. It was much easier to mow them up than to rake them. That made everybody happy.
Ha, ha, ha, ha. I have an eye out even as I type for the lawn guys who take care of a neighbor's yard. Last year I happened upon them when they were bagging up leaves and I got them for my compost pile.
35 bags, though, that's like Fort Knox.
"The Weird Neighbor." I love it! LOL. You're in good company though, there are quite a few of us in the weird neighbor category. That is so cool about your neighbor. You took a social risk and found a friend. Way to go.
Karen Anne, it was the mother lode!
Leigh, I specialize in being the weird neighbor. Thankfully, they all seem to like me anyway.
You are SO cool!!!! :D
Leaves are the best for our compost bins. All is fair for the garden....no matter how we get it!
This is my first visit to your blog and I've really enjoyed reading it. I was just looking out the window this morning at my maple leaves and thinking I hope it stops raining soon so I can rake up those leaves and put them in my garden!!! I also enjoyed reading all your blogs on canning. I'm new to canning and have slowly been adding to my pantry. The first year it was tomatoes, second year added salsa making with the tomatoes and for my third year I have added pickled peppers and dill pickles along with the tomatoes and salsa. You mentioned a pressure canner what is that? I do all my canning in a canning pan with water etc. I would like to can my veggie chile and my veggie lentil soup. I enjoyed my visit today, and if you have some time please "visit" me in New England, we love company and new followers are always welcome!
Kayla, LOL, thanks.
Lorie, they're wonderful!
Ocean Breezes, thanks! Are you on the Cape? I'm in SE MA myself. nice to 'meet' you.
Oh I'm a total leaf lover too. Last time I pulled over and stuffed the car with bagged leaves, my kids didn't bat an eye, except to say "the car smells nice now."
Hahahahaha, we are known as the weird neighbors in our street. This is why.
http://nycgardening.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-to-water-garden-with-rain-barrel.html
6512, my kids would probably do the same thing.
Meemsnyc, LOL, here's to weird!
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