One of the more rewarding aspects of doing this garden is how it is changing the habits - not just of the residents here - but also the staff. Nearly every Monday staffers bring me compostables from their kitchen. It was hard at first to get across the idea that I wanted only raw vegetable matter, not meat, sweets, or even cooked stuff as it was often seasoned with salt and fat. But change happens.
Today I fed our Mantis composter with good, clean grass clippings. It gets plenty of coffee grounds, tea bags and old stuff from our various refrigerators. Just last week I closed the first section of the composter and have begun to add stuff to the second compartment. I selected this particular composter as it is big, has the twin compartments and seems sturdy and easy to use. I have only one complaint so far: the clips are very stiff (you better wear gloves when opening or closing!) and after a while they work free, requiring a minor repair.
So, as our garden grows, we grow, too, seeing in our trash another small way to do some good. This has led to yet another, non-gardening related change: now we are recycling cans as well. The local fire department collects them and uses the proceeds to help families burned out of their homes. A win-win for all.
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