This fall, we first shredded our fallen oak and maple leaves with the mower, then raked and bagged them up. With a roughly 4:1 carbon-to-nitrogen ratio in mind, we added the leaves to a couple of large compost bins along with chicken manure and leftovers from the garden such as oregano, remnants of wild kale, and grass clippings. In the spring, we'll have compost!

Thanks for your article and spreading awareness about soil biodiversity.