David: So Kristin drops a note w/ biz card in this person’s mailbox one day… “May we come collect the leaves from your Tuliptree? I’ll trade for some peppers from my greenhouse.” K. had given up hope, when three weeks later, the person phones back.
K: What an amazing specimen of “Liriodendron tulipifera” (I learned.) Not even native in the western U.S., but evidently thriving here on the south coast of Oregon. (A friend claims “You can grow ROCKS in Oregon.”) A member of the magnolia family, it’s named for its tulip-like flowers, not its tulip-shaped leaves. Your exciting trivia for the day.
The 14-ft garden trailer is packed down and nearly overflowing. Now to process thru the shredder and voila: Manure-free FREE compost! Well… in a few months, and good for preventing weeds on the outdoor beds over winter. Merry Christmas earthworms! Deciduous leaves, by virtue of having to work hard growing swiftly, contain infinitely more nutrients than say… your average “compost bucket” from the kitchen — also known as “cold compost.” And which I will still add to the HOT mix.
Organic Produce Naturally 
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