Composting 101. Why & How in Six Short Minutes Michael G. Richardson

Composting: What is it? One element in a larger strategy & mindset… Sustainability & Survival Individual Responsibility Community & “other-oriented-ness” Tikkun Olam (Re-)Connection with Natural World Awareness / Gratitude Action / Doing

Larger Strategy & Mindset Awareness of our place in the world, our practices surrounding life sustaining resources… –Consuming –Discarding –Replacing –Renewing Three Rs: –Reduce, Reduce, Reduce… –then Reuse… –finally Recycle, if necessary

Reduce Strategy #1: Reduce Reducing Reducing – conserves the most resources & energy … generates no trash! –Do I really need this “stuff”? –Choose less (decline) packaging when purchasing. –Economize: Larger containers  less packaging material! –Eat closer to bottom of food chain. –Choose locally grown & produced. (Reduces energy use for production, transportation, storage … & healthier food)  Poof! Gone! –Unsolicited mail  Poof! Gone! Catalogs  Direct mail marketing / Insurance & credit card offers  Phone books 

Reuse Strategy #2: Reuse Reusing Reusing … the next best thing to reducing. –Reusable grocery bags [Remember to grab them from the trunk!] Not just for groceries… all store purchases! –Re-use plastic produce bags … even once! Better yet : Why bag that produce at all? –Re-use containers (plastic baggies, glass jars, plastic) …even once! –Packing materials (Styrofoam “peanuts”)  UPS gladly accepts & re-uses these! Re-useReduction Once50% Twice66% Thrice75% 4x80%

Recycle Strategy #3: Recycle Recycling … Recycling … a great strategy of last resort. A highly energy consuming strategy, but it does return valuable resources to production… Packaging, if you must… –Food (glass, plastic containers, plastic wrapping, metals, etc.). –Non-food items (cardboard). –Think about this while you are making purchase choices! –Collect recyclable items on your neighborhood walks …  return raw materials to production.

Composting Composting Organic Waste: All 3 R’s in One ReduceReduce production & single-time consumption of petroleum-based, non-degradable plastic garbage bags… reduce toxic landfill accumulation. Re-useRe-use nutrients by… recycling…recycling organic material to soil.

What is compost? Take a walk in the woods… “digested & undigested food left on the forest floor to create rich, usually soft, sweet-smelling soil…”

Composting = Mixing yard & household organic waste, and providing conditions conducive to decomposition. Decomposition = Zillions of microscopic organisms, plus larger ones (worms, critters!), devour organic material…  rich fertilizer/ soil amendment

Why is it good? Great for the garden – improves soil; supports healthier & more productive plants… all essential nutrients… slow release… texture… Environmentally responsible – reduce trash collection/dumping cycle; reduce need for chemical fertilizers; reduce pollution; Mindfulness of our planet, of natural processes… Makes you feel great – physically, mentally, spiritually… Brings us back to nature …

Composting: Where? Consider: Function Convenient access Promote decomposition (warmth + moisture + air) Aesthetics Out of sight (or not?)

Composting: In what? Bin – 3’x3’x3’ or slightly more –Purchase $ [nashville.gov $45] –Build your own – so many easy designs! Heap (no bin)

What? Materials to Compost Browns = High CarbonGreens = High Nitrogen Ashes, wood Bark Cardboard, shredded Corn stalks Fruit waste Leaves Newspaper, shredded Peanut shells Peat moss Pine needles Sawdust Stems and twigs, shredded Straw Vegetable stalks Alfalfa Algae Clover Coffee grounds Food waste Garden waste Grass clippings Hay Hedge clippings Hops, used Manures Seaweed Vegetable scraps Weeds* *Avoid weeds that have gone to seed, as seeds may survive all but the hottest compost piles.

Materials to Avoid Coal Ash – S, Fe Colored Paper - heavy metals or other toxins Diseased Plants - disease organisms are not destroyed Inorganic Materials - won't break down (e.g. Al foil, glass, plastics, metals, pressure-treated lumber) Meat, Bones, Fish, Fats, Dairy - can "overheat“ compost; smell; attract animals. Pet Droppings - Dog or cat … disease organisms, can make compost toxic Synthetic Chemicals - lawn & garden chemicals (herbicides, pesticides) … remain intact in finished compost.

Estimated Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratios Browns = High CarbonC:N Ashes, wood25:1 Cardboard, shredded350:1 Corn stalks75:1 Fruit waste35:1 Leaves60:1 Newspaper, shredded175:1 Peanut shells35:1 Pine needles80:1 Sawdust325:1 Straw75:1 Wood chips400:1 Greens = High NitrogenC:N Alfalfa12:1 Clover23:1 Coffee grounds20:1 Food waste20:1 Garden waste30:1 Grass clippings20:1 Hay25:1 Manures15:1 Seaweed19:1 Vegetable scraps25:1 Weeds30:1 Too much brown (C) slow compost Too much green (N)  slimy & smelly, slow Rich sources of C:

Tips for better compost… Feed it! Balance (N:C) Keep it hot! O 2 – Turn it! (or tumble) Check the moisture Chop & Shred! (surface area) 2 nd pile – speed decomposition; less leaching of nutrients Activators - nitrogen/protein propels process –(alfalfa meal, 2.5:1:1… or fresh manure, bone meal, blood meal, cottonseed meal, comfrey, high-protein dry dog food…) Indoor (or outdoor) Vermiculture –moistened bedding (shredded newspaper/ leaves/ soil or sand; red wrigglers (aka branding or manure worms); add food waste…

Impact! One week’s worth of trash No need for trash collection this week… … nor after two weeks!

Why is it good? –Great for the garden! –Ethically right… Indifference (about where it goes, what it does, how it affects others, now & in the future…) is not an option. –Planet mindfulness… reconnecting with natural processes… –Fun: Satisfies a challenge-oriented, can-do nature… –Feels great… physically, mentally, spiritually…