Target: Tom Vilsack, Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture
Goal: Promote environmental benefits of fallen leaves.
While fall is traditionally a time for leaf raking, this process can actually harm lawns and the overall environment. Raked leaves create on average over 35 million tons of waste annually across the country, much of which ends up in landfills. But the waste is not the only reason to leave leaves behind. Multiple benefits are possible.
For one, leaves help provide habitats for a wide range of animals, who in turn help sustain their ecosystems. In addition, decaying leaves enrich soil and help keep soil from eroding, keeping the cycle of life going strong. And they absorb water too, which can be returned to the ground and to thirsty plants. Better yet, vegetation helps reduce toxic greenhouse gas emissions.
Mulched leaves provide many of the same benefits while easing fall cleaning workloads. Sign the petition below to encourage more investment in electrified lawn mulching devices.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
This agency’s report on leaf cleanup highlighted many of the positive aspects of keeping healthy leaves on yards in some form. These findings merit a greater publicity push as they are important not only for lawn owners’ convenience but for larger environmental impacts. You can also help make these beneficial processes further widespread by investing more extensively in technologies that promote better leaf cleaning practices, such as mulching mowers that run on electricity.
Please help reduce municipal waste and help uplift ecosystems across the country by launching a full-fledged campaign to save the leaves.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Georgina Uzsoki
If there is concern for the number of leaves to become a potential forest fire, they can also be collected and given to the public for their gardens. Leaf mold is some of the best mulch. I would be happy to salvage leaves from anywhere. There are also beneficial insects in them. This is nothing but a positive.