Have you ever used Freecycle? Check out their website to give away stuff. I have obtained a few items from their local division. But hopefully someone in here will be snapping up your free offer! How sad that you have to let it go! Awwwwwww! Marly

This post is several years old. I won't be giving out free marrow seeds this year. I only do that on years I have a very large surplus of seed that I could never trade or sell. If anyone is still interested in getting the marrow seeds then you can get them on P&P Seeds http://www.pandpseed.com/ I also sell them on ebay. Just search for my handle: "sunflower_info" or do a search on the words "giant" and "sunflower" or "corn" or "amaranth" or "squash" or "gourd" or "millet", etc. You'll find them!

Black Gold - use liberally! This list was distilled from a (much) more extensive list that is available online through the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania. (If the URL gets axed [it did], I typed Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania in my search engine & got it...at the home page, click on "Composting" on the left, then scroll down & click on the PROP's Compost Directory. You'll get a map of PA where you can click on your county.) If your county isn't listed here, listings for it may be found at the PROP website, but I didn't include it here because it didn't state specifically that compost was available free to residents. In many cases, there was a site listed without any information as to the materials produced or the availability, or there wasn't a site in that county. HOWEVER...their database is always being updated. (They hadn't listed the City of Bethlehem's compost site which has been in existence for at least 15 years!) Soooo, if you're aware of a site in your area that offers compost (and/or mulch) free (or for a small fee) to residents, please let me know and I'll add it here. You could send the addition to them as well! THANKS! In deference to Spike's prohibitions, I've taken out people's names, but I don't feel that city/borough locations & phone numbers will change. ADAMS COUNTY: McSherrystown Borough, 338 Main St, McSherrystown, PA 17344 No set hours, Call the Maintenance Shed at (717)-637-4835 to make arrangements. Products: Compost {100 - 1,000 yards3 per year} Feedstocks: yard debris, bark, woodchips Compost Analysis: No Availability: Give away to residents ALLEGHENY COUNTY: Crafton Borough, Ewing Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 Phone: (412)-921-0752 Products: Compost - 200 yards3 per year Feedstock: Leaves - Curbside pickup Compost Analysis: no Processing time: 1 year Availability: Facility use and give away to residents Edgewood Borough, Dixon Park, Aberdeen St, Edgewood, PA 15218 Phone: (412)-242-4824 Products: Compost - 300 - 600 yards3 per year Feedstocks: Leaves - Curbside pickup Compost Analysis: no Processing time: 1 year Availability: Giveaway and delivery Forest Hills / Churchill Borough, Pittsburgh, PA 15235 Phone: (412)-351-7330 Products: Compost - 500 yards3 per year Feedstocks: Leaves - Curbside pickup Compost Analysis: no Processing time: 6 - 7 Months Availability: Giveaway Greentree Borough Park, Greentree, PA 15220 Contact: Greentree Borough Superintendent Phone: (412)-921-3221 Product: Compost Feedstocks: Leaves Availability: Residents are welcome to take compost at any time and notifiy the Borough office when supplies are low. Robinson Township, 5001 Leona Ln, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 Phone: (412)-788-8120 Products: Compost/Mulch 1,000 - 5,000 yards3 per year Feedstocks: Branches, leaves, logs Compost Analysis: no Processing time: 1 year Availability: Giveaway to residents Upper St Clair / Peters Township, Boyce Park, Upper St Clair, Pittsburgh, PA 15241 Phone: (412)-831-9000 Product: Compost - 100 - 1,000 yards3 per year Feedstocks: Leaves - Curbside pickup Compost Analysis: no Processing time: 1 - 2 years Availability: Periodically given away when in excess Wilkinsburg Borough, Hunter Field, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221 Phone: (412)-244-2900 Products: Compost - 1,000 - 5,000 yards3 per year Feedstocks: Leaves - Municipal collection Compost Analysis: no Processing time: 1 year Availability: Giveaway to residents and facility use BLAIR COUNTY: Antis Township Compost Site, N 2nd St, Bellwood, PA 16617 Phone: (814)-742-7361 Products: Compost - (1,000 yards3 per year) Mulch - (3,000 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: Leaves, grass clippings and brush Compost Analysis: yes Processing time: 5 - 18 months Availability: give away and sell to residents Distribution Locations: At the site Blair County Yard Waste Compost Recycling Facility, 1014 Blacksnake Rd, Ashville, PA 