COMPOST YOUR TOAST!
When I was a kid the only thing I knew about recycling was that the state of Michigan gave ten cents per can to encourage people to participate in the process. Growing up in the urban jungle of greater Los Angeles I thought about green house gases everyday...when my PE class was cancelled because of "smog alerts" or when the summer sky filled with a choking, orange muck and newscasters warned the young and old to stay indoors. I wondered what the dirty air was doing to us, our pets, and our futures. In college I thought to recycle meant you had to wear Birkenstocks, become a loud activist, join a cult, stop showering, and God forbid, drive a Prius! I was, admittedly, ill-informed. Simply recycling your cans just isn't good enough anymore! You don't have to be on Al Gore's team to realize we have a major problem that needs fixing immediately. So pardon me as today's tip goes from how to clean, to how to be green. The fine art of turning organic waste into rich soil called "humus" (not to be confused by the delicious appetizer I've suggested you serve to guests from the April 7th, 2008 tip) is actually a fairly simple process. Even if you don't have Ina's garden or Martha's vineyard, you still can compost and feel comfort in knowing you're doing something to help...if you have kids or students, make it a fun project and teach them how to be lean and green!
GET THE MOST FROM YOUR COMPOST:
The key to creating the perfect compost pile is to fill it with the right things, keep it wet, and stir it frequently. Start in your kitchen. We popped over to Target and purchased the stock pot above for $14.99 and fill it with coffee grounds, teabags (after removing staple), vegetable and fruit skins, lettuce, egg shells and, yes, TOAST..do NOT add fats (like meat), dairy, pet droppings or animal products or you'll have one giant mess...and a pest magnet! Outside create a 3'x3'x3' zone, preferably fenced in with chicken wire (we found at the Home Depot for $6.99). In the winter use a black plastic bin. Start your pile by adding grass clippings, fallen leaves, dead flowers, shredded paper (newspaper is great), shredded cardboard or paper towels. Add "green" wet materials like grass, fresh leaves, coffee grounds and turn your pile at least once a week with a shovel. The end result (usually 6 months later depending on climate) can be used on lawns, as potting and seed starting mix, added to house plants AND, most importantly, you'll be able to take a deep, clean breath knowing that you've reduced green house gases, recycled natural nutrients and saved money on fertilizer!
TIME TO COMPLETE TASK: One Hour
COST: Fencing at Home Depot $6.99, Enamel Stock Pot at Target $14.99
STRESS LEVEL: Helping to save our a**es by lowering green house gases: LOW
