Get Mulched!

is underway in Cobble Hill! The citywide effort, which recycles Christmas trees by turning them into wood chips and trimmings for gardens and tree beds around the city, made Verandah Street by Cobble Hill Park feel more like a winter party than just the adorable, tiny side street that it is.

By 11:30 a.m., approximately two hours after MulchFest began, nearly 250 trees were transformed into tiny pieces. Some trees were dropped off by residents, others were collected around the neighborhood and brought in by Parks Department trucks.

The scene was exciting: boy scouts and cub scouts worked with volunteers, the parks department and members of the Cobble Hill Tree Fund, sponsors of today's MulchFest. Dozens of trees were fed into the loud chipper -- in just a few minutes the machine ate and chopped about 40 trees.

One local toddler, Charlie Mandel, was watching the chipping with awe.

"It's not scary," he said when asked. "It smells good!"

The chips will be taken to local parks and gardens and spread across the soil. Mulch keeps beds moist during cold, dry months.

One Cobble Hill cub scout, Mark Vazquez, has been helping out with MulchFest for four years. What's his favorite thing about it?

"Helping the community," he said.

MulchFest continues at the park tomorrow from approximately 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop by!