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March 29, 1984 - On Raking LeavesPage 20 The Suffolk Times March 29, 1984 CHICKADEE -- Everyone knows this feeders. But do we realize his natural and decaying trees? Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh friendly fellow who visits our nesting site is in cavities in old "SPRING IS BETTER AT THE" %oundview .........."".:::::::: R eStatir�►►nt ................. •DIRECTLY ON L.I. SOUND, GREENPORT,NEW YORK Dancing in the Gold Room every Saturday Night 9 -1 Don Lee at the Piano Bar - Saturday Nights Complete Special Sunday Luncheon $ 595 Dinner $975 Lunch 12 -3 9 Dinner 3 -9 FOR YOUR CATERING NEEDS • 477 -0666 • ASK FOR RACHEL ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED & CLOSED MONDAY 0 c SPRING I BICYCLE CHECK -UP w /coupon ' reg. price $14.95 ' expires 4/4/84 ' ILmmmmmm���.1 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK SUNDAY 12 - 5 On Raking Leaves By PAULSTOUTENBURGH For those of us who live in the country — and particularly those who have trees around -- raking leaves is an annual task. Some have elaborate equipment for help- ing them with the job. Still others do little about the leaves, in the hope that the wind will do the rest. I've even seen people who live along the waterfront rake their leaves into the water in hopes that they will "go away." I can still remember years ago when my mother in particular raked and burned leaves in the backyard. She enjoyed it. In those days burning was a way of life and in the spring great pillars of smoke could be seen along almost any street where there were homes, each raker tending his fire. The problem, of course, like so many other things is that in those days there were just a few of us scattered about. As the area became more developed and more and more people were involved in burning leaves fires often got away and created problems, to say nothing of the additional problem of air pollution. Therefore, the old time tradition of burning leaves has become obsolete. As a matter of fact, it is against the law to burn without a permit. The general alternative to that somewhat cherished tradition is to rake your leaves, bag them and then off to the dump. In the future these leaves will be turned under in a composting operation to make topsoil. This concept of utilizing leaves and other organic matter is, of course, not new. In nature that is exactly how our soils were made. We must remember that this planet we call earth was started from rock, water and air and from that our present soils evolved. The process doesn't work overnight. There are literally billions of years involved in breaking down rock into small particles. Then, through a millenium of time, organic matter in the form of trees, bushes, grasses and animal matter combine to make the nutrient -rich soil. New Plan, Old Process A problem arises when we use our land and take a crop off without replenishing the soil. This is true whether we're talking about a farm crop or our front lawn when we remove the grass clippings or leaves. In either case we're taking away the organic matter that in the natural scheme of things would have Rental Fee 99 ON SECOND TAPE • $2.99 for first tape • Memberships Only (Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday Only) -------------------------------------------- ------------- — -------------- ---------- GETTING IN SHAPE? Video Members Get 10% Off All Repairs, Accessories & purchases in Bike Shop. Bent A Video Machine $995 For 24 Hrs. - Most tapes are 48 hr. rental. Jamesport Bike & Video MAIN ROAD, JAMESPORT 722 -4708 Southold Video COLONIAL CORNERS SOUTHOLD 765 -5265 9@(�nP3 @M Mn,Q[flTq been left to decompose and enrich the soil. When we rake our lawn we use the leaves as mulch and if there is a surplus we merely dump them back into the woods nearby. In time they will decompose through action of bacteria, moisture and a host of insects creating new soil. Up at our town dump a new plan is to take these leaves along with wood chips and mix them with processed sewage sludge to form a rich soil mixture that will be used to cap the old land filled area so that grass, trees and shrubs will flourish. Many people have mechanical mulchers of their own in which leaves and branches are shredded to form a more easily digested material. In other words, you can use leaves, grass cuttings, etc. just as they are for mulch but it takes much longer to break them down and have them revert to usable nutrients. This process of decay is also why in a true woodland we should not cut out dead trees but let them fall when they die. While still standing they provide a variety of nesting sites for both birds and animals. The chickadees, titmice, crested flycatchers, owls, wood ducks, and a variety of woodpeckers need these dead trees to build their homes in. And, of course, there are the busy chipmunks and grey squirrels along with opossums and raccoons that use these hollow cavities for their nesting sites. Then after the tree has been attacked by insects and decay and no longer can stand, it crashes to the forest floor where a whole new group of insects and decay work on it. Years will pass and the tree seemingly disappears into the ground. Its stored -up bulk has become the "stuff" our soils are made of. Good farmers know the story of organic matter and we'll be seeing them soon now plowing under the green rye they put in as a cover crop. In olden days the manure from the cow barns and pig pens was spread on the fields. We all know the story of how the Indians taught the white man to use fish under each hill of corn to add to the soil. All this adding to the soil in one form or another tells us when you take something away you have to put something back. Raking leaves will always be with us. The method will change as our technology changes but the thing we must remember is that all this material we rake off has a value. So whether we use it at home around our acid - loving shrubs, in our garden or set it aside at the town dump, it will produce a better world if we use it correctly. 'SPLIT' Counseling RIVE RHEAD -- Virginia Ingle of Separated Persons Living in Transition, Inc. (SPLIT) will be available for individual counseling and legal information on Thursday, April 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at New Directions Resource Center for Women, 312 Roanoke Ave., Riverhead. For an appointment, call 727 -8840 weekdays between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A $2 donation is suggested, but no one will be turned away.