Tag: composting

Halloween pumpkin waste is a methane problem, but chefs and farmers have solutions

Don’t let your Halloween pumpkin haunt the landfill this November.More than 1 billion pounds (454 million kilograms) of pumpkins rot in U.S. landfills each year after Halloween, according to the Department of Energy.Video above: Halloween festivities in full swing in Salem, MassachusettsYours doesn’t have to go to waste. Experts told us your pumpkins can be eaten, composted or even fed to animals. Here’s how. If you’re carving a jack-o’-lantern, don’t throw away the skin or innards — every part is edible.After carving, you can cube the excess flesh — the thick part between the outer skin and the inner pulp that holds the seeds — for soups and stews, says Carleigh Bodrug, a chef known for cooking with common food scraps. You can also puree it and add a tablespoon to your dog’s dinner for extra nutrients. And pumpkin chunks can be frozen for future use.”The seeds are a nutritional gold mine,” Bodrug said. They’re packed with protein, magnesium, zinc and healthy fats, according to a 2022 study in the journal Plants.One of Bodrug’s recipes involves removing the seeds, rinsing and roasting them with cinnamon for a crunchy snack or salad topper. Then you can use the stringy guts to make a pumpkin puree for muffins. This version differs from canned purees in grocery stores — which typically use a different type of pumpkin or squash — because carving pumpkins have stringier innards and a milder flavor. A carving pumpkin’s guts can still be used for baking — you’ll just have to amp up the seasoning to boost the flavor.If you don’t want to eat your pumpkins, you can donate them to a local farm, which might use them to feed pigs, chickens and other animals. Edible parts should be collected while you’re carving and before they’re painted, decorated or left on your porch for weeks. Paint and wax aren’t food-safe, and bacteria and mold can grow on the skin in outdoor climates.Once you’ve cooked what you can and donated what’s safe to feed, composting the rest is the easiest way to keep it out of the landfill.”That way, even though they’re not safe to eat, they can still give back to the earth,” Bodrug said. Composting pumpkins keeps them out of methane-emitting landfills and turns them into nutrient-rich soil instead. You can do this at home or drop them off at a local farm, compost collection bin or drop-off site.”A large percentage of what ends up going to the landfill is stuff that could have been composted,” said Dante Sclafani, compost coordinator at Queens County Farm in New York. “So even just cutting down something like pumpkins could really help curb how many garbage bags you’re putting out every week.”Before composting, remove any candles, plastic, glitter, or other decorations — they can contaminate the compost. A little glitter or paint won’t ruin the pile, but it’s best to get it as clean as possible before tossing it in. Then, chop up the pumpkin into 1-inch (2.5-centimeter) pieces so it can break down more easily.”Pumpkins are full of water, so it’s important to maintain a good balance of dried leaves, wood chips, sawdust, shredded newspaper, cardboard, straw — anything that’s a dry organic material — in your compost bin,” Sclafani said. If you don’t maintain this balance, your compost might start to stink.According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a healthy compost pile should include a mix of “greens” — like pumpkin scraps and food waste — and “browns” like dry leaves, straw or cardboard, in roughly a 3-to-1 ratio. That balance helps the pile break down faster and prevents odors.And if your pumpkin’s been sitting on the porch all month? That’s actually ideal. “It’s never too far gone for compost,” Sclafani said. “Even if it’s mushy or moldy, that actually helps, because the fungus speeds up decomposition.””Composting anything organic is better than throwing it out because you’re not creating more refuse in landfills, you’re not creating methane gas,” said Laura Graney, the farm’s education director.Graney said autumn on the farm is the perfect opportunity to teach kids about composting since it gives them a sense of power in the face of big environmental challenges. “Even though they’re little, composting helps them feel like they can make a difference,” Graney said. “They take that message home to their families, and that’s how we spread the word.”

Don’t let your Halloween pumpkin haunt the landfill this November.

More than 1 billion pounds (454 million kilograms) of pumpkins rot in U.S. landfills each year after Halloween, according to the Department of Energy.

Video above: Halloween festivities in full swing in Salem, Massachusetts

Yours doesn’t have to go to waste. Experts told us your pumpkins can be eaten, composted or even fed to animals. Here’s how.

If you’re carving a jack-o’-lantern, don’t throw away the skin or innards — every part is edible.

After carving, you can cube the excess flesh — the thick part between the outer skin and the inner pulp that holds the seeds — for soups and stews, says Carleigh Bodrug, a chef known for cooking with common food scraps. You can also puree it and add a tablespoon to your dog’s dinner for extra nutrients. And pumpkin chunks can be frozen for future use.

“The seeds are a nutritional gold mine,” Bodrug said. They’re packed with protein, magnesium, zinc and healthy fats, according to a 2022 study in the journal Plants.

One of Bodrug’s recipes involves removing the seeds, rinsing and roasting them with cinnamon for a crunchy snack or salad topper. Then you can use the stringy guts to make a pumpkin puree for muffins. This version differs from canned purees in grocery stores — which typically use a different type of pumpkin or squash — because carving pumpkins have stringier innards and a milder flavor. A carving pumpkin’s guts can still be used for baking — you’ll just have to amp up the seasoning to boost the flavor.

