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A Shot of Green. Nelsen, V. September 14, 2006. The Oregonian
(Portland, Oregon). (Newspaper article)
You’ve just finished your morning coffee and need to clean out
the coffee pot for another cup. If you don’t compost as a practice, at the very
least, throw those coffee grounds out the door and into your garden, on your
lawn, or in a shovel hole. Coffee grounds have many uses, one of which,
according to Nelsen, is a very satisfactory, organic soil amendment. Grounds can
improve soil drainage as well as its water-holding capacity. They show a
nearly-neutral pH of 6.9 and contain additional nitrogen (2%) that is so
important to plant health. Read more to find out what to do with those soggy
coffee filters.
Composting: Composting Turns Household Wastes into Valuable
Fertilizer and Soil Organic Matter. April 1998. United States Department of
Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service. (Newsletter article)
www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/pdf/Compost.pdf
The mantra that composting saves energy by reducing waste and
returning nutrients to the soil is repeated in this article by the National
Resources Conservation Service. What makes this article different than the rest
is that cold composting is distinguished from hot composting (temperature and
content dependent) and we are introduced to vermicomposting which uses worms to
do the dirty work. Different containers for composting are displayed graphically
and labeled with varying degrees of difficulty on installation and maintenance.
The site is an easy, informative, and organized read.
Mulching. United States Department of Agriculture, National
Association of Conservation Districts, and Wildlife Habitat Council. 1998.
National Association of Conservation Districts. (Newsletter article)
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/FEATURE/backyard/pdf/mulching.pdf
Mulching protects the soil from erosion, reduces compaction
from heavy rains, and provides a “finished” look to a sustainable garden.
Organic mulch, in particular, contributes immensely to better soil conditions.
There are sections in this report describing the process and its components,
when to apply it, and some precautions during application. Text and graphics
detail the different types of mulch and illustrate how mulch affects any
backyard biome.
All of the USDA collections (mentioned below) are very
thorough in their treatment of the subject matter. It is for this reason we
mention them in this guide. Set up your own booklet with information on all the
following subjects by using the preface URL
www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard then selecting any one of the PDF files
offered.
- Backyard Pond
- Composting
- Nutrient Management
- Pest Management
- Terracing
- Water Conservation
- Wetland
- Wildlife Habitat
Clean Compost. 2004. Organic Gardening. 51(2):l.
(Magazine article)
Compost available through commercial or municipal outlets may
contain herbicides that have the capacity to negatively affect soil properties
and soil processes in general. A study (reported in this issue of Organic
Gardening) has identified that common lawn herbicides used in Oregon and
California need only be present at 3 parts per million to have damaging effects
on the soil to disrupt the nutrient cycling processes. Read about the chain
reaction of problems that can occur if you put treated yard debris in the
curbside pickup.
Prize-Winner’s Life is Just A Pile of Active Compost. Hortsch,
D. November 4, 1999. The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). (Newspaper article)
Freda Sherburne, a strong crusader for composting, claims in
this interview that a lot of waste sent to landfills can actually be used in the
yard as compost to fertilize plants and vegetable patches. For example, some
sheetrock is decomposable and considered organic therefore a compostable item.
In addition to standard composting, Sherburne also describes worm composting
which yields high-quality compost and rich nutrients which are a plus for
facilitating processes that nurture life in general cycles.
Earth911 is a good website, quick, informative, and to the
point when it comes to vermiculture, or worm composting. Tools necessary to get
the worms up and running are quickly stated, as is how to get compost from your
worms, where to put it, how much to use in the soil, and trouble shooting when
the compost smells or if it attracts flies. We were particularly amazed at how
well these folks answered questions about collecting finished worm compost; they
provided several creative methods. Bravo.
Imagine you are at a party one night where you don’t know a
soul. You are at a loss for conversation, but in an effort to mingle, you
casually mention to someone standing nearby that “I have worms in my house.”
Over the sound of the music she doesn’t hear the “in my house” part, and begins
to walk toward the other side of the room. But you persist to win her over by
explaining that they (the worms) eat half their body weight in cardboard,
newspaper, food scraps, and coffee grounds, so that if you have 10 lbs. of
worms, that would be 5 lbs. worth of scraps, and that by using waste in this way
you could reduce your curbside garbage to 50% or more. “Imagine”, you exclaim,
“the scraps to be processed.” Ignoring her open-mouthed, wide-eyed stare, you
can’t shut up, and continue with your newfound knowledge, “Think about it,” you
say, “what other animal eats that much in a day?”
Okay, forget the party, and more realistically, imagine
yourself just passing around this web address which provides interesting and
important information on a vital part of the ecosystem... processing waste and
turning it to compost.
The main point is that if you want to practice sustainable soil management,
earthworms are a lot of bang for the buck. They provide so many benefits to the
soil that, when present, you actually do less work to maintain good soil and
healthy plants. Visit Metro’s website (www.metro-region.org) to learn how to
build your own worm bin.
