Keep the pictures and articles coming. There is something so pure and healthy in gardening.

In 2006 I asked my dad to talk to city and see if they could bring some of the leaves to my property that the dump just landfilled (within city limits, you are able to rakes your leaves on the street and they pick them up and take them to a park where they are loaded into dumpsters hauled away). I just wants a few loads. Instead, they brought all of the leaves. When I got home from work, approximately 2 acres of my land was covered in 4-8 foot compacted piles of leaves, all the way to the end of my road. I panicked since I was sure someone would complain or I would be fined.

To my delight, the neighbors didn't complain. By spring, the piles had reduced to around 1/3 their original size. Luckily, my neighbor and brother has a bulldozer. I spent the next three years turning the leaves over with the bulldozer. In the end I had around 2 acres of rich black dirt approximately 1 foot deep. It was incredible. I planted my garden right on top and my plants were the most supersized I've ever seen. Man did they produce.

Compost and mulch... They add such richness to any garden.

I up-voted.