If you live in Michigan and looking to keep a nice, leaf-free yard, you may want to put down that garden rake. That’s because the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is encouraging its residents to skip raking and let the leaves fall where they may. In an Oct. 29 post on its website, the Michigan DNR lists many reasons to skip the arduous task of raking, bagging and disposing of your leaves. First and foremost, the leaves create its own ecosystem on the ground, as outlined by the National Wildlife Federation. And don’t forget the little creatures out there either. “Chipmunks, toads, box t…