Black Gold. Pokorny, K. April 9, 1998. The Oregonian
(Portland, Oregon). (Newspaper article)
Here’s another quick reference for the basics in composting:
how can composting enrich the soil and save you money. Pokorny describes simple
steps for harvesting compost sooner by layering and using vegetable and fruit
scraps, which deliver rich, crumbly humus you can add to the garden or use as
mulch around shrubs and trees. Finally, her article suggests where to get the
best deal on compost bins (a.k.a. Earth Machines). In Portland, contact Metro;
they sell for $35 the last we heard.
How to Make Compost, a Composting Guide. 2004. Compost Guide:
A Complete Guide to Composting.
www.compostguide.com
For those of us who are compulsive about our compost, here is
everything you ever wanted to know about composting but were afraid to ask.
Compost is the best, richest, sediment nature can produce to improve the soil
and create healthy environments for plants. It is renewable energy and recycled
from organic waste products. This site explains the decomposition process,
organic materials needed, site selection, seasonal schedule, and use of compost
on better than a beginning level. It also offers a reference table for types of
materials to use in creating compost, which specific materials are rich in
carbon or nitrogen and vital to soil replenishment and a healthy garden.
What separates this site from the others? A troubleshooting
guide is provided, along with information on compost thermometers… now that’s
thorough. This site is good, and anyone with the slightest green thumb will be
closer to becoming an expert on growing healthy plants after visiting this
website. Several charts are included, as well as an online store for composting
tools.
Compost Uncomplicated. Pokorny, K. March 27, 2003. The
Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). (Newspaper article)
If you are interested in a Question & Answer format to dispel
any confusion about composting and to provide explanations on the trickier or
less known types of compost like vermiculture, then this is the article to read.
The questions deal with what to compost, how to layer, timing for compost,
different types of compost, and the size of compost loads.
If a diseased bird is eaten by your pet and then the pet’s
excrement containing harmful bacteria or other pathogens is not fully composted
by the heat generated in your backyard composter, the conventional belief is
that you are creating a health hazard. However, meat and meat bones, dog and cat
feces, and dairy products are in fact organic and will decompose, though they
are likely to create odor problems, and may attract undesirable wildlife into
the yard.
As far as parasites, pathogens, or viruses harmful to humans
are concerned, the research literature shows no agreement. So, as a caution and
until a better way of dealing with this material turns up, empty feces into your
toilet, or, better yet, bury them in the ornamental section of your landscape,
but not within 100 feet of a domestic water well, lake, or stream (also current
convention). The same cautions are not applied to other animals such as rabbits,
chickens, geese and cattle. Animals that eat vegetative matter are not as likely
to pick up and pass on diseases harmful to humans, as are the meat-eating
animals. The key here is to remember that the problem is disease; so instead
foster a healthy landscape so we don’t have the disease.
From an author who grows up to half of his family’s yearly
food intake, Steve Solomon has created a recipe for an entirely healthy organic
fertilizer. Potent and chemically balanced, his fertilizer is composed entirely
of natural substances. He starts with seed meal and lime, the basics of any
healthy fertilizer, and goes on to list the ingredients that can also be
substituted because of cost or availability. This article includes the steps of
applying the fertilizer, how much to use, and what plants need the most.
Solomon agrees that growing your own garden can be complicated and worrisome,
but only if you let it. He does a good job of providing us with the knowledge
needed to be confident in the selection and use of fertilizers.
For easy access to a non-toxic fertilizer, one that is good
for a healthy ecosystem and its natural processes, and good for growing
vegetables for the family table, read this article. After all, some of us have
neither the time nor the inclination to compost, right?
Where to Find the Dirt on Organic Gardening. Kinnie, B. July
2, 2004. Calgary Herald (Alberta, Canada). (Newspaper article)
This is a guide for locating information on organic gardening.
Embedded on this one page article are books, organizations, and other websites
that offer good information for locating the most fundamental of gardening
materials. Kinnie distinguishes different types of fertilizers such as liquid
organic fertilizers from non-liquid fertilizers and heralds the safer pest
controls among many other sustainable practices. While most sites are specific
to Canada, some sites are located in the Pacific Northwest. Some of the other
websites mentioned are:
Mulch is A Matrix for Soil Life. Major, T. February 8, 2006.
North Shore News (British Columbia, Canada). (Newspaper article)
Skim past the subjects of xeriscaping and permaculture and get
right to the point — mulching is an excellent method for low-maintenance
gardening, preserving the soil, and maintaining nutrient cycling processes.
Mulch is the matrix for soil life that feeds plants, protects plants during
drought and frost, and creates a soil cover that moderates rainfall
infiltration. Slow water recharge enriches the soil and is beneficial to
organisms. Look to this article for a quick education on the importance and
benefits of mulching.
Keep Leaves at Home And Put Them to Work. Nelson, V.
September 28, 2000. The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). (Newspaper article)
Nelson reminds us, as homeowners, of the unnecessary work of
buying huge paper bags, raking all our leaves into them, and then carting them
to the curb. This article magnifies the benefits of leaving leaves on the lawn
or putting them to work in the compost bin, especially if chipped into smaller
pieces. The smaller pieces promote grass growth and turf buildup through natural
fertilization. Also mentioned here is the suggestion of creating a bin for
composting the leaves: after less than six months (sooner if you follow some
easy steps), you are left with great plant food and a great soil amendment.
