Today I visited Vancouver's City Farmer! I have decided it is time to put my large balcony to some good use. At City Farmer I learned some methods to create a garden with a worm compost and hopefully add a rain collection barrel. The worm composter is fairly small and can only compost raw foods, no meats, dairy products, oily foods or grains though. The run off at the bottom of the bin has nutrient rich liquid that I can use to put into my garden! Also I will be looking for a smaller rain barrel, because water is very heavy and was pointed in the direction of Lee Valley to find something suitable for my deck.
Here are four great reasons to start your own worm composter:
1. Cut the Garbage
When you compost kitchen scraps, you reduce the amount of garbage going to our landfills and incinerator.
2. Conserve Water
Compost spread around the bases of trees, shrubs and perennials helps soil retain moisture and reduces the need to water.
3. Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Composting reduces garbage; less garbage means fewer truckloads to the landfill or incinerator. Less material in the landfill means less methane gas generated by garbage rotting there. The net result is reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change.
4. Your plants will Thank You!
Worm compost is full of valuable nutrients. Finished compost will improve your container and garden soil by;
~releasing nutrients slowly
~reducing soil erosion
~reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides
If you are interested in learning more about worm composting go to:
http://homepage.mac.com/cityfarmer/PhotoAlbum23.html
Other good news is that here in Vancouver in the month of May you can visit the Vancouver Composting Site and free of charge pick up one cubic meter of compost to use in your gardens! All you need is to bring containers to put it in or a truck! Compost is for sale year round there as well for about $10 a cubic meter.
http://www.vancouver.ca/engsvcs/solidwaste/landfill/annual.htm
I also learned that within the next couple of years the City of Vancouver will incorporate composting into our garbage pick up, so everyone can start saving their food scraps!
For everyone not living in Vancouver I suggest finding out if such programs are in place where you live and becoming involved!
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2 comments:
It's great to hear that Vancouver is involved in so many programs to improve the environment. Living in the wind power capitol of Canada (Pincher Creek, AB) I would like to see all of Canada's major centers reducing their dependency on non-renewable energy sources. What have you heard about Vancouver's green power options?
Well I will look more into that Rye. I know in Ontario you can go through Bullfrog to buy your hydro and they re-invest the money into wind power energies. I have asked around here and no one seems to know if such a program exists here.
Good question!
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