Robert Beebe shows us an easy and very cheap way to create our own forest litter. Excellent step-by-step article with the pics to match.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

James,It's not that complicated, it takes less than 30 minutes, minus drying time and it is free, you pretty much have an unlimited supply of miniature leaves.

Here are two pics of a small base I did using the leaves mixed with a few hudson and allen forest litter leaves.





Robert

Robert I love your idea, anything that is free is okay by me. I have to say though that the only way I can do this is to plan it someday when the wife and daughters aren't around. I get all kinds of geek, nerd, loser, freak, weirdo, etc, as it is without being caught mixing leaves in a blender, straining with a stocking, and baking in the oven. I can just imagine the comments I get. Next time all the females are gone I'll give it a try though.

Here is a thought. Have you thought of using a coffee grinder? I know chefs use them for chopping up herbs, it might do just as good a job. You'd probably want to use one picked up at a garage sale, and not the one you use for grinding your coffee.

Hi!
I love the idea. I'll probably use it some day. I agree with Rodger: I can imagine my daughter in a few years time telling her friends what her dad is doing.

Simon

I like the idea. It's another example of FOC (free of charge) inqinuity.

I love sharing the ideas. For someone who is financially able to buy ground cover this may not fit. But for those who are on a tight budget - this will be great. Which ever side of the money fence you fall on you'll now have a solution.

Very nicely done everyone.

Thanks Robert and Danny

I received a hand crank herb grinder for Christmas last year. (I have no room for a "real" garden so I go herbs and habenaros on top of my central air unit in pots) Anyway, I have been waiting to try out the grinder on several different types of dried leaves to use them as ground cover. I will give Bob's blender method a whirl (I slay me) too.
As I see it there are way too many people buying things anymore they could make themselves. I just finished making a towing timber to slam onto the Jadgpanther I am making out of bass wood, styrene, and wire. It looks cool and more than anything else, I made it...

Thanks for the article.

Shaun

Robert, excellent article!!! I have been messing around with ground scatter and I love your technique. Thanks for sharing it. Kevin

Brilliant!...making leaves from, well , leaves!

Great idea...thanks for sharing.

Eddie

Thanks for sharing another homemade techniques. It's a brilliant idea!

but do we need to pour water inside the blender before we switch it on? i think there's a missing statement in this sentence = "Next fill the blender about half full and cover tightly. " 2nd lines para 3

anyway, i will try this when i have the opportunity.

Hi Robert,

Great tip. Thanks for sharing.

Like Silantra I also picked up on the:




What do we fill the blender with? Other than leaves... Judging from the pictures it looks like water...

Rudi

Free is best!

A question didn't the leaves fade after a time?

I am glad that you all like the technique, it is very easy and free. Yes it is water that you add, sorry I didn't put that in the article, you always overlook the obvious. As far as fading I haven't noticed any, but then I also seal the entire groundwork with flat lacquer to tone down the glossy glue mix. I guess it is possible that it would fade over time, but I think that it would take awhile. Now let's see some of you try it and please post pictures.

Rodger, the coffee grinder sounds like a good idea, I already have the cheap blender so if you try it please let us know how it works.

regards,
Robert

To add to the fading question- anything natural - leaves, herbs, etc if not sealed - will fade.

A good seal will stop that.

That's a great idea and the result is quite nice, but I just wondered why you wouldn't use dried leaves (which usually fall down the trees in fall ) and grind / cut them or rub them between your fingers (if they are dry already they will fall into small pieces very easily).

I use this method and the leaves look qute similar, but you won't have to mess around with wet leave-mud and your oven.
The difference is, that you'll probably get smaller particles (I use this method for 1/72nd dios).

Best wishes,

ekke