ed burske's "can composting save the planet"?
DESCRIPTION
Presented to CarbonfreeDC, Ed Burske, author of theslowcook.com, gives a wonderful presentation on how to compost with limited yard space.TRANSCRIPT
Can Compost Save Can Compost Save Planet Earth?Planet Earth?An urbanite’s guide to recycling An urbanite’s guide to recycling organic matterorganic matter
What’s Wrong with this What’s Wrong with this Picture?Picture?
Where Does it Go?Where Does it Go?
The City’s Secret The City’s Secret CompostCompost
Two-Stroke Engines: A Two-Stroke Engines: A World-Wide ScourgeWorld-Wide Scourge
Leaf blower compared to Leaf blower compared to automobile:automobile:
145 times more hydrocarbons145 times more hydrocarbons
7.5 times more carbon monoxide7.5 times more carbon monoxide
11 times more particulate matter11 times more particulate matter
Unacceptable noise levelsUnacceptable noise levels
Source: California EPA, 2000Source: California EPA, 2000
A Culture of PollutionA Culture of Pollution
Filling lawn mowers spills Filling lawn mowers spills more fuel every year more fuel every year than the Exxon Valdex – than the Exxon Valdex – 17 million gallons 17 million gallons every every dayday
Spilled gasoline produces Spilled gasoline produces 87 million tons of 87 million tons of pollutionpollution every dayevery day
Source: U.S. EPASource: U.S. EPA
Landfills: What a WasteLandfills: What a Waste
Yard trimmings and Yard trimmings and food scraps comprise food scraps comprise 45 percent of 45 percent of material sent to material sent to landfillslandfills
Anything that was Anything that was once alive – yard once alive – yard trimmings, food trimmings, food scraps – can b scraps – can b composted insteadcomposted instead
Saving Planet EarthSaving Planet Earth
Who is this Man? Who is this Man? (and why did he (and why did he
care so much about earthworms?)care so much about earthworms?)
The Truth About WormsThe Truth About Worms
1 million earthworms 1 million earthworms per acreper acre
1,000 tons of 1,000 tons of castings per acre castings per acre each yeareach year
Worm castings are a Worm castings are a valuable fertilizer, valuable fertilizer, high in plant nutrients high in plant nutrients and beneficial and beneficial microbesmicrobes
Compost = Nature’s Compost = Nature’s Recycling SystemRecycling System
Compost and FertilityCompost and Fertility
The Worldwide Search for The Worldwide Search for FertilizerFertilizer
The Haber-Bosch ProcessThe Haber-Bosch Process
Artificial Fertilizer: Artificial Fertilizer: Blessing or Curse?Blessing or Curse?
Gulf of Mexico Dead ZoneGulf of Mexico Dead Zone
Modern Homeowners Modern Homeowners Embrace Haber’s ProcessEmbrace Haber’s Process
Chesapeake Death ZoneChesapeake Death Zone
The Ultimate IronyThe Ultimate Irony
Backyard CompostingBackyard Composting
A Basic FormulaA Basic Formula
““Greens” and “Browns”Greens” and “Browns”
Equal parts green Equal parts green materials – such as materials – such as grass clippings – and grass clippings – and brown materials – brown materials – such as leavessuch as leaves
WaterWater Aerate (turn)Aerate (turn)
Carbon/Nitrogen RatioCarbon/Nitrogen Ratio
Ideal: 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogenIdeal: 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen Don’t worry if you can’t remember this Don’t worry if you can’t remember this
formulaformula Kitchen waste: 15/1Kitchen waste: 15/1 Horse manure: 30/1Horse manure: 30/1 Leaves: 55/1Leaves: 55/1 Sawdust: 440/1Sawdust: 440/1 Carboard: 500/1Carboard: 500/1
How Compost Happens: How Compost Happens: The DecomposersThe Decomposers
Benefits of CompostBenefits of Compost•Improves soil structure•Feeds vital soil organisms•Slowly releases plant nutrients•Increases water retention•Balances soil pH•Encourages healthy root systems•Helps suppress plant diseases, reduce need for pesticides
Things to CompostThings to Compost
Animal manure Animal manure Cardboard rolls Cardboard rolls Clean paper Clean paper Coffee grounds and filters Coffee grounds and filters Cotton rags Cotton rags Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint Eggshells Eggshells Fireplace ashes Fireplace ashes Fruits and vegetables Fruits and vegetables Grass clippings Grass clippings
Hair and fur Hair and fur Hay and straw Hay and straw Houseplants Houseplants Leaves Leaves Nut shells Nut shells Sawdust Sawdust Shredded newspaper Shredded newspaper Tea bags Tea bags Wood chips Wood chips Wool rags Wool rags Yard trimmings Yard trimmings
What Not to CompostWhat Not to CompostBlack walnut tree leaves or twigs
Releases substances that might be harmful to plants
Coal or charcoal ash Might contain substances harmful to plants
Dairy products (e.g., butter, egg yolks, milk, sour cream, yogurt) Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
Diseased or insect-ridden plants Diseases or insects might survive and be transferred back to other plants
Fats, grease, lard, or oils Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
Meat or fish bones and scraps Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter) Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans
Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides
Basic Composting BinsBasic Composting Bins
Minimum 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft Minimum 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft to generate heatto generate heat
Accessible for turningAccessible for turning Not too largeNot too large Wire, wood, concrete Wire, wood, concrete
blocks, straw balesblocks, straw bales Above ground or in a pitAbove ground or in a pit Covered or not coveredCovered or not covered
Wire BinsWire Bins
Wooden BinsWooden Bins
Masonry BinsMasonry Bins
Composting in PlaceComposting in Place
Large-Scale CompostingLarge-Scale Composting
Compost from Tree Compost from Tree WasteWaste
Kitchen ScrapsKitchen Scraps
Alternative Bin: Trash Alternative Bin: Trash CanCan
Manufactured BinsManufactured Bins
Composting with Composting with Manufactured BinManufactured Bin
Avoid Odors & VerminAvoid Odors & Vermin
Maintain aerobic conditions – not too Maintain aerobic conditions – not too moistmoist
Use sealed containers if composting Use sealed containers if composting kitchen scraps – or refrain from kitchen scraps – or refrain from composting calorie-dense foodscomposting calorie-dense foods
Problem: WinterProblem: Winter
Composting with WormsComposting with Worms
Worm BinsWorm Bins
Automatic CompostingAutomatic Composting
Built-in electric Built-in electric elementelement
Composts all food Composts all food scraps (including scraps (including meat & dairy)meat & dairy)
5 kwh per month5 kwh per month
Bokashi CompostingBokashi Composting
Anaeorobic Anaeorobic fermentationfermentation
Layers of wheat branLayers of wheat branComposts meat & Composts meat &
bonesbonesDrain off liquidDrain off liquidUse in garden or Use in garden or
compost pilecompost pile
Thank you!Thank you!
The Slow CookThe Slow Cook
www.theslowcook.comwww.theslowcook.com
D.C. Urban GardenersD.C. Urban Gardeners
www.dc-urban-gardeners.comwww.dc-urban-gardeners.com
D.C. Public WorksD.C. Public Works
www.dpw.dc.govwww.dpw.dc.gov