16613 Compost Site Phone: (814)-941-6675 Products: Compost, Screened Compost, Mulch, Screened Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, grass, garden waste, brush & trees Each batch of compost is analyzed at the PSU lab. Reports available upon request. Processing time: 5 - 18 months Distribution locations: Picked up at site only CLEARFIELD COUNTY: City of Dubois, PO Box 40816 W. Scribner Ave, Dubois, PA 15801 Phone: (814)-371-2002 Products: Compost Feedstocks: Leaves and grass Facility located behind municipal garage, Drop off/pickup for residents, Open to public COLUMBIA COUNTY: Berwick Compost Site, Test Track (Incinerator Area)Berwick, PA Phone: (570)-752-2723 Products: Compost Feedstocks: Grass clippings, leaves, brush, yard wastes Compost Analysis: No Giveaway - Free to the community Bloomsburg Recycling Ctr, 901 Patterson Ave, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 Phone: (570)-784-4532 Product: Compost, Mulch Feedstocks: Yard and Garden wastes, leaves, Christmas trees, limbs up to 4" in diameter. Compost Analysis: Yes Process Time: 6 months Free to Residents of Bloomsburg Catawissa Borough, 118 N. 3rd St, Catawissa, PA 17820 Phone: (570)-356-7359 Product: Compost (100-1,000 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaf waste Distribution site: Township Building on Ferry St Give away to the public CUMBERLAND COUNTY: Camp Hill Borough Yard Waste Facility, 2701 Columbia Ave, Camp Hill, PA 17011 Phone: (717)-730-3964 Product: Compost (100-1,000 yards3 per year), Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, yard waste Processing Time: 5 months Product Availability: Free to residents while supplies last � residents must load materials themselves Distribution Locations: Yard Waste Facility Carlisle Borough Yard Waste Facility, Post Rd, Carlisle, PA 17013 Phone: (717)-249-4422 Product: Compost, Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, Yard Waste Availability: Free to residents while supplies last � residents must load materials themselves Distribution Locations: Yard Waste Facility East Pennsboro Township Yard Waste Facility, Humer St, Enola, PA 17205 Phone: (717)-732-0711 Product: Compost (>100 yards3 per year), Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, yard waste Availability: Free to residents while supplies last � residents must load materials themselves Distribution Locations: Yard Waste Facility Hampden Township Yard Waste Facility, Roth Ln Treatment Plant Phone: (717)-761-0119 Product: Compost, Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, Yard Waste Availability: Free to residents while supplies last � residents must load materials themselves Distribution Locations: Yard Waste Facility Lower Allen Township, 1993 Hummel Ave, Public Works Garage, Camp Hill, PA 17011 Phone: (717)-975-7575 Product: Compost (200 yards3 per year), Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, yard waste Compost Analysis: yes-PSU Processing Time: 1 yr Availability: Free to residents who load themselves; loaded or delivered for a fee Distribution Locations: Public Works Garage South Middleton Township Compost Site, 615 Lindsey Rd, Carlisle, PA Phone: (717)-258-5324 Product: Compost (1,200 yds3 per yr), Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, yard waste Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 9-10 months Availability: Free to residents while supplies last � residents load materials themselves Distribution Locations: Compost Site Upper Allen Township Public Works Bldg, 100 Gettysburg Pike, Mechanicsburg, PA Phone: (717)-761-7963 Product: Compost: (>100 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: Leaves, yard waste Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 2 years Availability: Free to residents who load themselves; delivered for a fee Distribution Locations: Public Works Bldg DELAWARE COUNTY: Newtown Township, 209 Bishop Hollow Rd, Newtown Sq, PA 19073 Phone: (610)-356-0200 Product: Compost Feedstocks: Leaf and yard waste Availablity: Free to customers ELK COUNTY: Ridgway Borough/ Sewage Facility, Rt 949 Phone: (814)-776-1125 Product: Compost (250 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, branches Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 1 yr Availability: Giveaway to residents St. Mary's City Phone: (814)-781-1718 Product: Compost (>100 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, branches Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 1-2 yrs Availability: Giveaway to residents & facility use ERIE COUNTY: City of Erie Phone: (814)-870-1255 Product: Compost (200 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, grass, Christmas trees Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 1 yr Availability: