Jumping on the Leaf Piles

Fall may be about the excitement of crisp breezes and planting bulbs, but our goats--and alpacas--agree that fall is about the fun of fallen leaves. When our good neighbor Tony was clearing his yard yesterday, I understood why the goats were clustered by the fence adjoining his property when I saw him dumping two barrels-full of leaves over the fence for them.

With the enthusiasm I remember from childhood, they race to whatever pile is newest, gathering around to gobble up the crisp, crunchy leaves. For some reason I had gotten it into my head that maple leaves were preferable over oak leaves for the ruminant diet--maybe the oak leaves are more acidic?--but the livestock have worked hard to disabuse me of such notions. All leaves are welcome: newly fallen or dried brown are equally welcome.

Perhaps it's another hangover from childhood that the same leaves that were so exciting when they first appeared, lose their appeal with time. Tomorrow the leaves left from today's binge will sit, ignored. The goats and alpacas will instead wait for newly-fallen leaves to be delivered into their grazing areas.

Whatever the reasons, fall is definitely a thrilling time of year.