How do you break up your leaves for your leaf mold pile. Just wondering
since fall is coming and I want to get a good pile started.

I don't have a chipper or anything to break them up however, so I
thought I'd ask you all what you do to prep new leaves.

Or, just toss 'em on a pile and let 'em soak down with each rain, mixing
now and then..

So, do tell!

"Scott Hildenbrand" wrote in message
...
How do you break up your leaves for your leaf mold pile. Just wondering
since fall is coming and I want to get a good pile started.

I don't have a chipper or anything to break them up however, so I
thought I'd ask you all what you do to prep new leaves.

Or, just toss 'em on a pile and let 'em soak down with each rain, mixing
now and then..

So, do tell!

I just toss them (mostly pecan leaves) in a welded wire fence enclosure,
make a slurry of alfalfa meal (50 lb. sack from a feed store lasts a long
time) in a 5 gallon bucket, and pour that in the middle. Cover with more
leaves and hose it down. Keep adding leaves until the neighbours stop
putting out the sacks. I may fork it a little now and then to add more
slurry, but I don't bother turning it anymore and just let it set longer.

cat daddy wrote:
"Scott Hildenbrand" wrote in message
...
How do you break up your leaves for your leaf mold pile. Just wondering
since fall is coming and I want to get a good pile started.

I don't have a chipper or anything to break them up however, so I
thought I'd ask you all what you do to prep new leaves.

Or, just toss 'em on a pile and let 'em soak down with each rain, mixing
now and then..

So, do tell!

I just toss them (mostly pecan leaves) in a welded wire fence enclosure,
make a slurry of alfalfa meal (50 lb. sack from a feed store lasts a long
time) in a 5 gallon bucket, and pour that in the middle. Cover with more
leaves and hose it down. Keep adding leaves until the neighbours stop
putting out the sacks. I may fork it a little now and then to add more
slurry, but I don't bother turning it anymore and just let it set longer.




Take it that works better than fresh grass clippings, then.. I may try
that at some time.. Thanks!

We've got a HUGE pecan tree on the property, plus an oak, 2 elms, 3
chestnut.. Quite a bit to make use of..

Minus the black walnut which I can't use for anything. :|

"Scott Hildenbrand" wrote in message
...
cat daddy wrote:
"Scott Hildenbrand" wrote in message
...
How do you break up your leaves for your leaf mold pile. Just wondering
since fall is coming and I want to get a good pile started.

I don't have a chipper or anything to break them up however, so I
thought I'd ask you all what you do to prep new leaves.

Or, just toss 'em on a pile and let 'em soak down with each rain,
mixing
now and then..

So, do tell!

I just toss them (mostly pecan leaves) in a welded wire fence
enclosure,
make a slurry of alfalfa meal (50 lb. sack from a feed store lasts a
long
time) in a 5 gallon bucket, and pour that in the middle. Cover with more
leaves and hose it down. Keep adding leaves until the neighbours stop
putting out the sacks. I may fork it a little now and then to add more
slurry, but I don't bother turning it anymore and just let it set
longer.




Take it that works better than fresh grass clippings, then.. I may try
that at some time.. Thanks!

Oh yeah. And, especially when there are no fresh clippings and tons of
leaves. I've also used alfalfa meal and alfalfa tea to fertilize pecans in
the Spring. Great source of nitrogen, trace minerals and growth stimulants.

We've got a HUGE pecan tree on the property, plus an oak, 2 elms, 3
chestnut.. Quite a bit to make use of..

Minus the black walnut which I can't use for anything. :|

Charlie wrote:
On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:14:45 -0500, Scott Hildenbrand
wrote:

Minus the black walnut which I can't use for anything. :|

Banana Nut Bread.

Black Walnut meats are the best for it.

