We’ve got a pile of leaves in our backyard that I don’t know what to do with. Winter is over, (OK, so it might still snow), but spring has sprung, the flowers are coming out and so are the gardeners.
This weekend marks to start of burning off month, where residents can mozy on down to Castlegar City Hall, pick up a burning license, pull out the gas can and light up a big fire.
Where I come from, they stopped this years ago; but around here, the residential density, the amount of organic garden waste generated over the winter months and prevailing winds make burning off a reality for most residents. Leaves, branches and grass cuttings are pretty much fair game, with the pallor of burning leaves hanging around town today.
Is this more global warming fuel? Or is it an acceptable practice in the 21st century? If we can find a way to get this stuff to compost, at least we can use it to grow fruit and veggies in years to come.
The regional district is proposing a composting facility across the river, will this be able to handle the seasonal influx of leave matter? Most backyard composting facilities are not big enough to digest a pile of leaves as big as ours, does anyone have any tips to get things going with leaf matter?
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
See Smoke is in the See Smoke is in the Air
http://nelsonbc.ca/pages/jessen/Smokeisintheair.htm
from the Nelson Ezine.
Then there is the question of winter/early spring burning slash piles vs fire load in the dry southern interior forests of BC and other places…….
Eva, thanks for your comment Eva, thanks for your comment and the link you’ve provided. I’ll have a read of it today.
I’m pretty new around here, but where I’m from originally, (NSW, Australia) we have massive bushfires on an annual or biannual basis. If leaves weren’t burnt off at a safe time of year, a poorly maintained compost heap could dry out and become fuel pretty quickly. Good question!