If you don’t want to eat your pumpkins, you can donate them to a local farm, which might use them to feed pigs, chickens and other animals.

Edible parts should be collected while you’re carving and before they’re painted, decorated or left on your porch for weeks. Paint and wax aren’t food-safe, and bacteria and mold can grow on the skin in outdoor climates.

Once you’ve cooked what you can and donated what’s safe to feed, composting the rest is the easiest way to keep it out of the landfill.

“That way, even though they’re not safe to eat, they can still give back to the earth,” Bodrug said.

Composting pumpkins keeps them out of methane-emitting landfills and turns them into nutrient-rich soil instead. You can do this at home or drop them off at a local farm, compost collection bin or drop-off site.

“A large percentage of what ends up going to the landfill is stuff that could have been composted,” said Dante Sclafani, compost coordinator at Queens County Farm in New York. “So even just cutting down something like pumpkins could really help curb how many garbage bags you’re putting out every week.”

Before composting, remove any candles, plastic, glitter, or other decorations — they can contaminate the compost. A little glitter or paint won’t ruin the pile, but it’s best to get it as clean as possible before tossing it in. Then, chop up the pumpkin into 1-inch (2.5-centimeter) pieces so it can break down more easily.

“Pumpkins are full of water, so it’s important to maintain a good balance of dried leaves, wood chips, sawdust, shredded newspaper, cardboard, straw — anything that’s a dry organic material — in your compost bin,” Sclafani said. If you don’t maintain this balance, your compost might start to stink.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a healthy compost pile should include a mix of “greens” — like pumpkin scraps and food waste — and “browns” like dry leaves, straw or cardboard, in roughly a 3-to-1 ratio. That balance helps the pile break down faster and prevents odors.

And if your pumpkin’s been sitting on the porch all month? That’s actually ideal. “It’s never too far gone for compost,” Sclafani said. “Even if it’s mushy or moldy, that actually helps, because the fungus speeds up decomposition.”

“Composting anything organic is better than throwing it out because you’re not creating more refuse in landfills, you’re not creating methane gas,” said Laura Graney, the farm’s education director.

Graney said autumn on the farm is the perfect opportunity to teach kids about composting since it gives them a sense of power in the face of big environmental challenges.

“Even though they’re little, composting helps them feel like they can make a difference,” Graney said. “They take that message home to their families, and that’s how we spread the word.”

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November 1, 2025
What should I do with my leaves in Denver?
An autumn scramble in Ruby Hill. Nov. 12, 2024.

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Are dead leaves piling up in your yard? Have squirrels already eaten your Halloween pumpkins?

Denverite reader Niña R. used a city program to dump her leaves last year, and she wanted to know: “Would you be able to find out and share when and where Denver is recycling/composting leaves?”

Despite city budget cuts, the program is still happening. If you need to ditch your dead debris, the city of Denver has you covered, as do some other municipalities we’ll list later.

You can also use a lawnmower to turn leaves into mulch for a grass lawn. Many authoritative sources agree that this is unlikely to harm your grass. More on that later.

As a reminder: Many cities prohibit or discourage people from blowing leaves into the streets.

Have a question for Denverite? Ask it!

Start with your compost bin:

First, if you have a compost bin, you can throw your leaves and pumpkins in there. Denver offers compost bins to all solid waste customers. The city’s compost program also accepts paper leaf bags.

Ace Hardware is providing free compostable paper leaf bags. If you want a free five-pack, you can download a coupon at the Be a Smart Ash website.

But if your compost bin is full, you have other options.

Denver residents can use LeafDrop sites:

On weekdays from Oct. 6 – Nov. 21, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Denver residents can go to the following locations.
- Cherry Creek Transfer Station (the only place that accepts hitched trailers that are 6 feet in length or less), 7301 E. Jewell Ave. (Enter on Jewell.)
- Havana Nursery: 10450 Smith Rd. (Enter on Smith.)
- Central Platte Campus, 1271 W. Bayaud Ave. (Enter through the gates at Bayaud and Navajo, go past the Denver Animal Shelter to dumpsters in front of Building 2 on the right.)
The only weekend dates available are Nov. 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Bruce Randolph High School, E. 40th Avenue and Steele Street.
- Cherry Creek Transfer Station, 7301 E. Jewell Ave. Enter on Jewell. (This is the only Denver location to accept trailers up to 6 feet in length.)
- Kennedy High School, Newland St. and Brown Pl.
- Sloan’s Lake Northwest Parking Lot, W. Byron Pl. and Yates St.
- Veterans Park, S. Vine St. and E. Iowa Ave.
All leaves must be in paper bags.

What about other cities?

Some of Denver’s suburbs also offer free leaf recycling. Keep in mind that these sites are generally limited to local residents and may require proof of residency

Arvada will accept residents’ leaves at Stegner Sports Complex, 11200 W. 58th Ave. The program is running Nov. 8-22, except Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Broomfield accepted residents’ leaves and other yard waste at its Tree Branch Recycling Facility. It’s open Wednesdays 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Golden will collect yard waste curbside from Nov. 3-7. It must be uncontaminated in certified compostable bags, or in bundles or in your organics cart.