Care
Charlie


Nut the nuts.. The leaves and shells.. I can't use THEM for anything
since they have a herbicide property.. Would end up with the mulch of
death for my lilies.. 8'o

Charlie wrote:
On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:29:29 -0500, Scott Hildenbrand
wrote:

Charlie wrote:
On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:14:45 -0500, Scott Hildenbrand
wrote:

Minus the black walnut which I can't use for anything. :|
Banana Nut Bread.

Black Walnut meats are the best for it.

Care
Charlie

Nut the nuts.. The leaves and shells.. I can't use THEM for anything
since they have a herbicide property.. Would end up with the mulch of
death for my lilies.. 8'o

I know.....the damn things are hell on garden areas as well. The
hulls are a staining nightmare on everything. Isn't it great when the
squirrels start in on them and drop hull pieces on your vehicle and
stain the hell out of the finish?

Most people don't care for the nuts either.

Charlie

Haven't had the pleasure of that yet since we just moved in.. However it
reminds me of when I was living in PA. Had black berries growing wild as
well as a huge mulberry tree.. Needless to say when they were ripe, they
poop purple...

Odd color to smear across your window with the wiper blades..

So how do you hull your nuts? I'd heard of people using old corn hullers
on them..

Charlie wrote in message
...
On Tue, 9 Oct 2007 21:53:02 -0500, "cat daddy"
wrote:


"Scott Hildenbrand" wrote in message
. ..
How do you break up your leaves for your leaf mold pile. Just wondering
since fall is coming and I want to get a good pile started.

I don't have a chipper or anything to break them up however, so I
thought I'd ask you all what you do to prep new leaves.

Or, just toss 'em on a pile and let 'em soak down with each rain,
mixing
now and then..

So, do tell!

I just toss them (mostly pecan leaves) in a welded wire fence
enclosure,
make a slurry of alfalfa meal (50 lb. sack from a feed store lasts a long
time) in a 5 gallon bucket, and pour that in the middle. Cover with more
leaves and hose it down. Keep adding leaves until the neighbours stop
putting out the sacks. I may fork it a little now and then to add more
slurry, but I don't bother turning it anymore and just let it set longer.


Thanks, I've been wondering about using alfalfa meal.

It gets the pile smokin'....... I usually cover it in black plastic to
retain moisture and heat. The steam shoots out small holes on cool mornings.
I generally take a couple of scoops from a plastic pitcher per bucket
and let it soak for a few minutes. I used to use rabbit food pellets, until
I realized how cheap a 50 lb. bag was.

cat daddy wrote:
Charlie wrote in message
...
On Tue, 9 Oct 2007 21:53:02 -0500, "cat daddy"
wrote:

"Scott Hildenbrand" wrote in message
...
How do you break up your leaves for your leaf mold pile. Just wondering
since fall is coming and I want to get a good pile started.

I don't have a chipper or anything to break them up however, so I
thought I'd ask you all what you do to prep new leaves.

Or, just toss 'em on a pile and let 'em soak down with each rain,
mixing
now and then..

So, do tell!
I just toss them (mostly pecan leaves) in a welded wire fence
enclosure,
make a slurry of alfalfa meal (50 lb. sack from a feed store lasts a long
time) in a 5 gallon bucket, and pour that in the middle. Cover with more
leaves and hose it down. Keep adding leaves until the neighbours stop
putting out the sacks. I may fork it a little now and then to add more
slurry, but I don't bother turning it anymore and just let it set longer.

Thanks, I've been wondering about using alfalfa meal.

It gets the pile smokin'....... I usually cover it in black plastic to
retain moisture and heat. The steam shoots out small holes on cool mornings.
I generally take a couple of scoops from a plastic pitcher per bucket
and let it soak for a few minutes. I used to use rabbit food pellets, until
I realized how cheap a 50 lb. bag was.




Hmmmm... But that's composting, not making leaf mold, no? Leaf mold is a
cold process that uses fungi to break the leaves down, not bacteria.