Giveaway to residents/ use by facilities Edinboro, S Perry Ln- Frank Tucci (owner of property) Phone: (814)-734-1812 Product: Compost (50 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 2-3 years Availability: facility use- giveaway to residents Distribution Locations: Frank Tucci's property Harborcreek Township Phone: (814)-825-8588 / 1-800-458-0476 Product: Compost (500 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves/ brush from municipal collection Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 4-5 months Distribution Locations: Municipal Grounds Availability: Giveaway Waterford Borough, W 2nd St Area Phone: (814)-796-2633 Product: Compost (>100 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, grass clippings Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 1 year Availability: Giveaway FRANKLIN COUNTY: Greene Township, Mickeyvan Rd Phone: (717)-263-4990 Product: Compost, mulch Feedstocks: leaves, branches Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 3-6 months Availability: Giveaway to residents LAWRENCE COUNTY: Neshannock Township Phone: (724)-658-4972 Product: Compost Feedstocks: leaves from municipal collection Availability: Giveaway- arrangements necessary LEHIGH COUNTY: Lehigh County Compost Facility, 5375 Old Packhouse Rd, Orefield, PA 18069 Phone: (610)-799-4177 OR (610)-782-3046 Product: Screened compost (5,000+ cu. yds/yr), mulch Feedstocks: leaves, grass, brush, woody waste-municipal & collection site Availability: Giveaway & municipal uses, sale Processing Time: 9 months Compost Analysis: yes-Penn State LYCOMING COUNTY: Bradford City, Bradford, PA Phone: (814)-362-3884 Product: Compost (>100 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, yard waste Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 1-2 yrs Availability: Giveaway to residents Kane Borough, 112 Berch St Phone: (814)-837-9240 Product: Compost (100-500 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves from municipal collection Processing Time: 1 yr Availability: Giveaway MIFFLIN COUNTY: Mifflin County Solid Waste Authority, PO Box 390, Lewistown, PA 17044 Phone: (717)-242-3301 Product: Compost (>100 yards3 per year), mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, yard waste Processing Time: 1 yr Availability: Giveaway & municipal use MONROE COUNTY: Stroud Township, 1211 N 5th St, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 Phone: (570)-421-3362 Products: Compost Feedstocks: Leaves, grass clippings, tree branches, and brush Availability: Free to township residents when available. MONTGOMERY COUNTY: Plymouth Township, 700 Belvoir Rd, Norristown, PA 19401 Phone: (610)-277-4103 Product: Compost, Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, brush, branches less than 5" in diameter Facility Location: Township Bldg Compost pick-up and material drop off PHILADELPHIA COUNTY: Fairmount Park Recycling Center, Ford & Chamounix Dr, PO Box 21601, Philadelphia, PA 19131 Phone: (215)-685-0108 Product: Compost (5,000 + yards3 per year), wood chips, firewood Feedstocks: Leaves, animal manure Compost Analysis: yes, but not recent Processing Time: 5-7 weeks Availability: Giveaway to residents & by parks dept Distribution Locations: Philadelphia Philadelphia Water, Aramark Tower - 5th fl, 1101 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: (215)-685-4065 Product: Screened Compost Feedstocks: anaerobically digested biosolids Processing Time: 90 days Quantity: Sale and giveaway Distribution Locations: BRC, Queen Ln and Baxter Plant sites WESTMORELAND COUNTY: City of Lower Burrell, 2800 Bethel St, Lower Burrell, PA 15068 Phone: (724)-335-9875 Product: Compost (100-500 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, brush from municipal collection Processing Time: 7-8 months Availability: use by parks dept & resident giveaway Ligonier Borough, 120 E Main St, Ligonier, PA 15658 Phone: (724)-238-9020 Product: Compost (150 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, brush from municipal collection Processing Time: 7-8 months Availability: use by parks dept & resident giveaway City of New Kensington, 301 11th St, New Kensington, PA 15068 Phone: (724)-335-8005 Product: Compost Feedstocks: Leaves & brush from municipal collections Availability: Used by the City and free distribution to residents

anything you want. If you are digging up a patch of hard desert soil to plant flowers, veggies, grass, whatever.... dig it up, dig in the leaves and some deoderized cow poop.. whatever else you want to add, water it. Let it get to the moist stage and you can dig it up again... you have garden soil.... there are many good books about using leaves of all kind in compost bins and in the soil.. its organic material..