Douglas County accepts residents’ leaves on Saturdays from Oct. 25 through Nov. 15 at 1400 Capice Dr. in Castle Rock. Leaves, slash and grass clippings will be accepted Oct. 25; only leaves will be accepted after that.

Highlands Ranch will accept residents’ yard waste on Nov. 15 at Redstone Park, 3280 Redstone Park Cir.

Westminster will accept residents’ leaves and pumpkins at 10001 Alkire St. on Saturday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Dec. 6, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Some cities, such as Aurora, don’t advertise a free disposal option. Aurora instead encourages people to sign up for a paid service.

Do I have to do this at all?

No. If you are able, you could compost the leaves yourself, or just use a lawnmower to turn them into mulch for a grass lawn.

A study from Cornell University found that a site in New York was actually healthier with leaf mulch. An article from Purdue University warns that leaving a thick layer of leaves can kill grass and invite mold, but mulching can improve the soil condition.

“It is important not to mulch in thick layers of leaves all at once, but instead shred them a little at a time,” the Purdue article stated. But “[a]side from saving time and money in removing foliage from the grass, mulching also saves time and money in the spring by keeping grass healthy.”

Local sources agree. “The best thing to do with the leaves on your lawn is to mow right over them and leave them on the surface. It’s much easier than raking them, plus it’s good for your lawn!” reads an article from the Pueblo County Extension office.

“Grass clippings and leaves make good mulch when applied dry or when applied gradually in thin layers and allowed to dry between applications,” states another extension office.

Denverite editor Andy Kenney got tired of bagging his leaves years ago and has mulched them instead. It doesn’t seem to hurt anything.

Denverite editor Andrew Kenney contributed to this article. See if you can find where.
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October 24, 2025
Emerald Ecovations Partners With Octoen, an Advanced Composting Machine Manufacturer

New partnership allows businesses to turn food waste and compostables into fertilizer within 24 hours

HUNTINGTON, N.Y., May 20, 2025 (Newswire.com)
–
Emerald Ecovations, a leader in sustainable solutions for foodservice, facilities, and packaging, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Octoen, an innovative manufacturer of electric composting systems that turn food waste and approved compostables into high-efficiency compost fertilizer within 12-24 hours. This partnership positions Emerald Ecovations as the authorized dealer for Octoen’s cutting-edge composting systems across the United States, furthering both companies’ commitment to sustainability and improving the overburdened wastestream.

“As we continue to see the failure of single use recycling and the public push back in all states across the USA on landfills, it is time to step up. By integrating and combining Emerald Ecovations’ compostable foodservice disposables and Tree-Free Towel and Tissue products with food waste into the Octoen’s composting systems, we are creating the most comprehensive and efficient solution for sustainable waste management in the food service industry,” said Ralph Bianculli, CEO at Emerald Ecovations. “This collaboration not only diverts food waste and disposables from landfills, but also transforms it into valuable compost, enriching the soil and promoting a circular economy. This platform now offers our clients, their waste management partners, and their sustainability professionals the most advanced solution to closing the loop and advancing their ESG scope 3 goals.”

Octoen’s state-of-the-art composting systems utilize innovative technology to accelerate the composting process, efficiently breaking down food scraps and Emeralds Ecovations compostable products into nutrient-rich compost. The state of the art systems are designed to be compact and user-friendly, making them suitable for every size establishment from health care, B&I food operators, sports & entertainment venues, and state and local municipalities.

Emerald Ecovations manufactures over 350 sustainable solutions for businesses, including a wide range of compostable foodservice and facility products including plates, cups, cutlery, takeout containers, and Tree-Free commercial towels and tissue products. Made from plant-based materials, these products offer a sustainable alternative to traditional single-use plastics, and paper products allowing businesses to reach their zero waste goals.

“The partnership between Octoen and Emerald Ecovations offers a seamless and effective solution for businesses seeking to minimize food and packaging waste and embrace sustainable practices,” said Can Seremet, CEO of Octoen. “Marrying best-in-class compostables with best-in-class composting machines is a turnkey solution.”

Beginning in June 2025, businesses will be able to bring Octoen’s composting systems into their facilities, restaurants, venues, and more. For more information about the partnership and to explore Octoen’s composting solutions, visit EmeraldEcovations.com/Octoen or contact their sales team directly.

Contact Information

Alex Viola
Director of Marketing and Communications
marketing@emeraldecovations.com
5164960000

Source: Emerald Ecovations

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May 20, 2025
Fallen Leaves: What to Do With the Leaves on Your Property

3. Create an out-of-sight leaf pile.

If you have prying neighbors or an HOA to worry about, move leaves to less visible areas, for example from front to rear, suggests Fell. “Make a pile in the corner of your yard, let it rot, and use the leaf compost later to feed your flowers,” says Camu. “Leaf compost is absolute gold, and it’s literally that easy to make: Just let it rot in a pile.”

