A Really Cool Mulch Blower
2024-25 Innovation Challenge Winner
Retrofitting a commercial leaf vacuum, a plastic hose and a duct reducer, Jennifer created a “really cool mulch blower”. This innovation can apply a thin or thick layer of mulch on hard-to-reach places in the farm like steep hillsides, without breaking the bank.
Problem solved: spread mulch evenly on steep hillsides using less time and money
Skills/tools needed: basic mechanical skills, hand tools, access to supplies
Cost: ~$3,600
Best suited for: small farms with steep slopes or difficult-to-access areas
INNOVATOR PROFILE
Jennifer Bantle is a 13-year avocado and citrus farmer in San Diego County. Each year she applies mulch to conserve water, protect her orchard, and maintain healthy soils. Her ingenuity proves that necessity is the mother of invention, and her solution is already making farm life easier for small-scale producers.
INNOVATION
Jennifer’s “Really Cool Mulch Blower” retrofits a standard leaf vacuum with an extended hose and reducer, transforming it into a mulch blower. The machine vacuums in mulch, macerates it, and redistributes it in an even layer across steep terrain, reducing back-breaking bucket work and conserving soil moisture.
Instead of hauling buckets of mulch up and down hillsides, Jennifer’s blower lets farmers pile mulch with a tractor and then redistribute it efficiently across the orchard. The result: reduced labor, erosion control, and improved soil moisture retention that helps trees survive California’s hot, dry summers.
PROBLEM SOLVED
California farms generate plenty of compost and mulch, but distributing it efficiently on steep terrain is a major barrier. Farmers often rely on manual work, an exhausting and time-consuming process. Delivery and labor costs for mulch application were exceeding the cost of the mulch itself, and commercial spreaders priced around $100,000 were out of reach and not designed for small or mid-sized orchards on dirt roads or hillsides. To solve this, Jennifer designed a do-it-yourself mulch blower that is compact, affordable, and highly effective on steep hillsides.
Jennifer’s blower addresses this gap. By retrofitting a leaf vacuum, she created a portable, low-cost alternative that enables two people to spread mulch evenly throughout an orchard in a short amount of time.
The innovation reduces manual labor, prevents hillside erosion, conserves water, and supports healthier trees.
HOW TO BUILD IT & WHAT ARE THE COSTS?
All components are off-the-shelf. Supplies are available from DRPower.com,
Amazon, or general hardware stores.
- DR Pro Max 450 Leaf Vacuum – $3,249
- 40’ flexible plastic hose – $259
- 8” duct reducer – $20
- Flex-tube swivel connector – $120
- Respirator with face mask – $30
Assembly involves attaching the extended hose and reducer to the leaf vacuum, which allows the machine to draw in mulch, macerate it, and blow it out the opposite end. The mulch blower is easy to operate: you just need gasoline, two people and face masks with good respirators and a face shield.
As of September 2025, California does not allow the Leaf Vacuum to be shipped to state residents due to engine emission laws. Neighboring states still allow it.
Watch Jennifer share more tips & demonstrate her Really Cool Mulch Blower during the virtual awards ceremony:
About this resource:
CAFF’s Small Farm Tech Hub produced a booklet highlighting selected winners from the annual Small Farm Innovation Challenge.
Innovations were submitted by farmers in the category of “Do It Yourself” or DIY. This booklet only highlights a handful of total applicants to the Challenge. These innovations exemplify how simple DIY innovations can lead to significant improvements in the farm and offer blueprints that can be adapted, improved upon, and implemented by other farmers.
As applicants of the Innovation Challenge, their contribution to agricultural technology showcases the power of practical, scalable solutions in transforming the small farm landscape. The Innovation Challenge invites farmers, entrepreneurs, students, hackers and any ingenious, farm-loving thinkers to propose tech-based innovations that will help small scale agriculture compete, survive and thrive. All ideas, big or small, in any phase of development, will be accepted for the Innovation Challenge. Learn more by visiting www.caff.org/innovation.
A printable booklet can be viewed here.
Check out our other highlighted innovators:
