Comments on: Should Linn County pick up leaves in burn ban buffer?

By: CR2ICnBack

CR2ICnBack — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:17:56 +0000

I am all for a 2-3 period of time where those of us just outside the city limits could burn our leaves and all of those sticks that fall from the trees in the fall. Narrow it down to specific dates, at least consider the option. I have neighbors that, although there is a ban, continue to burn out of spite. I won't break the rules.

By: WWJD1

WWJD1 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:00:33 +0000

If we get enough people composting leaves and get enough compost we can start beefing up the dikes around the Cedar River for the next flood, because the city certainly isn't doing it. Of course the compost would have to be tamped down and mixed with rock and other fines.

By: davesc

davesc — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:33:09 +0000

Poor babies. In Marion, we've never had leaf vacuuming or burning available. We have to bag 'em.

Remind me again why my Marion property taxes are higher than Cedar Rapids??

By: Ann_Onamouse

Ann_Onamouse — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:27:15 +0000

That may work…worth a shot.

By: Robins2009

Robins2009 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:21:13 +0000

Maybe start posting "Free Leaves for Composting" on Freecycle – you pickup!

By: Ann_Onamouse

Ann_Onamouse — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:07:07 +0000

How about composting? I would love to have that amount of leaves, as I garden totally organically…Do you have a spot to just pile them up?
(granted it will be a large pile)

By: Robins2009

Robins2009 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:01:17 +0000

We save sticks to burn for a recreational fire and mulch our leaves, just leaving them lay on the grass. We several large trees and have done this for 10 years. It is easier than burning or dragging to the curb to be picked up, as in Cedar Rapids.

The county as well as the city should promote mulching the leaves and leaving them lay on the grass. By spring they are gone, must like in the parks ab schools where no one rakes or picks up the leaves.

By the way the grass looks in parks and schools, the grass hasn't died from this yet.

By: Spritely

Spritely — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:54:01 +0000

For me, mulching is out of the question. My yard is already full of leaf mulch. I have 50 trees that drop leaves, as well as several pines that drop needles. Cedar Rapids has stated it cost about $3 per household to pick up leaves, which I would gladly pay. I agree with Cloudburst that burning was the solution. I have talked to several Supervisors about this. Jim Houser, Lu Barron and Ben Rogers seem willing to try to find a solution. Brent Oleson could care less, which will be remembered next election. NOW is the time to contact the Supervisors if you live in the County or Robins or have been affected by this. Look at www.linncounty.org to find their email address'.

By: lobosolo

lobosolo — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:38:58 +0000

i think the vacuum trucks and everything associated with them is less "green" then just naturally burning them.

By: cloudburst

cloudburst — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:37:01 +0000

With a burn ban there is no good financial solution.
The health departments legal concerns of burning plastics and toxins have been bundled. The leaf smoke substance produced is mostly white steam with small organic leaf products.
Burning can produce a particle small enough to enter the lungs and at high levels if you are attending the burn pile . A box of 3M N95 respirators, their cheap!
Burning was the solution! I suggest a window of opertunity of two or three weeks late fall when most people are indoors to open a leaf burn. Free permits to those premoting a block burn concept, respecting those wishing to close windows and wanting the isolation.
Also a free composting location should be set aside for each township limiting transport cost to city ot home owner.

By: Ann_Onamouse

Ann_Onamouse — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:30:34 +0000

That is exactly what I do.
Feed the soil, not the plant.

By: WWJD1

WWJD1 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:01:57 +0000

Mulch the leaves with the lawn mower and use the mulch around trees, in the garden, around bushes etc.; it helps increase and maintain the moisture to the vegetation and provides nitrogen as the leaves decompose.

By: thumbsupracing

thumbsupracing — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:20:15 +0000

How about renting them from the city or hiring the city to vacuum those areas. Kind of like a mini-practice run of what co-location would be like…getting along and sharing resources…