4. Mulch some of the leaves into your lawn.

You’ll see a lot of advice to just mow leaves right into the lawn, but Chris Hardy, a senior associate at Sasaki, an interdisciplinary design firm based in Boston, cautions against doing this. “When fall leaf drop happens, the density of the leaves is more than lawns can handle,” he says. “If you have a lot of leaves in your lawn, I would capture that in a bag and then spread it in your perennial areas instead.” Hardy also notes that he skips mowing even a light layer of leaves into grass because he likes to let grass grow long in the fall so it can maximize its storage of sugars over the winter. In other seasons, go ahead and mow right over a light leaf litter, but be sure you have a mulching mower (sometimes you need to buy a special blade.)

5. Rake selectively.

Above: Paths should be cleared of leaves, which turn slick and slippery in wet weather.

To ensure your yard looks cared for, rake the leaves from the most visible or used lawn areas, like the front yard, says Fell, adding. “It’s also important to move leaves from entryways and paths for safety as the weather worsens.”

6. Then put the leaves into garden beds.

You can use the whole leaves in some of your beds as mulch. Hardy suggests, “Any place where you’re putting down mulch as a weed suppressant is a great candidate to leave your leaves whole in place; for instance, under hedges, underneath shrubby landscapes, or in tree pits.” That said, do not lay whole leaves over places where you’re trying to get a perennial understory going.

7. Use caution when covering perennial beds.

In spring, Fell says she tries to remember where new plants or spring ephemerals are and moves leaves aside, so as not to inhibit their growth. Further north, Hardy says he avoids using whole leaves in perennial beds altogether, because when snow presses down on leaves, it can create a tightly-knit layer that can smother smaller perennials and groundcovers. Instead, he shreds leaves and scatters them amongst perennials.

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October 29, 2024
Compost carts are coming to these Denver neighborhoods next
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The compost-loving people of Ruby Hill, Harvey Park and a few other neighborhoods need only wait a few more weeks.
A compost bin in a Capitol Hill alleyway. Sept. 1, 2023.

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

I know that every Denverite wakes up each morning with one pressing question on their mind: “When will compost collection start in my neighborhood?”

I have good news for residents of Bear Valley, College View-South Platte, Fort Logan, Harvey Park, Mar Lee, Marston, Overland and Ruby Hill. The answer is in the next few weeks.

Those neighbors should look for a letter in the mail explaining the program and letting them choose their cart size. Deliveries will begin in September.

It’s been a slow rollout for composting.

City Council passed a bill in 2022 upping recycling pickup frequency and bringing free weekly compost collection citywide, subsidized by new fees on trash pickup.

While the policy affects the whole city, rollout has been slow; the first neighborhoods got carts at the start of January 2023, but the city does not expect to cover the whole city until 2025.

This next set of neighborhoods will bring compost cart distribution to about 54 percent of the city.

Here are more details on the program, plus a comprehensive guide to all things compost.

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August 16, 2024
Leaf Mulch: How to Make and Use Leaf Mulch in the Garden

Leaf Mulch: How to Make and Use Leaf Mulch in the Garden

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June 3, 2024
These Denver neighborhoods are getting compost bins next

A compost bin in a Capitol Hill alleyway. Sept. 1, 2023.

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

It’s been a slow rollout of Denver’s new pay-as-you-throw trash program.

Pay-as-you-throw expands composting citywide, adds more frequent recycling pickup and charges residents based on the size of their trash bin.

City Council passed the climate policy in June of 2022, and it took effect in January of 2023. But it’s taken over a year for the city to distribute compost bins across the city — an effort that is still ongoing.

Here are the neighborhoods next up for compost bins: Athmar Park, Auraria, Baker, Barnum, Barnum West, Civic Center, Lincoln Park, Sun Valley, Union Station, Valderde, Villa Park and Westwood, as well as parts of the Central Business District and West Colfax.

Residents of single-family homes and apartment buildings with up to seven units should keep an eye out for a letter in the mail explaining the service and giving residents a chance to request their compost bin size. Residents will also receive a pail for the kitchen to keep food scraps and a compost guide.

Why are some neighborhoods getting compost bins earlier than others?

The city is prioritizing distributing compost bins to parts of the city with the lowest trash diversion rates.

That’s because pay-as-your-throw aims to incentivize more compost and recycling and less trash. Residents who haven’t received compost bins yet will get a credit on their trash pickup invoice.

Denver will not finish distributing compost bins until 2025. Since the program began in 2023, trash diversion rates have increased by 3 percent to 26 percent of waste.

Here’s everything you need to know about the program, plus our comprehensive guide to composting.

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May 23, 2024
The Art of Garden Etiquette: 10 Ways to Show Respect to Neighbors – Gardenista

It’s always a good idea to give the gift of courtesy to your neighbors. Even if they’re not the type to fly into a yard rage, they’ll still appreciate a little kindness in the garden.

What do the basic tenets of neighborliness require? Keep your yard tidy (dazzling horticultural displays are always welcome, but not mandatory). Mow your grass (if you have any), rake the leaves, and try not to leave stuff like bikes, toys, and garden tools littering the lawn. A good rule of thumb is to consider how you’d like your neighbor’s yard to look, and then apply it to your own. Oh, your standards aren’t that high? Then try imagining yourself as a discriminating person with a penchant for orderliness and good taste.

