Composting

The community doesn’t currently have a shared composting operation. However, many individual residents compost. You can either do your own composting, or donate suitable wastes to someone who has a pile. Get the person’s permission before you start adding materials.

Suitable wastes include vegetable or fruit scraps, cereal products such as bread, eggshells, coffee grounds, shredded paper, small amounts of grass or leaves, human or animal hair, dryer lint, or natural fiber rags (cotton, linen, ramie, viscose, rayon, bamboo, hemp). The smaller the pieces, the better.

Let weeds thoroughly wither or dry before adding them to a compost pile. Weeds that are going to seed should be put in the dumpster.

If you are heap composting (not using a closed container), turn food wastes under the surface of older compost, to avoid attracting animals.

Trench composting, where composting materials are immediately buried, can be used for meat or meat products, dairy products (milk, cheese, butter), high-protein foods, or anything oily (for instance, dressed salad or peanut butter).

Plastics or most synthetic fabrics (nylon, polyester, spandex, etc.) cannot be composted.

Large quantities of grass or leaves may be more than a small composter can handle. Spread them on the ground in the east garden.

By Kay Argyle, November 12, 2017.

formatting 4/24/2020