Earth Week Day Three

Every day, the average American produces four and a half pounds of trash-75% of which is recyclable.
Recycling is much easier than it used to be....You used to have to sort your paper products and keep out any glossy papers, and make sure there were no paper clips of staples still attached. Now, as long as you don't try to recycle anything with food stains, or plastic coated plates or cups, or books (send to Goodwill!) you are good to go! Even if you don't have to motivation to recycle ALL of your trash, just recycling your paper products helps.

The big thing I want to talk about today is composting. We just recently started doing this officially, but for years now I've done a sort of half hearted version (I.E. using the far back corner of my yard to break down animal waste, old leaves, and things like banana peels and coffee grounds) to supplement the cruddy dirt in front of my house to grow my roses. I've decided to get serious now, and cut my families trash in half by composting our food scraps. Here is the info:
There are several different kinds of composting bins, but this is the one we thought would work for us best (easily cleaned and broken down for moving)
http://www.4seasongreenhouse.com/garden-gourmet-gallon-composting-p-1660.html

I also have a kitchen sized version for less trips to the bin (have to walk down two sets of steps)
http://www.4seasongreenhouse.com/kitchen-compost-pail-gallon-p-2203.html


Why compost?

Using compost can reduce the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Composting also keeps organic items from clogging up landfills, helping them to last longer. In addition, as yard wastes decompose in landfills, they generate methane gas and acidic leachate. Methane is a colorless, explosive greenhouse gas that is released as bacteria decompose organic materials in landfills. If methane is not controlled at a landfill, it can seep underground and into nearby buildings, where it has the potential to explode. Yard wastes also contribute acidity that can make other waste constituents more mobile and therefore more toxic. Composting what would otherwise be useless material, and using them to fertilize your garden can only be a good thing. Not to mention that it's much cheaper, and safer for your plants than chemicals and store bought fertilizer.
Composting is also very easy. Basically what I do is place veggie peels, egg shells, coffee grounds (and also the filters, if you don't use a reusable one like I do. http://www.alwaysbrilliant.com/products.aspx?SC=98629&PID=623&PD=42430&AG=392361360&kw=reusable%20coffee%20filters&cr=1794811310&cs=S&st=&gclid=CPyT6-
yUgpoCFRCdnAodcXZ3Pw)
tea bags, and myriad of other things (there are some things you cannot put in the bin, but the book that comes with it will detail them for you.) into the kitchen bin. When the bin is full I take it down the the larger bin, and dump it in. I then add an equal amount of yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, etc.) then top with a bit of soil. Every once in a while you stir it up, and keep an eye on it to make sure it is damp. The great news is that if you have done everything correctly it DOES NOT SMELL, and after 6 months or so, you have beautiful new fertilizer with which to supplement your garden soil. I've always had an abundance of tomatoes and huge roses. As a matter of fact, I plant cherry tomatoes, only to have them grow to the size of a regular large tomato!