My compost bin and kitchen scraps bin. This is where the fun happens.
Although I’ve been enthusiastically composting here at the Rubin Rodeo for over a year, I’m about to start something even bigger. Last night, I began my journey to become a Master Composter. The Master Composter course provides training in the art and science of composting and how to teach it to others. How cool is that?
Why compost? Good question! There are a number of reasons. When organic materials are separated from trash and allowed to decompose with an adequate supply of air, they can be turned into a valuable addition to soil that can be used for all sorts of things–plant and vegetable gardens, landscaping projects and much more.
Composting also provides a partial solution to our overloaded wastestream: our landfills are filling up, garbage incineration is bad news, and towns are cutting back on municipal waste hauling as budget money becomes harder to find. Composting provides a way of not only reducing the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of, but also of converting it into a product that is useful.
Over the next 6 weeks, I’ll be learning more than I could ever imagine about recycling, composting and will even get to have some fun with worm composting. My goal: to inspire you to start doing some composting and to find ways to get school systems involved with composting as part of food based education in their curriculum. It’s a great opportunity for applied science and can save a school system money to boot!
For a nice overview, check out this composting video by Kitchen Gardeners International
