A small diversion for Election Day: Do you remember when it was still legal to burn your leaves?

one man's opinion

[ken5050]

I'm working from home today and tomorrow, ( or rather, trying to, or better yet, pretending to)..with the TV on, and Freeping. The yard people were here this morning, blowing the leaves, and putting up the deer fencing. So, I was just wondering who here remembers one of the GREAT rites of fall, when you could burn your leaf piles?

[Gingersnap]

We could do it until about 1970. Wonderful smell and such fun for a firebug kid like me.

Most incorporated areas don't allow it anymore because it contributes to violations of the NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards). Violations impact Federal funding in a serious way. The criteria pollutants from leaf burning are carbon monoxide and particulates (I'm guessing). In some places it's also a major wildfire threat.

I work in air quality (I'm such a geek) but I miss the smell and the sight myself.

[toledocon]

where is this at? and a question to anyone who may know, ive heard you can have a fire even in metropolis areas as long as it is a "barbecue" which basically consists of you having hotdogs, hamburgers etc.. out with the fire to make it such. Anyone heard anything similar?

[bill1952]

Oh Yeah...

Growing up near Valley Forge, Pa.

Raking leaves into huge piles every day in the fall.

God how I loved that. Remember how you would lay in those leaves and smell them as you made forts and such out of them?

Burning leaves.. You know, I'm leaving Florida in the next year to return to the house that I grew up in.

Remember when sometimes you got so much candy that you had to go home and empty your bag?

Scorpios like me remember Halloween and mischief night very well.
Going to school, learning the 3 R's and American history.

What happened to that?

[WildTurkey]

Not to mention the people that throw the poison ivy into the fire.

[ken5050]

Most urban areas do NOT allow BBQs on terraces or patios in condos or town houses..

[clintonh8r]

Friends in Albuquerque tell me there are certain days when they cannot use their woodburning fireplace. I'm sure there must be others as well.

[ken5050]

Belated welcome....we NEEd more "geeks" here, especially those who work in "air quality"..the amount of "hot air" generated, and "smoke being blown up a******s is truly astonishing..(G)

[the_devils_advocate_666]

I'm very fortunate to live out in the "sticks" and this is the fire ring in my yard. (Had a Halloween party on Sunday and had a nice big fire with everyone roasting marshmallows.)

[ken5050]

Listen...WHOA!!! I KNOW a "crop circle" when I see one...(G)

[Blue Scourge]

I rember getting my dad mad at me because I would go jump in them...then we would gather them back up and burn them.

[ken5050]

and when the parents felt safe letting the kids go by themselves?..Different times,sadly, but a necessary thing to do..For the past few years, we've been handing out hot cider to the parents..they love it..

[najida]

Aren't fire rings wonderful? Mine has around it old wooden posts as benches.

Mine came about by accident (as a construction burn site) but everyone kept asking "When are you going to burn again? Can we come over?"

All you need is beer, weinies and marshmallows for a party.

[WildTurkey]

Most urban areas do NOT allow BBQs on terraces or patios in condos or town houses..

Where? I know of none.

[stuartcr]

Still can, just depends on where you live...

[BureaucratusMaximus]

I can burn my leaves unless there is a "burn ban"

(sigh) With a burn ban, only criminals will burn leaves. /rimshot

[ken5050]

NYC and all the suburbs..it's NOT allowed..

[Blzbba]

"Why cant we still do it ?? "


Local FD guys told me it was due to a fear of starting forest fires.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

I used hay bales for seating at the Halloween party. What really was the highlight of the evening was taking all the kids around our field in a trailer of hay bales pulled by our ATV. Anyone here remember hay rides!?

[bill1952]

I know, I know. But a pertinent question is why are these times different.

Rather than some nut saying that we need to get back to the time when terror was a nuisance, we need to work to get back to the times when those ideals were cherished and strong.

[logic101.net]

I have always viewed it as silly to rake leaves, much less burn them. I mow them. Leaves are good lawn food when choped up into little tiny pieces. But hey, I'm a farm boy; what do I know?

Mark A Sity