According to the leaveleavesalone.org website, the annual ritual of raking, blowing, piling, and possibly bagging, costs each homeowner – or their landscaper – hours of time each fall. It also robs the yards of one of nature’s greatest resources: rich, natural compost. The practice of leaf blowing causes serious diesel and particulate matter pollution, especially with the 2-stroke backpack leaf blowers so commonly used in suburban backyards. There are many health risks associated with leaf blowers as well as the environmental pollution and destruction of habitat caused by leaf blowers, particularly gas-powered blowers. More than 120 communities around the country have restrictions on leaf blower use and that number continues to grow.
On this episode we discuss with our resident wildlife and landscape expert, Victoria Alzapiedi, how we can become more in tune with our landscapes by leaving leaves alone and reducing the use of gas powered leaf blowers. There are tremendous benefits to the soil, which the animal and insect ecosystems rely on. For more info go to leaveleavesalone.org, check out New Castle Healthy Yards on Facebook, for past shows go to HudsonRiverRadio.com and malcolmpresents.com. Subscribe to TMSOG podcast on all major podcast apps. #RaiseYourEcoConsciousness