Fall 2010 started wet and dreary, but I sure won't complain about the last few weeks. We've had beautiful fall colors and warm temperatures. Yep, the rains have begun, but we forget to look up at the sky, smell the air full of freshness and the rich organic smells of autumn. It doesn't, in fact, rain constantly during fall and winter. It doesn't, in fact, even rain most of the time.

But, it does rain sometimes, and those beautiful leaves are coming down. Now I admit I'm a compost maniac. However, I was raking up some leaves today to put on a new garden and I was suddenly struck by how infrequently you see people raking. Plenty of leaf blowers in use getting those pesky leaves onto the streets, but few folks out raking.

Now, I see two problems here. Well, maybe only one. Why aren't we raking? Why have we given this role to others? Why is raking considered an undesirable task? And why are we not only leaving this task to others, but why are we allowing our precious leaves to leave? This is craziness.

So, I propose a leaf revolution. Let's rake. Let's rake our storm drains first. Why do we need the City to do this for us? I mean, really....how hard is it to get outside with a rake or fork and clear a drain backed up by our periodic rain?

Second, let's keep those leaves. They aren't waste. They're a gift of fertility. They've been growing all season long, capturing energy from the sun. Then we use leaf blowers to put them in the street and more fossil fuel to haul off a free energy resource that could be helping us grow food here, here. HERE! In our neighborhood. These leaves are a miracle, not a hassle, not a slime problem. No, they're a miracle and we're sending them off in dump trucks.

Third, I think our revolution should include a nose thumbing to government. Let's employ all those able bodied young people under the age of 14 (and over the age of 14) to collect those leaves. Buy a rake, put it in the hands of a kid. Save a leaf. And let's compensate these kids. Let's start a neighborhood savings account for every kid that they can use for college or technical school or a trip around the world. Let's pay them. I know that's a heretical thought.

So, I challenge you Amazonians, let's start a leaf revolution. SAVE THE LEAVES!!!!