Composting

I have been pestering my parents about composting and recycling ever since I moved back home. I may not be here for long, but I really want to be responsible in the way that we dispose of our waste wherever I go. Plus, if I can get my parents into good composting habits, maybe they will keep it up once I leave.

We live near a landfill and from a nearby road you can see the hundreds of trucks that go up and down the hill carrying our trash each day. I have heard that even though some waste might be biodegradable, it will not biodegrade in a landfill because there is not enough air circulating. Many things can be composted, which not only breaks them down quickly and naturally, but also provides good soil to use in our garden. This part alone makes it worth it for me, because we have clay for soil, and few things grow in clay.

So yesterday my mother and I went on an excursion and purchased a composter! We had been debating about making one or buying one, and in the end we bought one. Today I spent some time putting it together and clearing out the perfect spot for it on the back of our property. I cleared the path to get to it, made sure it is on a level spot and that it gets enough sunshine to keep the temperature up (they tell me that part is important). I loaded up the bottom layer with twigs, dry leaves, and some yard waste that I hope will be a good starter. That’s what the directions said to do, so I am hoping it works.

We shall see how well it works, but for now it was a wonderful day spent outside in the summery heat getting my hands dirty!