ALL THE LEAVES ARE BROWN

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Each and every leaf is a tiny self-contained solar panel. Gently awakened by the sunshine every morning each leaf begibns to sparkle with warmth and life. And so the process of converting this energy of the sun(heat) into chemical energy(sugars) begins.

6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy = C6H12O6 + 6O2

Crucial to his process is the mineral Iron. Just like any Iron exposed to the sun - it warms up nicely. A leaf with abundant iron also warms up nicely to assist the absorption of heat energy.

Intircate in the process of photosynthesis and located in leaf is the trace mineral manganese. Here, quite remarkably manganese switches over and back between 2 different versions of itself. In doing so, it captures then shares energy by accepting and donating electrons in the conversion of sunlight to sugar. (See this interview with Don Huber, Professor Emeritus, Purdue University.)

Silica then works extremely hard maintaining firmness and uprightness in the leaf to maximise leaf surface area facing the sun, without sagging or drooping.

LEAF BREATHERS

As well as being a tiny energy factory, leaves are nutrient breathers from the air. Pulling in the lighter elements they penetrate the leaf stomata and the cuticle on the upper part of the leaf. In fact, folilar feeding of plants through the leaf uses of this facility efficiently, delivering quailty nutrients straight into growing systems.

This ingenious absorption from the air is a secondary source of nutrient for leaves, trees, grains, fruit, vegetables, herbs and grasses. And some species plants rely nearly exclusively on this method where harsh and dry environments make soil nutrients unavailable.

DECOMPOSED LEAVES

Discarded by trees, at the end of summer, leaves are abubdant in exactly the minerals, trace minerals & their trace elements that fuelled photosynthesis in the first place. Better still, they're in the form that soil loves, having offered them up to the plants in the first place.

They need a certain type of encouragement to relase their nutrient lode into soil. And they'll happily offer up their all to your soil over the winter months, fuelling next year's produce.

Combined with twigs and branches, ashes and charcoal, leaves replenish soils' energy, without destroying the delicate microbial system beneath - something that commercial fertilizer can't do

Storing and stockpiling the fuel in this way is essential. For the busy growing season ahead the energy associated with the minerals, trace minerals & their trace elements combines to provide even more energy to the growing system.

This powerful and naturally rich form of fertilizer increases the likelihood of rich, nutrient dense, tasty, healthy produce, the envy of all who sample its deliciousness.

LEAF FERTILIZER

From the decaying leaves at the end of the season, those same leaves return nutrients to the forest floor and right back into the earth.

Since time began, Mother Earth has been using these raw materials as fuel and as energy for growth. Strong grains, grasses, trees, herbs, fruit and vegetables thrive on these natural materials returning to the earth.

The difference is that they're already plant-ready and practically ready to jump into plants' root systems again. Massive energy is not needed to convert them into another chemical form for absorption and they're ready, willing and able to give their all for the cause.

Commercial fertilizer also provides this energy in abundance, but at the cost of the microbial community, soils' most precious resource. This microbial network beneath the surface converts elements in the soil into plant-ready minerals, trace minerals and their trace elements - And plants then make them human-ready. The disassembly of this connection provides soil of less and less quality and food of poorer and poorer nutrient standard.

NATURAL RAW MATERIALS

Leaves as we now know are plentiful in trace minerals such as silica, iron, manganese and lots of carbons. With the dry matter, proteins, amino acids, lignins and fibre, a tremendous amount of energy is supplied for soil building activity. 


Ashes are a very concentrated source of heavy earth minerals, as the lighter minerals having been burned away. Charcoal the lighter mineral holds the heavier minerals tightly, especially calcium, so it doesn't drop out of the root zone. Charcoal also hold nitrogen and carbon and is home to a robust microbial world.  

Twigs and branches give precious energy to soil to build and renew in dormant winter months, ready for a full-powered growing season.  

Large chunks of wood are a tremendous resevoir of precious water that all parts of soils' activity needs. These raw materials are nurturing the soil as a compost heap would - but right where we need it and with more strength.

THE LEAF METHOD

Adding leaves to your garden soil is easy. Just follow these steps:

Spread the leaves generously over your soil - they will shrink a lot so don't skimp.

Spray a microbial stimulant onto the leaves like surgar or molasses dissolved in water.

Consider also a humate-based biostiumulant or fish-based product.

Leave for a few days then work about 5 - 7 inches of leaves into the soil with a hoe or shovel

Let the soil rest for the winter months.

This simple process of working leaves into the soil together with twigs, branches ashes and charcoal builds your entire soil ecosystem beneath the surface which lives and breathes. This material in the raw was the foundation for enormous Jurassic Forests.

THE MODERN METHODS

The Indian proverb summarized it well: "We don't own the earth, we simply inherit it from our children." Yet in our parks and along our streets leaves are gathered for removal and disposal. Tons and tons are sent to landfill every year, removing a precious resource form our soil - plant - foodchain. Without good soil we loose the foundation for nutrient dense food and the real heart of human health. The power to create strong soils that global warming effects of commercial fertilizer production is at our fingertips.

 "A nation who destroys its soil, destroys its people."(Rooselvelt)

Scientific research shows the sheer volume of carbon capture by soils While commercial fertilizer production is one of the most rampant destroyers of the ozone layer this simple addition of leaves to the garden soil can do your part to save the planet.

The balance can be struck with proper soil testing to determine the needs of the particular soil. In fact recently a B6 Vitamer has been discovered acting as a signaller to the plant when sufficient amonia has been absorbed, redcuing the need for nitrogen absorption.

ANCIENT SOILS
In the Jurassic World there was no commercial fertilizer and no folilar sprays. There were no herbicides or pesticides. Nutritionists believe jurassic soils contained up to 30 times the minerals, trace minerals & trace elements of todays' soils.

Trees grew literally the width of a house....and reached for the sky. They poured out phenomenal amounts of oxygen into the atmosphere. They were the lungs of a thriving planet.

An entire world grew stronger by the hour feeding off these forest greens - leaves, plnts, ferns, moss. The creaking of growing jurassic forests made decible level noise.The relentless renewal took place on the forest floor and built soils with immense nutrient density.

 Its no wonder vegetarian dinosaurs or herbivores could maintain their incredible strength and power on these immense greens on offer.

THE LEAF GARDEN 

And here is that garden area  a few months after the leaf appliction. As you can see, the extra serving of manganese, carbons, silica - in the exact for the soil uses, paid off very well indeed!