Spent some time at the #CommunityGarden today. Planted some #BlackBeans and #Potatoes, and pulled up some weeds (the flowers should be popping up after all that rain). Had a cool conversation with my neighbor who is a selectboard member and who helped get the garden going again, and told him what a great job he is doing. I mean, #composters, #rainbarrels, making the #CommunityCenter an #EmergencyShelter, supporting #DatacenterMoratoriums and #SmartGrowth. What more could one ask for in a town rep!

#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #CommunityGardens #GrowYourOwnFood #GYO

#SolarPunkSunday has turned into #ActionMonday!

Today's achievements?

- Got the phone number of the person organizing the #CommunityGarden.
- Gently nudged neighbor select board member about ordering #composters and #rainbarrels (and praised all the good work he's doing)
- Dropped off a condolence card and photo mug to another neighbor who recently lost a feline friend
- Helped to fix a PDF file for the local #library (remotely), then asked if they had any "#NatureBackpacks".

I'd say I've done some #SolarPunk things today! (#BuildingCommunity is something I consider a major tenet of all things Solarpunk!)

And yes, I've had both composters for 7 and 10 years. There was a crack in one near the rim, which I sealed up with duct tape, but they are still holding up, even in the Maine winters!

#EarthMachines #Composters #SolarPunkSunday #BuiltToLast

#RocklandME - #KnoxLincolnSoilAndWaterConservationDistrict

Annual Bin and Barrel Sale

Featuring #EarthMachine #Composters and Systern #Rainbarrels

Note: The Systern Rainbarrels are made from thinner plastic than some rainbarrels and definitely need to be stored when the weather gets cold -- or else they will crack!

https://www.knox-lincoln.org/shop/bin-barrel-sale

#SolarPunkSunday #BackyardComposters #RainwaterCollection #WaterIsLife #SoilIsLife #Compost

Bin & Barrel Sale — Shop — Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District

Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District

So, these #rainbarrels are a bit pricey (apparently there are bulk discounts though). However, I own two of the terracotta-colored ones, and they have held up during #Maine weather (where it can be warm and rainy one day, freezing the next). Obviously, they should be drained and stored for the winter, but when that doesn't happen, the material seems to be forgiving (unlike the beige rainbarrels -- which are made from lighter plastic)...

This program is not just for #Mainers!

Upcycle Rain Barrels and #Composters

Providing Eco-Friendly Products for More Than 20 Years

2026 MAINE WATER COMPANY RAIN BARREL EVENT

ALL ORDERS WILL BE DELIVERED 10 - 15 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF ORDER.

*** BARREL PRICES INCLUDES DELIVERY VIA FEDEX/UPS DIRECTLY TO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE ***

https://upcycle-products.com/me/mwc/

#SolarPunkSunday #RainbarrelProgram #Composter #HarvestingRainwater #WaterCollection #HomeComposting

Well, I just emailed our Town Manager with information about discount #RainBarrel and #Composter programs. I know one of our neighbors (who is on the Selectboard) had mentioned how composters cut down on the amount of garbage, and how many folks have home gardens and could benefit from both rainbarrels and composters! Local #SolarPunk vibes!

Maine Resource and Recovery Association:
https://mrra.net/home/products/

Upcycle products:
https://upcycle-products.com/me/mwc/

#SolarPunkSunday #Composters #RainbarrelProgram #Maine #ReduceWaste #ConserveWater #RainwaterCollection #HomemadeCompost

Products - Maine Resource Recovery Association

2026 Spring Backyard Composting Supply Sale It’s that time of year again! Put in your bulk order today! Click Here…

Maine Resource Recovery Association

#NapervilleIL - #TheConservationFoundation
#RainBarrels & #Composters

"One simple, efficient, low-cost method to reduce the amount of #StormwaterRunoff from your property is to use rain barrels. Estimates indicate that a quarter-inch of rain falling on an average home yields over 200 gallons of water. Rain barrels are simply large containers that help conserve stormwater from your roof that would otherwise be lost as runoff. Modern rain barrels are sealed, safe around children and insect resistant – they can even be painted or decorated to your liking. You can divert water from your downspout to fill your rain barrel and a hose spigot on the front makes the water easy to access and use.

The Conservation Foundation sells rain barrels, also known as #WaterBarrels, year-round through our partnership with Upcycle Products, Inc. Our 55-gallon rain barrels are made of recycled food-grade plastic, come in a variety of colors and can be purchased for $72.00 (plus tax) for pick-up at #McDonaldFarm in Naperville.

Composters

When we compost our #KitchenScraps and #YardWaste we reduce the amount of material going to the #landfills and instead return nutrients to the #soil. The many benefits of #composting include reducing the amount of material going to landfills and adding organic matter to our #garden beds. This improves soil structure and texture, increases the soil’s ability to hold both water and air, improves soil fertility, and stimulates healthy root development in plants. And it saves you money so you don’t have to buy chemical fertilizers!

Upcycle compost bins (stationary and tumbling) are the same size as the 55 gallon rain barrel, approximately 2 ft by 3.5 ft (the base of the tumbling composter requires a 3 x 4 ft area). The bins are re-purposed BPA-free food grade plastic barrels."

FMI and to order:
https://theconservationfoundation.org/conservation-home/rain-barrels/

#SolarPunkSunday #Illinois #Composters #RainwaterCollection #WaterIsLife #SoilIsLife

I composted in the city (Allston-Brighton area -- where we had a small backyard and garden area). It can be done in the cities, and worm-composters can be kept under the sink... But for the faint of heart, many places are now offering #GarbageToGarden services, or collection areas near community gardens...!

#Massachusetts Ask Your Municipality About a Low-Cost Compost Bin

"Many towns and cities use MassDEP grant funds to buy compost bins directly from manufacturers, then sell them to residents at a discount.

"To learn if the community where you live has compost bins for sale, see the List of Massachusetts Compost Bin Distribution Programs in Additional Resources [at the original link].

"The bins most commonly available are: #EarthMachine (with room for 10 cubic feet of material) and #NewAgeComposter (with a capacity of 24 cubic feet).

"Both units are easy to assemble, resist rodents, and break down organic materials well. At least half of the plastic that goes into them comes from products that consumers have used and recycled previously."

FMI:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/ask-your-municipality-about-a-low-cost-compost-bin

#SolarPunkSunday #Compost #FoodWaste #ReduceReuseRecycle #RecycledPlastic #Composting #Composters

I'm Skeptical About Electric Composters

I've been seeing ads for them, but I'm not convinced that they are advantageous for anyone.

#YourAutisticLife
#ActuallyAutistic
#AutisticWriters #ElectricComposters #Lomi #composters #greenwashing #SolutionInSearchOfAProblem