City gardeners, you’re not off the hook. The neighbors whose windows overlook your backyard or balcony may be a tad jealous of your outdoor space. If you can’t invite them over for a barbecue, at least keep your outdoor space looking decent (and, OK, enviable).

For garden etiquette insights we talked with Melissa Ozawa, the former gardens editor at Martha Stewart Living (and now the director of content and communications at the Perfect Earth Project). Ozawa herself tends a small outdoor space in New York City and also gardens upstate in Columbia County. Here are 10 common-sense good-neighbor suggestions:

Respect Property Lines

Above: Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista. See more of this garden at Garden Visit: At Home with Architect Kelly Haegglund in Mill Valley, CA.

Prune your trees, shrubs, and vines so they don’t encroach on your neighbor’s space. “And keep safety in mind,” says Ozawa. “Remove any big branches that look damaged or diseased—a storm could make them more precarious, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.” Trimming overhanging branches also helps prevent your leaves from falling into a neighbor’s yard—and you don’t want your leaves in the neighbor’s yard.

Plant Natives

Above: Sunflowers (Helianthus). Photograph by Britt Willoughby Dyer. For more, see Field Guide: Sunflowers.

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March 12, 2024
Composting in the Winter: Tips to Ensure Mature Compost in Spring

It’s still important to keep your ratio of “greens” (moist materials, including kitchen scraps) and “browns” (dry materials, leaves, shredded paper and cardboard) during the winter months. Merkleson keeps a separate pile of leaves that he adds to his bin whenever he puts in kitchen scraps.

5. Don’t turn it.

When the temperatures drop, you should stop turning the pile because you’ll be contributing to heat loss. “Once the temperatures in the pile go below 40°F, there is not much microbial activity, so no need to turn,” adds Helen Atthowe, the author of The Ecological Farm. That said, if you hit a warm spell, go ahead and flip the pile to aerate, says Merkelson. Note: If you maintain a hot compost pile (most homeowners have a “cold” pile), the Growit Buildit! blog, in a tutorial about hot composting in winter, recommends continuing to turn your pile once a week.

6. Cover up.

Above: Photograph by Meg Stewart via Flickr.

Covering the pile can also help retain heat. Merkleson says you can cover your pile with leaves, cardboard, or straw to keep it warmer longer, but avoid covering the active pile with a plastic tarp, so it can breathe and receive moisture. Atthow notes that there are felt-like compost covers you can buy that breathe better than plastic tarps, as well. If you’re fortunate enough to have a stash of mature compost, it’s fine to leave it outside to overwinter, but Merkleson recommends you do cover that with a tarp. If not, “rain, sleet, snow washes through the compost and leeches out the nutrients,” he cautions.

7. Consider a backdoor bin.

Above: Photograph by Sue Thompson via Flickr.

“It’s not always necessary to go out in bad weather to keep composting,” says Merkelson, who personally doesn’t like to trek out to his pile in the worst winter weather. Instead, he throws food waste into an indoor Bokashi bin (an anaerobic method of composting). But Merkleson notes you don’t need a Bokashi bucket to avoid trips to your compost pile. Take advantage of the cold temperatures and place a food waste bucket outside, preferably next to the back door. “If it is freezing or close to freezing, you can just leave your food scraps in a sealed container for weeks or even months” until you’re ready to take them out to the pile, he says.

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December 19, 2023

How to Compost: 10 Simple Steps

The satisfaction you feel as you turn yard and kitchen waste into organic fertilizer that nourishes the soil, as well as your vegetables, plants, and flowers, is the reward for putting in the effort to learn how to compost.

However, the thought of learning how to compost can be intimidating. The first time I started composting, I was great at growing flies – but not compost. I did not know how to compost, and felt like composting wasn’t for me. It was too hard, too stinky, and there were too many bugs. Can you relate to any of those feelings?

Fast forward a couple of years. I decided to enroll in Master Gardener classes where two crucial things occurred:

I learned the correct way to compost from a local composting expert.
Volunteering at the demonstration garden gave me hands-on experience learning how to compost.

With this newfound knowledge and experience, I was ready to try again. I applied what I learned and put that knowledge to work, and guess what? I was successful and had fresh compost for my garden. Since that time, I’ve added hundreds of pounds of homemade fertilizer to my garden beds.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more information.

How to Compost: 10 Simple Steps

There are as many methods of composting as there are gardeners, but this is the method that works for me using the type of compost bin offered through my city for $5 each. This method can also be adapted to other types of bins.

1. Choose a location to compost

Here are a few necessities for the location:

Plenty of room – the bins I use are 3 feet wide and 2 ½ feet tall. Plan on room for at least 2 bins. Ideally, there is 3 to 4 feet clearance in front of the bins.
Access to water – wetting down the compost with a hose helps speed up the process, especially in dry climates like the low desert of Arizona.
Shade – prevents compost from drying out as quickly and it’s easier for you to work in.
Wheelbarrow access – room to maneuver in and out is helpful.

