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One million acres of forest protected under The Conservation Fund, including in OR; Trump seeks to set aside his New York hush money guilty verdict after Supreme Court immunity ruling; 'Share the Pennies' weatherization program tackles climate solutions, reduces cost; Utah feels the impact of California's ban on gestation crates.

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SCOTUS gives former President Trump a huge win in terms of immunity, which might apply to charges of election interference. A new poll finds future court appointments are crucial for voters, and President Biden continues to face post-debate calls to leave the race.

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Ugly, imperfect produce destined for the landfill is being upcycled by a California candy company, a Texas volunteer uses his Navy training to map the gaps in broadband, and Pennsylvania has a new commission tasked with reversing its shrinking rural population.

Leaving the leaves helps wildlife thrive, VT gardens grow

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Wednesday, October 4, 2023   

Autumn leaves will soon be falling and a growing number of homeowners in Vermont are willing to leave them on the ground.

A new survey from the National Wildlife Federation found a majority of people recognize the vital habitat a leaf layer provides for moths and insects, which birds need to survive.

David Mizejewski, naturalist for the National Wildlife Federation, said leaves also help suppress weeds and improve the quality of soil.

"Sounds an awful lot like mulch and fertilizer," Mizejewski noted. "But we've been trained by the garden industry to get rid of all the leaves and then go buy mulch and fertilizer."

Mizejewski emphasized keeping even some of the leaves on the ground reduces the amount of yard waste in landfills, where they produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Still, the survey showed many homeowners simply prefer the look of a freshly raked lawn while others are required to remove leaves by their homeowners association or municipality.

Kristina MacKulin, executive director of the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association, said she has seen an increase in people opting for a more natural look to their yard, while others rake leaves into the garden to better insulate plants for winter.

"Some people prefer to just rake them up and use them in their own personal compost pile," MacKulin observed. "That is a great addition to anybody's compost pile as well."

MacKulin added too many leaves will smother a lawn and just a few inches of cover is best for both plants and wildlife in the grass and garden.


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