Rethinking Yard Care. Korb, G. 1999. The Board of Regents of
the University of Wisconsin. Madison, Wisconsin. (Brochure)
Lawn & Garden Pesticides. Korb, G., Hovland, J. and S. Bennett. 1999. The
Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin. Madison, Wisconsin. (Brochure)
Managing Leaves & Yard Trimmings. Korb, G., Morrisey, S., Lukazewski, D. and D.
Wilson. 1999. The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin. Madison,
Wisconsin. (Brochure)
All the Korb references can be found at University of
Washington - Extension ERC Natural Resources Education Publications, Yard Care &
the Environment Series, (http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/home.htm). The process
of natural landscaping is important for a variety of reasons including primarily
restoring natural life cycles and secondly reducing human workloads. “Rethinking
Yard Care” details the problems modern landscaping has created with regard to
its disrupted water cycles and water runoff. The brochure has an
easy-to-understand manner describing good practices and listing sustainable
activities for around the home and in the community.
Korb’s write-up on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in “Lawn &
Garden Pesticides” is included in this resource guide not just because the
seven-step process is thorough but because it goes one step further and teaches
us how local flora and fauna integrate with ecology and natural cycles.
Slightly different than Nelson’s article above on “Keeping
Leaves at Home,” “Managing Leaves & Yard Trimmings” discusses common wastes of
energy such as bagging leaves and grass clippings to have them carted away
instead of utilizing the rich nutrients these “wastes” have to offer. This
publication, as well as the others, retrains us to consider weed control from a
different perspective and consider waste as food and what that means to nutrient
cycling.
Compost Toilets Reconsidered. Steinfeld, C. March 1997.
BioCycle. 38(3):49. (Magazine article)
Composting toilets can be very practical for the home. When
you live in the Northwest, you can conserve water by using rainwater in the
toilet (greywater), and at the same time not send fecal matter to the landfills
or rivers. Some maintenance is required, but it’s not rocket science. Two main
types are commercially available: self-contained units and centralized systems,
both of which are described in this one-page article (certainly not all you
should read before jumping into the building of a compost toilet). They can be
easy to maintain and some even flush. Maintenance services are available for
around $600.00 per year, if desired. Included in this article is information on
regulations and standards, current models, microflush, and accessories.
Steinfeld believes more people would have a positive opinion
of composting toilets if they knew more, and that people who say they have had a
negative experience, simply did not perform the proper maintenance. This is an
easy-to-read article that provides basic, helpful tips on composting toilets for
the home. After reviewing this article, we are convinced that this is a viable
option. You may agree, once you are armed with enough information to make an
informed decision on whether or not to install a composting toilet, and which
model to select.
Envirolet Composting Toilet World. 2007. Composting Toilet
World Homepage.
http://compostingtoilet.org
If you are interested in researching more on the benefits of a
composting toilet, its contribution to the maintenance of natural processes,
their associated products or costs, then this is the site to visit. Composting
systems can be more complex than they appear, so homeowners seeking the help of
a professional for installation might check this website out first.
Any savings on this investment may be important since retail
prices for composting toilet systems at the time of publication range from
$1,200 to $1,700, not including labor. “Composting Toilet World” occasionally
offers coupons. However, when pricing any sustainable system, try to factor in
the advantages to your family, your local community, and the environment.
Humanure Compost Toilet System Instruction Manual. Jenkins,
J. 2006. Joseph Jenkins Inc. Grove City, Pennsylvania.
www.jenkinspublishing.com/manual.html
If you were willing to read with us on composting toilet
information then allow us to take you to another level of processes! Humanure
(human manure), which is human fecal material plus urine is a major source of
environmental pollution around the world, as well as a source of diseased
organisms. As such, it creates pollution and threatens public health. However
when recycled, the potential for pollution and health threats can be eliminated
and valuable soil nutrients can be replenished.
While a complete guide to building your own composting toilet
is available for $25 or less through Jenkins’ website, download his PDF first
and give it a thorough perusal. This informative manual explains that by
recycling your own waste (and he tells you how), you are saving environmental
pollution while creating environmentally-friendly compost that is good for the
soil. This is renewable energy. Plenty of information is given on the topic that
would answer your every question. Next, a process of three steps is provided in
detail for building your own compost toilet, building a compost bin, and finally
composting the waste. This is a good, simple idea for only the very serious
about composting systems and protecting the environment.
Grow a Healthy, No-waste Lawn and Garden. 2003. Minnesota
Office of Environmental Assistance.
www.moea.state.mn.us/campaign/garden
If it’s not too late to make radical changes to your routine,
consider simplifying and using only one fertilizer, and less of it while making
compost for lawns or gardens and simultaneously preserving natural processes. We
like both this article and the one below, and think they can be used in
conjunction with one another. Learn from them what types of grasses are suitable
for your specific around-the-house practices, and figure out “low-input”
methods, waste-control methods, and pest management practices that are good for
wildlife, as well as for decreasing energy use.
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