2. Obtain compost bins

The bins need to be around 3 feet wide and 2 to 3 feet deep (smaller bins won’t heat up as well), have lids, holes drilled in the sides for airflow, and bottomless. For the method I use, you need more than one bin. For smaller yards, 2 bins work fine. Larger yards could use 3, 4, or more bins.

Call your local city to see if they offer bins. This type of bin may also be found online on places like OfferUp and Craigslist. If you live in the City of Mesa (AZ), call 480-644-2221 to request a bin.

3. Gather the correct tools for composting

The right tools make composting much easier. I use the following tools: (click on the name to see the ones I use on Amazon).

4. Learn what and what not to compost

Do Compost:	Don’t Compost:	Compost with Care:
Leaves	Meat / bones	Bermuda grass clippings
Grass clippings	Dairy	Citrus peels (take a long time to break down)
Coffee grounds	Animal waste	Ashes (adds alkalinity)
Vegetable scraps	Diseased plants
Egg shells	Oil
Plant material	Weeds with seeds
Fruit and peels

Lawn Alternatives: 10 Low-Water-Use Groundcovers for Hot Climates

5. Understand the difference between green and brown materials

Green Materials	Brown Materials
Nitrogen-rich, wet, colorful	Carbon-rich, dry
Grass clippings	Dry brown leaves
Coffee and tea grounds	Egg shells
Green garden trimmings	Hay and straw
Fruit scraps, peels	Shredded paper
Vegetable scraps, peels	Dryer lint

How to Kill Bermuda Grass Without Chemicals Before Planting a Garden

How to Become a
Self-Sufficient Gardener

6. Fill the bins

Place alternating layers of green and brown material. Aim for 3 parts brown material for every 1 part of green material. When using food waste, make sure it is buried under a layer of browns to avoid problems with flies.

Mist the layers with water as you add them to assure that the pile is adequately moist. It should have the consistency of a wrung-out sponge.

7. Observe the compost

As decomposition starts, the pile begins to heat up. This is where the thermometer comes in handy. As long as your compost is nice and hot (110℉ – 160℉), you don’t need to do much. Once it cools (below 100℉), go to the next step.

See troubleshooting tips (below) if you aren’t sure what is happening inside the bins.

8. Rotate the compost through your bins

Cooled-down compost that isn’t broken down completely needs to have air and water added back into it to heat it back up.

Use the pitchfork and shovel to move the green and brown materials from the cooled bin into an empty bin, re-moistening as you go. Break up any clumps of grass or leaves. No empty bin? Use the pitchfork to turn the material inside the bin, wetting it as you work.

Once all material is rotated through, watch the pile – it should begin to heat back up (110℉ – 160℉) within a day or so. When the temperatures drop back down again (below 100℉), repeat this step. Once the compost has an earthy odor and is dark brown and crumbly, the process is complete.

This step is why having more than one bin is so important. Ideally, the compost rotates through the bins and then is complete. After moving the material out of a bin, refill it with new green and brown materials to begin the process again. Keep moving the materials through the bins, leaving one bin open to rotate the compost into.

9. Use the compost

Success! A full bin of completed compost is gold for your garden. Use the shovel, pails, and wheelbarrow to scoop the completed compost and add it to your garden beds.

If desired, use a soil sifter like this one from Amazon to remove any large pieces from your completed compost. Toss the large pieces back into the compost pile to finish breaking down.

10. Be patient with yourself as you learn how to compost

The tricky part of learning how to compost is that at any given time, you will be doing several of these steps with different bins.

Be patient with yourself and pay attention to what is going on in each bin. Learn from your mistakes and build on your successes.

Troubleshooting Tips

Symptom	Problem	Solution
Many flies	Green items or food exposed to air	Cover pile with brown materials.
Wet compost – not heating up	Add more brown material	Transfer to a new bin and layer in more brown materials. Do not wet down between layers.
Dry compost – not heating up	Materials may be too large, needs more green	Transfer to a new bin and layer in more green materials. Wet down between layers. Cut down larger items if necessary.
Bad odor like rotten eggs	Materials too wet, not enough oxygen, or too compacted	Transfer to a new bin and layer in more brown materials.
Bad odor like ammonia	Not enough brown materials	Transfer to a new bin and layer in more brown materials.
Compost heats up and then cools down	Compost needs turned	Transfer to a new bin, moistening layers as you go.
Warm only in the middle	Compost pile too small	Aim for the compost pile to be 3 feet wide and 2 ½ to 3 feet deep.
Matted layers of leaves or grass	Material won’t break down, will become slimy	Avoid thick layers – break up layers with pitchfork and remix the pile adding in brown materials.

Angela Judd

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November 24, 2023

Fall Fertilizing: How to Prepare Your Lawn, Shrubs, Trees, and Perennials for a Restorative Winter Sleep – Gardenista

In addition to fall being a great time to get new plants in the ground, it can also be an ideal season to fertilize your lawn, trees, shrubs, and perennials. But you have to do it correctly: During these cooler months, plants are slipping into dormancy and not actively growing. Depending on how severe or mild your winter is, they can be anywhere between completely dormant to growing very, very slowly. If you fertilize right, you’ll be giving them the best send-off to their winter sleep.

