Sustainability | Trellis For Tomorrow

The Incredible Power of Composting

by Cailin Coolbaugh | Jun 9, 2023 | Agriculture, Food For All, Learn, Sustainability

With climate change becoming an increasingly more urgent issue, it’s crucial for us to adopt sustainable practices that can make a real difference. One practice that packs a punch is composting. It’s simple, effective, and has a range of environmental benefits. In this blog post, we’ll dive into:

How composting can help fight climate change.
Share some easy tips for homeowners to start their composting journey.
Share how we’re maximizing the benefits of composting across all 26 garden sites at Trellis for Tomorrow.

Feel free to join the conversation and ask questions in the comments or on social media!

Composting: A Climate Change Ally

With the world rapidly burning its remaining carbon, we need all the climate change solutions possible. You may be surprised that composting can be a game-changer in the fight against climate change. When you compost, you’re diverting organic waste from landfills, which is a big deal. Why? One reason is that when organic waste breaks down in landfills, it releases methane—a very powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to our warming climate. When waste is composted instead of added to a landfill, it can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, by as much as 50%.

But the advantages don’t end there.

Benefits Galore!

Composting is like a superhero for the environment. Here are a few more reasons why it’s awesome:

Carbon Capture: Composting helps us combat climate change by reducing harmful emissions. At home, you’re ensuring that organic waste breaks down in a controlled, aerobic environment, rather than a landfill. This means less methane, a potent greenhouse gas, being released into the atmosphere.

Soil, Oh Soil: Compost is like a magic potion for your soil. It enriches it with nutrients, improves its structure, and boosts its water-holding capacity. Plus, when you use compost in your garden or on your lawn, it helps capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, effectively reducing its concentration and mitigating climate change. Isn’t that amazing?

Less Chemicals, More Nature: Compost is a natural fertilizer, chock-full of essential nutrients for plants. By using compost, you can cut back on synthetic fertilizers, which require a lot of energy to produce. And less energy means fewer greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a win-win situation for both your garden and the environment.

Getting Started with Composting at Home

Now that we’ve piqued your interest, let’s talk about how you can kickstart your composting journey. It’s easier than you might think! Here’s what you need to do:

Choose Your Style: First, decide on the composting method that suits your needs and space. Whether it’s a traditional backyard compost pile, a worm-powered vermicomposting setup, or an indoor composting bin, pick the one that works best for you.

Bin There, Done That: Find or purchase a composting bin that allows for proper airflow and moisture control. Don’t worry if you can’t find one—creating a compost pile in a designated area of your yard works just fine.

Toss and Turn: When it comes to what you can compost, kitchen scraps like fruit and veggie peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells are all fair game. Yard waste, such as leaves, grass clippings, and small branches, can join the party too. Just remember to avoid meat, dairy, and oily foods, as they can attract pests.

Mix It Up: Layer your composting materials, alternating between wet (kitchen scraps) and dry (leaves or shredded newspaper) components. Give it a good mix every few weeks to add oxygen and speed up the decomposition process. Think of it as giving your compost a little workout!

Patience and Love: Composting takes time, usually several months to a year, depending on factors like temperature and the materials you use. So be patient and keep an eye on the moisture levels. Give your compost pile some love by turning it every now and then. It’ll pay off, we promise!

Trellis for Tomorrow’s Composting Systems

At Trellis for Tomorrow, our agricultural staff and volunteers are doing some fantastic work managing composting systems across our 26 garden sites. These composting systems efficiently transform garden waste into nutrient-rich compost. Not only does this reduce waste, but it also enriches the soil, making those gardens thrive. Talk about a win for the planet and our communities!

Join the Conversation

We hope this blog post has sparked your interest in composting and its potential to combat climate change. If you have any questions or want to share your composting journey, connect with us on social media or through our website. Let’s work together to create a greener, more sustainable future!

Changing climate, growing solutions.

by Cailin Coolbaugh | Jun 2, 2023 | Grow, Sustainability

Climate change is often thought of as a problem of the future. However, scientists agree it is already affecting our daily lives. Species decline, extreme weather events, and challenges to the resiliency of our current food supply are just a few of the impacts of a warming climate.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the face of these challenges. But the food system, when we intentionally care for and invest in it, can be a powerful part of the solution.

Food has a planet-sized impact. Our current food system’s trail from farm to fork to landfill accounts for as much as 34% of global greenhouse gas emissions. So, what can we do about it? The solution begins in our own backyards.

Trellis for Tomorrow’s network of 25 Food for All gardens—and the members who support it—play a critical role in adapting to and overcoming the challenges of a changing climate. Each time you dig your hands into a garden bed, be it at a Trellis for Tomorrow garden or beyond, you are cultivating a garden on guard against our changing climate. Here’s how…

Gardens on guard:

24/24. A journey of a thousand miles doesn’t just begin with a single step…it also begins with more carbon emissions. The average piece of produce travels over 1,500 miles before landing on your plate. A longer supply chain means more emissions and a shorter shelf-life, contributing to food waste and accelerating climate change. 100% of Trellis for Tomorrow organic produce is delivered within 24 miles from the point of harvest, and almost all is made available to address hunger within 24 hours of harvest. This model treats both the recipients and our environment with greater dignity and respect, leading to better health outcomes for all.

Eat clean and grow green. There are a variety of land management practices, such as no-till soil practices or drip line irrigation systems, that can help sequester more carbon, boost biodiversity and increase crop resilience. All of these tools are important pieces of the puzzle in equipping our communities to mitigate further effects of climate change…and give us yummy, nutrient-dense food to boot!

Open spaces, cool breezes. Every garden we cultivate cools our atmosphere. Through giving nature spaces to thrive, we are filling our region with more welcoming places for flora and fauna alike—instead of parking lots or buildings. Places for plants to flourish helps cool the air we breathe, clean the water we drink, and give insects and wildlife habitat to call home.

Bringing the outside in. Gardening wields a dual power, with its environmental benefits extending beyond climate change mitigation. As green thumbs nurture plants, they absorb carbon dioxide, curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Simultaneously, the act of gardening cultivates a profound connection to nature, fostering a sense of responsibility and gratification, elevating one’s well-being and self-worth.

Save the spray. Say it with us: don’t spray it! One billion pounds of pesticides are applied each year in the US, which can cause direct harm to birds and reduce the number of insects available to them. A healthy ecosystem is key to combatting climate change. Each time you opt for organic gardening practices, like the hand weeding approach taught in all Trellis for Tomorrow gardens, you are mitigating climate change from the ground up.

No one person can fix everything. But each person, as you exemplify, can do something. As a member of our Food for All gardens, you are making a difference—one day in the garden at a time. And that food for thought is something to feel good about.

Looking for more ways to help? Generosity grows our gardens. Learn more about supporting our work with a donation at https://trellis4tomorrow.kindful.com/