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THE DIRT
Around 90% of the greenhouse gas emissions from landfill are the result of decomposing organic matter. Most of this could be avoided by simply composting our kitchen and garden waste.
Whether you have a tiny flat or a huge estate, there is a composting solution perfect for you.
Environmental benefits:
. Using composted mulch improves soil structure and water holding capacity of the soil which lowers the water requirement by up to 30% for many plants and crops.
. Composted mulch can reduce water run-off by around 70%.
. Utilising kitchen and garden scraps in some form of composting system can reduce your household's contribution to landfill by up to 50%.
Cash benefits:
Producing your own worm juice or castings, compost, mulch or bokashi juice all reduce your need to purchase extra fertlising products and pesticides, many of which can be harmful to your health and the soil in the long term.
Garden benefits:
Most gardeners will tell you that self made compost is like liquid gold for your garden!
COMPOSTING OPTIONS:
WORM FARMS
Worms are productive pets! Worms are a great way to break down kitchen waste (such as vegetable scraps). They eat the scraps creating worm casts which are a nutrient rich soil conditioner. The worm juice also makes a wonderful liquid plant food. If you have a canine friend you can also have a 'dog poo worm farm' but this should be separate from your vegetable scrap worm farm. It is also a good idea to avoid putting dog poo in for several days after you have wormed your dog.
BOKASHI BUCKET
The Bokashi system is perfect for the 'lazy environmentalist' or for anyone living in a small apartment or home. The term 'bokashi' means 'fermented organic matter' and uses the effective micro-organism method to compost almost all kitchen food waste, all in the comfort of your own kitchen! Fruit and vegetables, prepared foods, cooked and uncooked meats and fish, cheese, eggs, bread, coffee grinds, tea bags, wilted flowers and tissues can all be disposed of in a bokashi bin.
COMPOST BINS
There is a great variety of composting bins available depending on your needs and budget. These vary from the super flash Aerobin which facilitates rapid breakdown of your organic waste (including food scraps, clippings and newspaper) with no turning required to the simple plastic models that require more human effort and more time.
What can you compost?
Exactly what you can compost depends on which type of composting you choose, so always refer to manufacturers instructions. The general rules are outlined below:
YES:
. Vegetable peelings
. Fruit scraps
. Teabags
. Small amounts of plant cuttings and grass
. Egg cartons
. Shredded newspaper
. Fallen leaves
. Crushed egg shells
NO:
. Cooked food
. Meat (except in the bokashi bucket where meat is OK)
. Dairy products (bokashi can take cheese)
. Weeds (especially if they have seeds!)
. Dog poo (unless you are creating a dog poo worm farm)
G SPOT
It's a great feeling getting to the end of the week and having only one small bag of real rubbish for your entire household - try it for yourself!
COME CLEAN
Become a composting king or queen with Biome eco-store........
It's true! With the Bokashi system you can dispose of all your waste right in your own kitchen, with no smell or daily trudge to the compost heap. Biome eco-store has been selling Bokashi for over 3 years and has hundreds of devotees. They're offering CleanLifers a bonus Organic Gardener magazine for inspiration. There is a lot of good reading about composting on Biome's site. You can also email Tracey info@biome.com.au to receive their informative 'Blooming Bokashi' newsletter.
Perthites can visit Planet Ark (37 Cantonment St, Fremantle) or phone (08) 9430 5054 for a range of composting products and information.
Visit the environment house website for a variety of composting products and regular workshops.
Worms farms and a variety of compost bins should also be available at your local garden centre or hardware store.
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