"Scott Hildenbrand" wrote in message
...
cat daddy wrote:
Charlie wrote in message
...
On Tue, 9 Oct 2007 21:53:02 -0500, "cat daddy"
wrote:

"Scott Hildenbrand" wrote in
message
...
How do you break up your leaves for your leaf mold pile. Just
wondering
since fall is coming and I want to get a good pile started.

I don't have a chipper or anything to break them up however, so I
thought I'd ask you all what you do to prep new leaves.

Or, just toss 'em on a pile and let 'em soak down with each rain,
mixing
now and then..

So, do tell!
I just toss them (mostly pecan leaves) in a welded wire fence
enclosure,
make a slurry of alfalfa meal (50 lb. sack from a feed store lasts a
long
time) in a 5 gallon bucket, and pour that in the middle. Cover with
more
leaves and hose it down. Keep adding leaves until the neighbours stop
putting out the sacks. I may fork it a little now and then to add more
slurry, but I don't bother turning it anymore and just let it set
longer.

Thanks, I've been wondering about using alfalfa meal.

It gets the pile smokin'....... I usually cover it in black plastic
to
retain moisture and heat. The steam shoots out small holes on cool
mornings.
I generally take a couple of scoops from a plastic pitcher per
bucket
and let it soak for a few minutes. I used to use rabbit food pellets,
until
I realized how cheap a 50 lb. bag was.


Hmmmm... But that's composting, not making leaf mold, no? Leaf mold is a
cold process that uses fungi to break the leaves down, not bacteria.

Whoo boy..... It was only last Spring that someone here said that I
wasn't composting, but making leaf mould....... I don't think the fungi,
bacteria, or worms particularly care about the words we humans use to
describe decaying organic matter, or the plants care about what specific
methods we use to create it.
My potted tomatoes enjoyed growing in it, and my bedding plants have
enjoyed having it layered on top, a la lasagna gardening.
And, don't tell symplastless, but the pecan tree grove I tend at a local
park has thrived and has a bountiful crop this year, whether I spread
composted tree mulch, or fresh wood chips.
Spread it on the ground, pile it up, add stuff or not....... Just don't
bag it up and throw it away. It's all good.

In article ,
"cat daddy" wrote:



Spread it on the ground, pile it up, add stuff or not....... Just
don't bag it up and throw it away. It's all good.

Sound advice! Would add the less energy we put in the better. May
not be real fast but time is not the issue preserving organic matter
is. I value anything that was once alive. Anything that passed thru a
living organism better. That may make it easier for plants to recycle
again to us.

Bill

--

S Jersey USA Zone 5 Shade

This article is posted under fair use rules in accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and is strictly for the educational
and informative purposes. This material is distributed without profit.

http://www.ocutech.com/ High tech Vison aid

S
Hmmmm... But that's composting, not making leaf mold, no? Leaf mold is a
cold process that uses fungi to break the leaves down, not bacteria.

Whoo boy..... It was only last Spring that someone here said that I
wasn't composting, but making leaf mould....... I don't think the fungi,
bacteria, or worms particularly care about the words we humans use to
describe decaying organic matter, or the plants care about what specific
methods we use to create it.
My potted tomatoes enjoyed growing in it, and my bedding plants have
enjoyed having it layered on top, a la lasagna gardening.
And, don't tell symplastless, but the pecan tree grove I tend at a local
park has thrived and has a bountiful crop this year, whether I spread
composted tree mulch, or fresh wood chips.
Spread it on the ground, pile it up, add stuff or not....... Just don't
bag it up and throw it away. It's all good.



LOL... Fair enough in my book and works for me..

Charlie wrote in message
...
On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:19:33 -0500, "cat daddy"
wrote:


It gets the pile smokin'....... I usually cover it in black plastic to
retain moisture and heat. The steam shoots out small holes on cool
mornings.
I generally take a couple of scoops from a plastic pitcher per bucket
and let it soak for a few minutes. I used to use rabbit food pellets,
until
I realized how cheap a 50 lb. bag was.


