From Scraps to Soil: My Experience with #London’s #UrbanComposting Movement

by Kim, April 25, 2024

"Amidst London’s bustling streets, a quiet revolution is taking root that’s transforming #KitchenScraps into rich, life-giving soil. It’s the urban composting movement, and it’s changing the way we think about waste. Here’s my journey into the world of composting in the heart of our city.

The Spark of Interest

My curiosity about composting began on a visit to Hackney City Farm, a little oasis of sustainability in the urban jungle. I was struck by the simplicity and effectiveness of turning everyday waste into a resource that supports more green spaces in London. This visit sparked a deep interest in me starting my own composting practice and understanding its impact on our environment.

Setting Up My Urban Compost

Starting was easier than I thought. I live in a flat in Islington with no garden, but I discovered that composting doesn’t require a lot of space. I opted for a small, sealed compost bin that fits neatly on my balcony. Seeing how my daily coffee grounds, vegetable peels, and eggshells could contribute to something so beneficial was fascinating.

The process involved balancing ‘greens’ like vegetable scraps, which add moisture and nitrogen, with ‘browns’ like dried leaves and paper, which add carbon. This balance speeds up decomposition and prevents the compost from smelling—essential in a flat! "

Learn more:
https://www.ecowasteandrecycling.org/from-scraps-to-soil-my-experience-with-londons-urban-composting-movement/

#SolarPunkSunday #SoilIsLife #GarbageToGarden #Composting

#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