Field station, as seen from the trail in the Lebanon State Forest.

Ale prepares to collect leachate samples from the carboys.

At left: Suspending senescent leaves in trays several feet above the ground allows them to weather in a natural environment while minimizing exposure to soil minerals and microorganisms. At right: Tubing routes leachate into carboys.

Leachate sampling.

Sampling trays on the ground allow examination over time of chemical transformations in decaying leaves in a natural setting. Mike pumps water from the leachate carboys, which are buried underground.

Ale empties a carboy.