Before you start, you may want to get in touch with your local cooperative extension. They can help you get a soil test (you can’t help your plants if you don’t know what they need). And they can tell you the first frost date for your area (for practical purposes, fertilizing should be done before the first frost). They know your climate best and can give you advice specific to your location.

Note: We don’t recommend using synthetic fertilizers because of the large environmental impacts associated with them, including water contamination from run off and decimation of soil microbes. Restoring soil health naturally should always be the first option.

Here’s what you need to know about fertilizing (naturally) in the fall.

For the Lawn

Above: Mulching your grass clippings and fallen leaves turns them into free, non-toxic fertilizer for your lawn. Photograph by Eric Ozawa, from Ask the Expert: Edwina von Gal, on How to Have a Healthy, Toxic-Free Lawn.

The best and easiest way to fertilize is to do one last mow with a mulching mower and leave the clippings on the lawn. Mulching the clippings back into the lawn can provide up to 50% of the needed nutrients for the grass. To make up the rest of what your lawn needs, there are two low-cost and environmentally sustainable ways to fertilize. First, you can aerate the lawn and top dress with compost. Second, if you have fallen leaves, mulch them into the lawn as well. Just remember to rake them around so they aren’t too thick. It is a smart idea to keep the nutrients created on your property, on your property. (See Ask the Expert: Doug Tallamy Explains Why (and How to) Leave the Leaves.)

A more expensive, less eco-conscious option is to use organic lawn fertilizer. While organic fertilizers are certainly better than chemical fertilizers, there are still manufacturing and transportation costs to the environment. If you go this route, follow the directions exactly. More is not better.

For Trees and Shrubs:

Above: Leave the leaves around your trees. Photograph by Janet Mavec, from Garden Visit: Jewelry Designer Janet Mavec’s Bird Haven Farm in NJ.

A closed loop is the best type of fertilizer. Keep the leaves from the trees under them. They have everything the trees need—for free. They help on so many levels. They act as mulch and keep the moisture in the soil, which in turn helps the microbes that break down the leaves, making their nutrients available to the trees. The leaves also become winter homes for good bugs. Just be sure to keep the root flare exposed; piling the leaves up the trunk can cause can cause the bark to rot. No trees on your property? Organic compost is your next best choice.

For shrubs that were healthy over the growing season, a leaf well around the base will be enough. If they didn’t do well over the summer, they may need a bit of help. Aerate the soil and add some compost and water well.

If you want to add store-bought organic fertilizer to your tree or shrub, you may want to consider consulting with an arborist first. It’s easy to over-fertilize and cause damage. Leave it to the professionals.

For Perennials:

Above: Don’t apply store-bought fertilizer to your perennials in the fall; this can bring them out of dormancy too early. Photograph by Joy Yagid, from Time to Thin Out the Garden? How to Divide (and Multiply) Popular Perennials.

Yes, leaves again. Really. And compost. Both the leaves and the compost break down slowly. Nobody is in a rush here, it’s winter and nothing is growing. The idea is that the nutrients will be ready and in a form the plant can use once it wakes up in the spring. If you’re concerned about burying your plants too deep in leaves, lightly cover what remains of your almost dormant plants, but pack the leaves thickly around them.

There are no other real options. If you use synthetic fertilizer while they are going into dormancy, they could come out of dormancy early during an extended warm spell—and then when a cold snap follows, the new growth may be killed. This can weaken the plant, causing it to fail to thrive in the spring or even die.

Our gardens are part of a larger ecosystem, so it’s important to prioritize soil health and natural methods over synthetic fertilizers. Aeration of compacted soil and addition of organic matter will have a better and a longer-lasting effect on plant health.

See also:

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November 7, 2023
How to Leave the Leaves: Tips from Expert Doug Tallamy

As leaves fall and the call to “leave the leaves” rises—from major news outlets to your next door neighbor—you may find yourself scratching your head as to how, exactly, to leave the leaves.

The slogan is a fun way to get people to consider a serious problem. We are in the sixth great extinction event in the history of the earth, which is directly affecting our food web. When one species goes extinct or its population declines severely, it can have a negative ripple effect on other species and the ecosystem as a whole. How does this tie into leaving the leaves in your own backyard? How does it help? And how do you do it?

Doug Tallamy can explain. He is an entomologist, a conservationist, and a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. He’s even written a book, Nature’s Best Hope, which is a blueprint for saving the earth one backyard at a time. (It’s on Gardenista contributor Melissa Ozawa’s list of favorite gardening books: see In Gratitude: How a Gift from a Boss Led to a Love for Gardening Books.) Below, Doug gives us the low-down on leaving the leaves.

Photography by Joy Yagid.

Q: Why do you think people don’t leave the leaves?

Above: We’ve been conditioned to think that we have to clean up the leaves, but fallen leaves are not only beautiful, they help the soil.

