Crafting My Bliss

It’s a new year, and with that comes new goals and a sense of determination to achieve them. At least, that’s what many of us think. However, all I can think about is how I still haven’t raked and disposed of the leaves in my yard that fell in the fall. 

We’re a few weeks into winter—a few days into a new year—and I’m thinking about fall leaves. I’ve thought about these leaves almost every single day since they started hitting the ground. I thought about biting the bullet and paying the landscaper $300 to rake them up and haul them away. I thought about getting them up by making it a “fun activity” to do with the kids like I did last year. I often thought that on the next 50-degree or warmer day, I was going to put on my leaf blower, get my brown paper garden waste bags, and get to it myself. Yet, here I am, on January 5, 2024, and none of that has happened. 

I must be honest, I’m a huge fan of reusing and recycling. I can write several posts about all the things I’ve repurposed over the years. So, naturally, part of me thinks disposing of my leaves is a waste. Leaves can make mulch, healthy soil, and probably so much more. How could I possibly hand them off for the County to make good use of them? Maybe if I just leave them where they are, I’ll have beautiful grass in the spring. (I must confess, I’ve done this before, and it does not make beautiful grass.) 

It’s 7:30 p.m. and 34 degrees outside. Tomorrow, Saturday, is under a winter storm advisory for the entire day. Realistically speaking, the leaves are going to have to stay put, regardless of what I come up with to do with them. The next 50-degree or warmer day is next Tuesday, and it’s supposed to rain all day. The following two days will be in the 50s as well, but who wants to go outside and gather up wet leaves on a chilly day? Not me. When next week comes, I’ll likely be right where I started and keep going like this until spring. The weather will be nicer, and the leaves will still be there. So much for “a new year, a new me.” 

Still, this feels rather unsettling. I can’t just give up…Can I? Well, the answer is yes, I can. But I’m not going to. All I need is to come up with a plan and execute it. At least, that’s what my husband often says. I’m always up for some trial and error in my oasis. I’ve spent countless hours planting, watering, and digging up dirt. I’ve spent even more hours reading various landscaping books and articles as well as scrolling through Pinterest for inspiration and ideas for the space. Surely, I can figure out what to do with these leaves.

In case you haven’t picked up on it yet, I do a lot of thinking but not as much doing. It’s because I like to have a plan before I do something. I like to have as much information as possible, make an educated decision, and then come up with a sensible plan. This sometimes causes me to become stagnant, which prevents anything from happening. I don’t want to be stuck in this cycle anymore. I won’t be, and I’m starting with these leaves.

There are several possible locations to place the leaves in my yard. I have a couple of mulch areas that could always use more mulch and two raised garden beds that end up eroding in the winter since I never plant any cover crops. Here’s the plan. I’m going to remove all the dead pepper and tomato plants from my raised beds and place as many leaves as I can fit in them. Whatever leaves are left over, I’ll place them in my mulched area. Maybe the raised bed soil will become extremely healthy and fertile, or maybe it won’t. I guess I’ll find out in the spring. I have no idea what is going to come of any of these efforts, but I do know this: On the next 50-degree or warmer, dry day, I’m going to get out there and move some leaves.

This is a new year, and in this new year, I want to share my oasis with you. I hope it’ll help you emotionally or spiritually, or inspire some DIY yard projects of your own.