If you have a yard or a garden, Autumn means one thing- lots of leaves! What sometimes seems like a chore is really a great resource - for gardeners and artists alike.

Gardens that Matter has a list of 8 ideas of things you can do with your leaves this Fall:

Play in them - When was the last time you played in a big, crunchy pile of leaves?
Compost them - They are an excellent source of carbon and contain minerals that trees draw from deep in the soil.
Use as mulch - Worms and microbes graze on the mulch and continue working through the winter.
Sheet Mulch - Use your leaves to smother weeds in a technique called sheet mulching.
Make Leaf Mold - Leaf mold is compost made using only leaves. It improves soil structure, increases water retention, and provides a comfortable habitat for worms and microbes.
Make art- Gathering the leaves to use in projects is a great activity in itself. It gives us a chance to learn and explore nature and practice leaf identification.
Leave the leaves- Letting loosely scattered leaves stay on your lawn is okay. The minerals in leaves are as valuable to the plants and soil in your yard as they are in your garden.
Donate them - Some gardener in your life needs your leaves, especially if you don’t use synthetic insect and weed killers.

For more details on these methods and links to related resources, read the full post here.