Fall Clean Up

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I don't know what you're up to in the city but out here in the burbs we're in the midst of season denial.
Let me explain. Fall is upon us and that means hundreds of leaves are falling all around us. I'm sure you're picturing a scenic view of red and yellow leaves sprinkled around a picturesque new england home. Not! The number one preoccupation in the burbs right now, is disposing of those leaves so that the lawns look like it's spring and not the fall!

If there was ever a more annoying and futile occupation than raking leaves I'm not sure I've encountered it. Basically as soon as you finish you have to start all over again.

So what are one's options?
1. Rake them yourselves, put them in lawn bags and schlep them to the nearest pick up point.  Let me give you an idea of the number bags we're talking about: 2 hours of raking yields about 12 bags! We've been very fortunate to have various family members like my dad and father-in-law help us out.
2. Purchase your very own leaf blower (and ear plugs). This saves your back somewhat...
3. Pay anywhere from $500-$1000 to have someone else do the job (only to have your yard covered once again in about half a day).
4. Do nothing and suffer the wrath of your neighbors! (One neighbor who failed to pick up her leaves actually got a notice asking her to do so to keep up with the neighborhood!)
5. Try and enlist the help of your children. This however is a short lived option since jumping in piles of leaves is way more fun than making them.

Can't wait for the snow!

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