In article , Newbie
wrote:

As a new gardener in soon-to-freeze Midwest, I have noticed the
following irony: We as well as our neighbors are raking bags upon bags
of autumn leaves from the front and back yards and discarding them. At
the same time we are buying mulch to protect newly planted perennials
during the winter.

An obvious question is, could we use those leaves as mulch? I get
enough to make as thick a layer as needed?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_material

Don¹t let the reference to vitalism throw you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goethe

Still on gardening.

http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/factsheets.html

Such a simple question with myriad answers. Best answered by trial
and error with extended family help if possible. Local agriculture folks
may be of interest.

Bottom line. Anything once alive is great for your soil and anything
that passed through a digestive system is better. This of course is
based on the premise you want to encourage life and leave the soil
better than you found it for future life.

Bottom Bottom line is Yes on using leaves as mulch for frost
protection but you may have increased rodent damage .

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA