If the rainy weather has dampened your courage to backyard compost, you are probably not alone.
Venturing out into a downpour with a bucket of kitchen scraps can prove challenging for even the most committed zero-waster. Maybe it is time to become creative. Did you know there are many different options when it comes to converting banana peels or stale bread into food for the soil?
Worm-bin composting can be done inside and out because of our mild climate. All that is required is some basic bedding for the squirmy creatures. They can thrive on a combination of hay, newspaper, manure, leaves and kitchen scraps. Plans for making worm bins are readily available online.
A converted freezer compost is a great local option. Open-sourced plans are available at letstalktrash.ca and show how to transform a broken (rust-free) freezer into a high heat, efficient composter. They are rat-proof, bear-resistant and can be stored in a garage or anywhere in your yard. Conversion takes most people an afternoon after the freon is removed by a professional. Cost averages around $60 for parts.
Residents and businesses are also invited to bring kitchen scraps to Town Centre Recycling Depot for free. The collected materials are then transported to Sechelt where it is composted at Salish Soils.
This program accepts items such as meat, fish and dairy, so residents can remove these bear and rodent attractants from their garbage and backyard composter.
Bokashi fermentation is a unique way to deal with kitchen scraps. It is an indoor method of composting where a microorganism-enriched powder is sprinkled over each layer of scraps, essentially fermenting the material. To complete the process, it is buried into the ground, where it quickly composts.
With so many options, you are sure to find one way to compost that is perfect for you. Keep in mind that composting has a significant impact on garbage, reducing household volumes by up to 50 per cent.
Let’s Talk Trash is Powell River Regional District’s waste-management education program.
