Climate & Nature...

It's fall foliage time here in Maine, and the skyline abounds with brilliant red and yellow leaves in every direction. So does the ground, where the leaves form a crunchy carpet that rustles beneath me with every step.

But unfortunately, the arrival of Autumn signals the arrival of something awful: the dreaded leaf blower.

Two or three times a day now, the roar of gas-powered leaf blowers shatter the silence that makes country living so special. Their operators wield them with abandon, attacking every leaf, pine needle and stray blade of grass as if their very lives depended upon it. More often than not, they end their assault by standing in the same spot for five minutes, futilely trying to force the last two or three leaves into a pile that refuses to stay controlled.

I ask you, what's wrong with a good old-fashioned rake and broom to combat this dreaded detritus? Is it really a time-saver to blow leaves all over the lawn, then hope they end up in a single pile? Is it worth emitting of greenhouse gases the equivalent of a 2,200-mile drive? What's wrong with a little outdoor exercise?

Sadly, the days of the rake seem to have gone by.  And with gas prices somewhat lower right now, that might stay the case. But when it comes to getting rid of red, yellow and brown leaves, nothing is greener than the power of your own arms. Give it a try. Your muscles might thank you.

So will the planet.