Message from the Cap’n – Don’t Rake Those Leaves

Message from the Cap’n is a compilation of fishing advice, waterman and weather insights, Chesapeake lore, and ordinary malarkey from the folks who keep their feet wet in the Potomac and St. Mary’s rivers.

The Cap’n

Leaving leaves on the ground has advantages for the environment. Over the winter they provide cover and habitat for a litany of insects. Taken from TreeHugger.com: Fallen leaves—as an additional physical layer of organic materials above ground—provide food, shelter, and nesting or bedding materials to wildlife, as well as overwintering protection for insects, all contributing to a healthy yard.

The soil beneath the leaves also benefits from this autumnal gift, as the leaves are essentially composted over time into nutrients that feed the grass crop the following year.

But leaves also feed microbes in the soil, which are the most important crop you can grow, considering that all plant life in your yard depends on healthy soil biology.

To say it another way:

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• Leaves only last a year.
• Guided by sunlight and temperature near
• Turning energy into air we inhale
• And enabling me to write this tale
• **
• Wonderfully green in color they grow
• Until the summer days begin to slow
• Then they prepare to fall on the ground
• And do so without nary a sound.
• ***
• Leaves do fall in the slightest air
• Covering the ground looking so fair,
• With color we have not seen in a while
• Fills one’s heart with a beautiful style
• *****
• No need to rake them all up yet
• As tomorrow will bring another set
• Just walk among them enjoying view
• what this maple tree makes for you
• *****
• They provide such a wonderful home
• For little creatures to dig and roam
• And after a while leaves turn into dirt
• Nurturing the yard in its rebirth
• ******
• So leave them to be part of Winter’s view
• With vibrant colors creating a beautiful hue
• And be satisfied you’ve done your part
• In creating some magnificent yard art.

Till next time, remember “It’s Our Bay, Let’s Pass It On.”

To learn about tours and trips into the Chesapeake, keep in touch with Fins + Claws on Facebook. Catch up on Messages from the Cap’n Member Page. Please visit Cap’n Jack’s lore and share with your social media sites. Or reach him here: [email protected] or 240-434-1385.