The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Techniques and skills => Topic started by: Laurieston on December 15, 2012, 07:19:03 pm

Title: Uses for fallen leaves - ideas
Post by: Laurieston on December 15, 2012, 07:19:03 pm

We are still trying to finish raking up the fallen leaves, and boy there are lots of them.  Got me thinking that there must be something more useful to do with them than dumping them in a heap. 

We have tried a couple of ideas, but short term and limited:

1. While they were still green our sheep ate lots of them.
2. Filling dips in the ground.
3. Make a big pile and let the chickens dig around eating the worms out of it (free food!)

Anyone got any good ideas and experiences?

Title: Re: Uses for fallen leaves - ideas
Post by: deepinthewoods on December 15, 2012, 07:32:25 pm

leaf mould compost, put them all in a heavy duty black bin bag and let them rot down for 2 years. best potting /seed compost ever.

Title: Re: Uses for fallen leaves - ideas
Post by: MikeM on December 15, 2012, 08:01:32 pm

yup, compost. I just rake them all up and pile them in the compost bin, I don't bother making leaf mould and they rot down just fine. And the chucks think a pile of freshly raked leaves is the best game ever.

Title: Re: Uses for fallen leaves - ideas
Post by: hexhammeasure on December 15, 2012, 09:34:00 pm

duck bedding ... doesn't last long but if done fresh there are plenty of slugs and worms in it... and it goes well on the compost heap afterwards

Title: Re: Uses for fallen leaves - ideas
Post by: Laurieston on December 15, 2012, 10:21:22 pm

Guy here packs his leaves in wire netting cyclinders, which he then positions to whatever he wants: fences, forts, whatever.  He even uses them as planters.

a leaf fence, see here (http://voices.yahoo.com/video/how-leaf-fence-4675373.html?cat=6), in whatever shape you want to.

Title: Re: Uses for fallen leaves - ideas
Post by: SallyintNorth on December 16, 2012, 06:06:12 am

Just to mention....   There've been pleas to burn any leaves that could contain ash leaves this year, in case of spreading ash dieback...

Title: Re: Uses for fallen leaves - ideas
Post by: Ina on December 16, 2012, 09:00:00 am

Send any surplus here - I'd love loads of leaves for leaf mould...  ;)

Title: Re: Uses for fallen leaves - ideas
Post by: chrismahon on December 16, 2012, 04:10:11 pm

We scatter them in the chicken runs. They love scratching through them, wet or dry. When they get too soiled they get raked up and composted. More go in.

Title: Re: Uses for fallen leaves - ideas
Post by: Bramblecot on February 15, 2013, 08:05:01 pm

Gather them when dry(ish) and store in builders dumpy bags.  Use as bedding in the chicken houses and  when cleaning out, put the whole lot in the compost bin to rot down more quickly than just leaves :thumbsup: .  We also buy all chicken and sheep food in paper sacks and use them on the floor of the chicken houses with the leaves on top.  Makes great compost.