Learn About Composting Day
Get out your gardening gloves — May 29 is National Learn About Composting Day! We all want to do our part to conserve natural resources and reduce our carbon footprint. Composting is not only an environmentally safe fertilizer but it can help you save water, energy, fuel, and money! It also keeps toxins from getting in our run-off and groundwater through the use of chemical- based commercial fertilizers. The use of a natural fertilizer made from compost will make your garden hospitable to wildlife helpers like honeybees, hummingbirds and of course, worms!
So, what it compost? Compost is organic matter that has decomposed. In a garden, decomposition is a good thing! Compost can be made from kitchen scraps, lawn clippings, newspapers, leaves wood chips, coffee grinds — almost any food products except for processed foods (no Twinkies in the compost!) and meat or fish products. Composting saves resources, and because of its high nutrient content, it adds to soil stability and reduces soil disease. It will help your garden grow lush and promote healthy growth in seedlings and plants. It’s for all these reasons gardeners call compost “black gold”. Composting allows you to accomplish the big environmental three: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
HOW TO OBSERVE LEARN ABOUT COMPOSTING DAY
- Visit a farmers market
Speak with local farmers and gardeners about composting and their growing practices. Composting is one of the foundations of sustainable farming and you will find growers, particularly those who sell organic produce, are quite knowledgeable about compost. Then wander the farmers market and take in the colorful bounty of produce, the smell of fresh produce, flowers, and baked goods, and score yourself some delicious and healthy food. - Make your own compost
Compost is ideally made with a mix that is two-thirds carbon-based (that’s your organic kitchen scraps) and one-third nitrogen-based (newspapers, cardboard, wood shavings). All you need to do is pick a section of the yard, lay down a foundation of twigs, and begin to layer your materials. If you cover it with a tarp it will help increase the heat to aid in decomposition. Once a week or so, use a shovel to mix up your compost pile and if it’s very dry, be sure to add some water as it should be kept damp. You can use this simple no-cost method, or invest in one of many compost bins to speed the process along. - Introduce a child to composting
Get your child excited about contributing to the conservation of natural resources through composting! First make them a snack of “worms in dirt.” In a clear glass put some chocolate pudding. Next put crushed chocolate wafers on top to form the “dirt” and finally, poke some gummy worms in to the mixture. Then tell your child you need help saving the planet. Explain about creating a compost pile and show them where they will need to throw out potato peels, egg shells, dry leaves, etc. As soon as your child sees the process at work (and don’t forget the worms!), you’ll have hooked them and will have created a lifelong conservationist.
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