Cheap is right! I picked up a fifty pounder at the feed store today for
a whole whoppin' ten bucks.

Yep, and because it's feed, there's no tax. Something else I like to pick
up is dry molasses. That's mostly a feel good thing for me, although they
say it stimulates beneficial microorganisms. It has trace elements, but I
like the smell, especially when I play around making aerobic teas.......

Charlie wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 02:05:43 -0500, "cat daddy"
wrote:


Yep, and because it's feed, there's no tax. Something else I like to
pick
up is dry molasses. That's mostly a feel good thing for me, although they
say it stimulates beneficial microorganisms. It has trace elements, but I
like the smell, especially when I play around making aerobic teas.......


Whoa! Aerobic teas... you didn't finish and just left me hangin'!

Yeah, well.......... didn't want to bring out the pro- or anti- zealots
particularly, and it was late. I tried, but deleted whatever else I was
going to say about it. Discussion of tea making makes the discussion of
composting methods pale in comparison.

what? I gotta research this myself?

This has opened up a whole new area of fun.

Does this link provide a good idea of what you are talking about?

http://www.westvalleyrose.org/roseinfo/alfalfatea.html

Yeah, that's the same as one of my links.

Here's another with a list of what's in alfalfa tea, although it's not
aerobic with an air bubbler, and will smell like a cow produced it.
http://www.nurserysite.com/clubs/peninsular/tea.html

They have recipes that add canned mackeral and all sorts of goodies.

Man, we have to be talkin' some seriously good odours!

Again, thanks.

Charlie

In article ,
"cat daddy" wrote:

Charlie wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 02:05:43 -0500, "cat daddy"
wrote:


Yep, and because it's feed, there's no tax. Something else I like to
pick
up is dry molasses. That's mostly a feel good thing for me, although they
say it stimulates beneficial microorganisms. It has trace elements, but I
like the smell, especially when I play around making aerobic teas.......


Whoa! Aerobic teas... you didn't finish and just left me hangin'!

Yeah, well.......... didn't want to bring out the pro- or anti- zealots
particularly, and it was late. I tried, but deleted whatever else I was
going to say about it. Discussion of tea making makes the discussion of
composting methods pale in comparison.

what? I gotta research this myself?

This has opened up a whole new area of fun.

Does this link provide a good idea of what you are talking about?

http://www.westvalleyrose.org/roseinfo/alfalfatea.html

Yeah, that's the same as one of my links.

Here's another with a list of what's in alfalfa tea, although it's not
aerobic with an air bubbler, and will smell like a cow produced it.
http://www.nurserysite.com/clubs/peninsular/tea.html

They have recipes that add canned mackeral and all sorts of goodies.

Man, we have to be talkin' some seriously good odours!

Again, thanks.

Charlie

My dad used to empty out his freezer once or twice a year. He is known
to place old fish and other expired food stuffs in large glass
containers which fermented out in the garden. He then mixed a cup or
two with a gal of water which he feed to weak or sickly plants
especially ones with insects. We knew when he worked this magic and did
other things for a day two.

Bill

--

S Jersey USA Zone 5 Shade

This article is posted under fair use rules in accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and is strictly for the educational
and informative purposes. This material is distributed without profit.

http://www.ocutech.com/ High tech Vison aid

Charlie wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:49:15 -0500, "cat daddy"
wrote:


Yeah, well.......... didn't want to bring out the pro- or anti- zealots
particularly, and it was late. I tried, but deleted whatever else I was
going to say about it. Discussion of tea making makes the discussion of
composting methods pale in comparison.

After reading, and thinking, about this at some length today, I
understand why it was simpler for you to just put up a roadsign.

I just can't commit to extended conversations these days, and there was
quite the extended one here in the past on compost teas. I even joined a
Yahoo group about it, and there are some very passionate people researching
the subject, most with some quite interesting contraptions to sell
you.......
So, I just enjoy the alchemy, whether it's voodoo or not.