Readers,
I just test burned some 1/2″OD fuel pellets made from leaves. They burned surprisingly well:
The big surprise was the ash content. It was only 7% by weight. Wood is typically 1-2%. The next step is to figure out whether my gasifier has an appetite for them.
Stephen
Northern Self Reliance 
Hi. Your testing on leaf pellets was interesting. I’ve been wanting to try something similar, but you’re so much more able, maybe you can try it before me (unless you’ve done it already): How does pelletizing pine needles, or partially with pine needles burn ? Maybe a combination of leaves and pine needles? With the right mill machines, imagine if we could just sweep this fall crap info a pellet mill, and get out useful pellets ? Yowza !
Bob…I will give it a try if I can find a source of feedstock.
Stephen, if you need it, I can send you a good amount of last year’s pine needles (white pine, from MA). They’ve been outside all winter, but will be dry when I send. Just send me your mailing address offline; you should have my hidden email address to use, I’m sure. It should would be nice to be able to collect and burn them, even with mixing in alternate stock like leaves, or paper scraps, or sawdust, or whatever. Thanks, and I really enjoy reading your info, I’m envious of what you get to do !
Hi Bob….I appreciate your offer but that could get us in hot water. It’s along the same lines as bringing firewood into the state of Maine, which is illegal. What I can do, since you are that interested, is have my summer work study students rake up some needles around campus. We have wooded areas which should have a decent supply.