Better alternatives to burning those falling leaves
By JOAN CROTHERS Towns Sentinel Editor

Compost those piles of leaves instead of burning.

Fall is aptly named as the leaves start falling, and falling, and falling.... soon the whole yard is covered. They are a definite fire hazard near a barn, shed or your house, but burning them is a fire hazard too. Plus the smoke is a terrible air pollutant and bad for those with asthma, hay fever or any other type of breathing problem.

The Towns County Fire Department answers so many calls every year for fires that get out of control and threaten homes or barnes. Do alternative recycling of those leaves and small brush this year instead of burning.

•The leaves can be mowed and left on your grass as mulch if not too thick, and excess can be used on your flower beds.

•Take leaves and small brush in large bags to the Recycling Center at the Transfer Station on Sunnyside (288), dump them at the open space at the left side just past the covered part of the Recycling Center where you see a pile of mulch. Empty your leaves and small brush and fill the bag with composted mulch that's there- it's free- or just take your leaf bags back home to fill again, the Transfer Station doesn't want them You may come get compost even if you don't drop off leaves.

•Take leaves and brush to Truman Barrett's Better Earth Farm on Hog Creek (off Sunnyside by Union Hill Church). For a small price he will chip small trees, take your leaves, and you can buy Better Earth compost. Barrett also will do tree removal, land grading, etc. Call 706-379-4013.

•Do your own composting on your own property. This paper has run a number of articles on composting and will again soon. The Extension Service office is a good place to get information on individual composting. Call 706-896-2024.

Give those leaves a chance to go back to Mother Nature- compost, don't burn!