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Intern Journal: A composter once removed, now in the loop
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By Caitlin Splawski |
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I didn’t really understand the importance of compost before I came to Rodale. I knew vaguely how it worked and threw food scraps and whatnot in our compost bin on a daily basis, because that is just what a good Environmental Studies major at Denison University does. I recycled and composted so that the debris didn’t end up in a landfill, but didn’t quite understand the impacts that composting had on my everyday activities. I couldn’t connect how my tossing an apple core onto a heap instead of into the garbage had anything to do with the next apple that I would someday eat. It was hard to imagine how apple cores, orange peels and coffee grounds would reduce the need for fertilizers and other nasty chemicals from being produced, and how that reduction could cut the amount of precious soil carbon sent into the atmosphere, not to mention the pesticides being dumped on my food. However, after seeing here how using compost produces so much food, I realize that channeling organic matter into productive use is much more than just a way of lessening the strain on overburdened landfills. When we don’t compost, we are robbing the soil of something it gave to us in the first place. Composting is crucial to feed natural carbon and nutrient cycling that keep a dynamic ecological balance, allowing these cycles to flow uninhibited while still nourishing people. When you see the importance of this continual movement that removes waste and creates new fertility, sticking all of that organic matter into a landfill and locking it away from the soil is like throwing a giant wrench into the system. Instead of balanced flows, we end up with depleted soils and mountains of trash locked in plastic-lined tombs. It’s this kind of linear thinking that has led to so many of our environmental issues that we have to think how to un-do to return some balance. I’m glad to have learned more about composting as a critical piece in this big system, because it has helped me realize that I, too, was guilty of thinking in a straight line. I performed one action, composting, because of how it had an effect on one other action, the filling of landfills. Now that I see how composting unlocks a multitude of actions and interactions, I have a renewed intuition about why I do what I do. It will be easier to help others see the value of composting in their life and our community, even if they are as removed as I was from seeing the apple core in the bigger scheme of things. Caitlin Splawski served as a research intern at the Rodale Institute who will return to Denison University to continue her environmental studies major this fall. |
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Totally organic resources?
Caitlin's story is not unique, but too bad it is not a whole lot more universal. I too had been composting for over a decade before I vaguely realized, why all this fuss and bother?
Of all my minor accomplishments, 'starting' the *Organic Gardening* program at the Hampton Day School, back in 1973, is certainly the one I am the most proud of. Frankly, I got very upset as I watched these ignorant children of the rich and famous throwing their lunch left-overs into the bin.
As a carpenter, (strictly hired to build the theater/barn,) finally, it came down to a very selfish decision on my part to construct a huge wooden bin. I was simply overwhelmed by the thought of injesting another bite of their horrendous Long Island foods.
"Surely, we've come a long way since the 70's," I mused, as I approached the school gardens a few years back to show-off for my girlfriend. Ironically, we were nearly arrested for this suspicious behavior. These days I will be more careful about where I go to 'smell the roses.'
"An elementary school with armed guards in the garden?" I thought. Lord knows they must be really proud of their corn and radishes! Doubtless, ours was a pretty funny story, after they called for police back-up, I was crowned the "King of the School" about 30 minutes later.
My point in writing is this. We can create all the great soil in the world, but unless we can spread this knowledge by teaching others, through direct example and intervention, all you will have at the end of the day is a clear conscious, and maybe a place at the end of the grub-line in heaven. Those who foolishly Do still venture north of the mason-Dixon line (ahhhhem,) are hereby advised to learn about the wonders of hoop-gardening, and small-scale composting systems. Ms. Splawski is being a bit coy (above) as I think she well knows this composting 'advice' can truly save our lives!
I understand all about how
I understand all about how composting is adding nutrients back into the soil so that it continues the cycle. However I'm not sure how me doing my own composting helps with farmers producing our food. It really only helps the flowers in my own garden. Of course, if I were to grow my own food then that's another matter. :)
compost
composting is a way of preparing organic matter to be used as fertilizer for crops.There are several factors in composting: the organic material uses up oxygen and nitrogen as it decomposes and thus could compete with plants and result in unhealthy plants. Undecomposed matter also is food for insects that could go on to eat up crop plant roots.
and nutrients in the organic materials is not available till after decomposition. After composting, the biological oxygen demand is low, plant nutrients are easily and slowly available,attraction to insects is absent, and the compost is filled with life forms that help plants grow healthy.
throwing all this away in a land fill is a crime.
Composting DOESN'T happen in landfills -- at least not quickly
That's not quite correct, Anonymous.
Composting is specifically managing what happens when vegetable matter decomposes so that the process happens as quickly as possible and the final product is something that preserves and prepares the nutrients inside to be used again in growing new plants.
When you compost, you mix "greens" (fresh, green plant matter rich in nitrogen) and "browns" (dry, dead organic matter rich in carbon). When you stir oxygen into the mixture and help those two decompose together, you're creating something nutritious. You're helping nature along, faster and cleaner than anything in a landfill.
In a landfill, there is very little oxygen circulation and so even vegetable matter doesn't decompose as fast.
It's like the difference between making a balanced, healthy meal and taking the contents of a grocery shelf and tossing it into a pile and saying, "Dig in!" :)
compost
I agree! Our industrial food supply is essentially a one-way flow of nutrients out of the soil that relies on heavy applications of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. I don't understand why every municipality in these United States can't compost every piece of vegetable/plant waste/food waste/paper waste that we produce, and channel it right back into the soil. We shouldn't even have landfills! Instead we should be a no waste society. Clean water, clean air, and good soil health are far and away our most precious resources.
compost in the landfill
Actually no, kitchen scraps in the landfill do not get enough oxygen to compost and decompose anaerobically, without air, thus forming methane gas, which is twenty times as bad for global warming as is carbon dioxide. The other problem with food in the landfill is that it ruins everything else. Clever people can re use and recycle clothing, washing machines, and other cast offs, but not if they are covered with rotten food.
Compostable material composes half the landfill, and ruins the other half.
Food used to be thrown out to the pigs and chickens, they don't need to be ruining their health eating corn and soy any more than we do.
Composting in the Landfill
I just thought of this; won't kitchen scraps compost in a landfill the same as they would in your backyard compost bin? So it would make sense not to say that you compost just to keep it out of the landfill. Of course I realize not all garbage is biodegradable, but saying you compost all your kitchen scraps so that "the debris didn’t end up in a landfill" might be taking it a bit too far.
Still though, your point about composting is well meant. But stressing recyclables such as some plastics and paper might do more to reduce the burden on landfills I think.
Not really composting in the landfill
Kitchen scraps that end up in a landfill will eventually break down somehow. But likely it will be anaerobic. Composting requires air inclusion so that the result is healthy, usable fertilizer.
Plus, if there was "compost" in a landfill, it would remain there forever being completely useless.
Arguably, the rejuvenative value of good compost to the soil is more important than saving landfill space. No matter, when you have both the compost and the saved landfill, it's a double win.
Thank you Intern Journal for this discussion.
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