How to Throw a Leaf Raking Party

Timing is everything for fall garden cleanup and leaf raking. An autumn outside party wedged around televised football and busy family schedules can be entertaining, and is guaranteed to lessen the burden of work in the yard and/or garden.

For Die-Hard Outside Types

There are actually people who are die-hard-prefer-to-be-outside types who would not be clued to a television on a crisp autumn Saturday, or Sunday in October. While tailgating parties generally rule in the fall, a leaf raking party host can make use of some of the same methodology and still provide a unique experience. The sneaky ingredient is that most people spend some time in the autumn behind a rake, or cleaning up the garden, so why not get them together and make a fun family, and/or neighborhood project out of it?

Add Mystery to The Ingredients

Use mystery first to attract the curious. What's on the agenda besides raking those pesky leaves? What can be offered as an interesting hook?

To begin with, say the words free cider and shape cake and many individuals will pick up their ears. Refreshments are a key ingredient to any party. What's shape cake? invitees will ask.

It's An Information World

Animal life would be non-existent without the green leaf. How and why do those green leaves turn gold and red and yellow every year, year after year? A little trivia goes a long way on today's informational highway. Titilate. The green leaf is the primary food source of all. How so?

Leaf Party Ingredients List

No.1 -- A flat, take-home sheet, or interesting tri-fold with prepared questions (such as above) and answers for trivia exchange; No.2 -- Plastic bags (for leaf pressing if children are inclined to learn); No.3 -- A couple large, very heavy books (for above activity); No.4 -- Shape cake (make leaf-shaped cupcakes, or prepare layer cakes that can be a-cut-to-leaf-shape-and-frost activity, or buy custom made "leaf" cakes); No.5 -- Napkins, plastic utensils, paper cups; No.6 -- Lots of fallen leaves (don't party too soon, before they're all on the ground); No.7 -- A large picnic table, or like "holding" equipment; No.8 -- Plain paper for a leaf drawing contest.

Ask party invitees to bring leaf trivia questions to share, and their own choice of non-alcohol drink if they are cider teetotalers. Children may bring colored markers, or crayons for a leaf drawing contest.

Cranking Up the Party Agenda

Be pre-organized for the arrival of party-goers. Have brain session breaks pre-planned, with appropriate materials on hand. Divide the yard and rakers into work sections and groups. Break for refreshments at a pre-arranged time. Resume raking. Break for the trivia and leaf drawing contest, (or other planned) session. Resume raking. Break and finish by bagging leaves. Goodbyes and thanks should include organizing volunteers for the next party.

Individual touch to such a get together is wide open. Follow the above outlines to create a party hit, be it in the garden, or in the yard, or both. Send invitations. Hire a clown. Do leaf art.

What better weather is there than a clear, crisp autumn day? That gentle, wide blue sky and the cool, humidity-absent air are inspirations all their own that energize the human spirit. Ah! A garden and yard cleanup attack coming up!

Have fun doing work. That's the American way