Conscientious Composting

Tidbit: Did you know that composting a) cuts down on the amount of trash in a landfill, b) reduces the costs and carbon emissions from transporting the material to a landfill, c) enriches the soil with nutrients, d) Increases the soil’s ability to retain moisture, thus helping to prevent erosion, and e) prevents and suppresses plant diseases and pests? Also, composting can help capture carbon thus this activity helps to reduce our carbon footprint.

What is composting?

Composting is nature’s way of recycling. It involves us collecting organic waste—like food scraps and yard trimmings—and allowing it to naturally decay while providing it air and some water to keep it moist so that the microorganisms break down the organic material. The result is a dark, crumbly, nutrient-rich material called “compost.” This is very good for use as a natural fertilizer for plants.

Pile Composting

This method involves creating a pile or bin where organic materials are mixed and allowed to decompose with the help of air and microorganisms.

Materials you can use: Grass clippings, kitchen scraps, and vegetable peels.

Prohibited Materials: Meat products, dairy, pet litter or pet waste.

The mix ratio: Combine 2 to 3 parts “brown” material (dry leaves, cardboard) with 1 part “green” material (kitchen scraps, peels) by volume.

Maintenance: Keep the pile damp and turn the pile every 2–3 weeks for fast results, or less frequently if you prefer a slower composting process. The turning prevents the development of anaerobic conditions (low to no oxygen) which we don’t want to happen for healthy composting.

Watch: The following video shows Vaishnavi Sariputi of the Fairfax Sai Center demonstrating how she composts. This video was taken on Earth Day in 2022. The audio is faint, but just watch. The steps of the process are clear.

Trench Composting

The following video by brother Venkat Iyer from the Hampton Roads Sai Center beautifully illustrates the method of Trench Composting.

Trench Composting is a simple and effective way to recycle kitchen food scraps. Instead of using a compost bin or pile, food scraps are buried directly in a small hole or trench in the garden, where naturally occurring soil organisms, fungi, and earthworms break them down over time.

As the scraps decompose, they return valuable organic matter and nutrients to the soil, improving its structure, moisture retention, and fertility. Once the hole is covered, the process happens naturally underground with little odor and without attracting most pests.

By rotating the burial location around the garden, you create rich, healthy soil while keeping food waste out of landfills. It is an easy composting method that requires no special equipment and only a few minutes of work.

The below photos by sister Shailaja Rabindran, Region 2 Envirocare Coordinator, demonstrate the simple steps of this method.

More references for composting

• EPA: Composting at Home – (https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home#backsteps)
• NRDC: Composting 101 – (https://www.nrdc.org/stories/composting-101)