Composting 101 (solutions for city folk too!)
My prof. gave us each our own baggie of compost from her yard. This is what it looks like when it's all said and done. Can't wait to get another herb garden going this summer.
Today in class my professor held a lecture dedicated to composting. If you are not familiar with composting, check out her quick and simple how-to video that breaks it down:
Video: Composting – An Alternative To Dumping Kitchen Scraps
Why is composting important? According to Composting.gov, composting reduces the amount of waste each of us sends to the landfill. In fact, up to 30% of the material we send to landfill is organic and could be composted at home. Composting has other benefits too. Applying finished compost returns nutrients to the land, holds moisture in gardens and on lawns, contributes to watershed health by controlling run-off and naturally fertilizes and provides structure to the soil.
Now, for those of you who live in an apartment (like me!) with no backyard, there are options for you (and me!) as well.
1. Get an indoor composting bin. Vokashi has created a line of buckets using recycled plastic for indoor composting.
2. Find a community garden in your neighborhood that will allow you to drop off your scraps. Greenmaps.org offers an interactive map of places that accept green matter. I just found a location ONE block from my apartment. Holler!
3. Find a neighbor who composts and ask if you can drop off your fruit and veggie scraps. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Lastly, this list highlights what you can and cannot compost, for your records.