In the tree filled neighborhoods of Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill, autumn brings the gentle, rustling sound of fallen leaves but, just as commonly, the roar of leaf blowers used to collect them.

What is a business efficiency and convenience for landscape companies and homeowners who use leaf blowers, is an annoyance to anyone in the general area but a genuine health threat to those in the immediate vicinity, and especially to people with asthma or cardio-pulmonary vulnerabilities. …..

Read full article on WHYY's Newsworks Mount Airy/Chestnut Hill website here

…The street where I live in Chestnut Hill is lined with large, ancient sycamores which drop a tremendous amount of leaves each fall. Last year, I asked my leaf blowing neighbor across the street if he might consider using a rake. He in turn, asked me if I could "stop busting [his] balls." This November, I interrupted Matt Kozlowski on the job with his leaf blower for his thoughts.

DOESN’T THE NOISE BOTHER YOU? Yeah a little bit.

DO YOU EVER GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT? Yeah, sometimes.

IT’S MY THEORY THAT IT WOULD BE QUICKER TO RAKE UP THE LEAVES THAN USE THAT BLOWER. WHAT DO YOU THINK? I don’t know. We only have one rake so I can’t tell you. Sometimes you can’t get around the whole plant with a rake.You could scratch them up.

SO IT’S TO PROTECT THE PLANTS…WOULD YOU PREFER TO USE A RAKE IF YOU HAD ANOTHER RAKE? I’d prefer to use a better blower.

WHAT WOULD MAKE IT A BETTER BLOWER? A backpack. We have one. It’s better, more power.

Matt Kozlowski of Cheltenham, Galka Outdoor Design company, at the Chestnut Hill Farmers Market.

Video interview here.