Is it already that time? Are the leaves really changing colour?
It is possible that as you read this, we are moving out of summer and into the autumn season. Or, knowing Southern Alberta weather, we could be sunbathing in our yard or lacing up our winter boots.
If we do get an autumn season this year, the Mount Pleasant Green Initiatives Committee is here to give you some tips on preparing for it.
It is likely at this time you are looking to harvest your garden. This is a great time to preserve all the delicious produce that you’ve grown and cultivated in this past season. Handle with care when harvesting and be sure to follow proper storage procedures so all your hard work does not go to waste. If you have an abundance consider sharing with a neighbour! Less waste the better so be sure to save every part of your vegetable or fruit. Most produce scraps can be used for flavoring in broths and anything else should be placed in the compost.
While you are making room in your garden, autumn can still be a great time for planting! Especially anything with a bulb, so think tulips, garlic and even onion. Cool season veggies like lettuces, turnips and radishes (to name a few) do well this time of the year as well.
The last thing we want you to have your eye on this autumn is the lovely leaves on your ground! Is there anything more satisfying then crunching around with leaves in the crisp autumn weather?
While it might feel like we have to clean them up to keep our yards neat and tidy, there are actually many environmental and sustainable benefits to keeping them on the ground. Benefits such as providing natural mulch that combats weeds and fertilizes the soil. Also those leaves on the ground provide a habitat for insects (like our precious pollinators) for the winter. Yards can still look neat and tidy as those leaves can be raked into flower beds or around trees if needed. If the leaves do need to go, please remember to place them in the compost and not in a garbage bag that will end up in a landfill.
If you want to get involved and be a part of making Mount Pleasant a greener community, we would love to have you join the committee. Please email green@mpca.ca for more information or if you have any questions. As well please check out our Mount Pleasant Green Initiative Group on Facebook! You can find us on the Mount Pleasant Community Association page.
Have fun playing with leaves!
The MPCA Green Initiatives Committee