A: We do what we observed when we were kids. It’s been part of our culture to get rid of the leaves. You either burn them or you put them out in the curb for the city to take away, but you have to take them off your lawn and do something with them.

Q: What’s the easiest way to start?

A: Well, there is a conflict between having that perfect lawn and and the leaves that fall on the lawn. So people say “I gotta get the leaves off the lawn.” [The solution is to reduce] the area you have in lawn. The perfect way to start doing that is to create beds under the trees that you have. And you do that by raking the leaves into those beds. And in the beginning when you’re trying to actually smother the grass, [to make the beds] you rake a lot of leaves, you make it pretty thick. My son bought a house and the first fall, he called me up and said, “Dad, I got too many leaves. What should I do with them?’” I said: “Put them in your flower beds.” He said: “I don’t have enough flower beds.” I said: “Exactly.” You increase the amount of flower beds and that’s where the leaves go. The extra ones that just don’t fit in those flower beds can go into a compost heap.

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November 1, 2023
Kitchen And Bath Industry Show Awards Feature New Products With Wellness And Sustainability Benefits

The annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show is the top expo for spotting new products and trends for … [+] residential projects.

Kitchen & Bath Industry Show

Correction: A previous version of this story listed Beko’s dishwashers as being made with recycled bottles. It is actually their clothes washers that are.

The annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show is always a great event for checking out the latest products and trends in the residential building, design and remodeling spheres. That show happened last week in Las Vegas, and its annual Best Products awards, announced on February 1, are a window into what specifiers are excited about. Many of this year’s winners, chosen by a panel of five respected designers, reflected the latest in wellness and sustainability innovations, as well as what’s likely to show up in your next home update.

Bathroom Wellness and Sustainability

Tile made from recycled fixtures adds wellness and sustainability to your home projects.

Kohler Co.

The top bathroom-specific award, Best of KBIS – Bath Gold, went to Italian manufacturer S.G. SRL for its inFINE Column Shower. Designed for pool baths, spas and other outdoor applications, this sleek setup extends design possibilities for a wide range of wellness-enhancing spaces.

The Silver award went to Kohler’s recycled tile initiative, WasteLAB, for its new ABSTRA Collection. Tile is a durable, low-maintenance material that is especially popular for bathroom spaces and an absolute wellness design selection. This collection has a nature-inspired palette, adding to its biophilic appeal.

Creating tiles from recycled toilets in the 150 year old manufacturer’s processes and keeping that material out of landfills, makes it a sustainable option as well.

Kitchen Wellness and Sustainability

Innovative range hood adjusts to cooking need.

Fotile

The Best of KBIS – Kitchen Gold went to a workstation sink from an Atlanta area manufacturer. The Baveno Kitchen Sink System by Bocchi uses a granite composite material known for its heat, stain and scratch resistance, adding to the functionality facet of wellness design. Also contributing to functionality is the set of accessories that come with the workstation that make it prep- and cleanup-friendly. This style of kitchen sink, also called chef sink, has become increasingly popular in recent years.

Kitchen Silver went to an innovative ventilation product from Fotile, a manufacturer based in China. The Insert Self-Adjusting Range Hood will automatically sense smoke and descend to the proper height to maximize capture. When used with a Fotile cooktop, it will automatically start ventilating, an increasingly popular smart feature seen in recent years.

Smart Home Wellness and Sustainability

GE Profile’s new induction cooktop makes learning to cook with this sustainable technology simple … [+] and convenient.

GE Profile

The Best of KBIS – Connected Home Technology Gold went to an outdoor product this year. Moen’s Smart Sprinkler Controller and Smart Wireless Soil Sensors are engineered to let your sprinkler system irrigate your yard when it needs water and turn off the sprinklers when it doesn’t. This can save both your lawn and water bill, definitely enhancing your home’s sustainability.

The Best of KBIS – Connected Home Technology Silver award went to GE Profile’s 36-inch Touch Control Induction Cooktop. Induction cooktops enhance both wellness and sustainability. The smart features in the mid-priced Profile brand ease the transition to induction with guided cooking functionality. With an app and smart pan, the user chooses the recipe and starts cooking without guesswork. The cooktop also offers more comprehensive temperature control than just low, medium, high options – giving the home chef more of the performance level professional chefs expect in their induction models.

More Awards

New composting appliance installs under a kitchen sink, adding sustainability and convenience to … [+] your home.

Sepura Home

There were other awards given at KBIS worth noting. The show features a small KickStarter Zone of small companies seeking wider sales and distribution for kitchen and bath products. The Grand Prize Winner was an under-sink composting system by Sepura Home. This model replaces a garbage disposal and keeps food scraps (and their odors) contained until the homeowner is ready to take the removable compost bucket to a curbside green bin for municipal pickup, or add to an outdoor compost bin. With California implementing mandated composting, this under-sink system will be a boon for conveniently processing and storing food waste. It definitely enhances one’s sustainability at home.

KBIS’ owner, the National Kitchen and Bath Association, sent its current class of Thirty Under 30 industry professionals across the show floor to choose their favorites. These Millennials and Gen Z kitchen and bath specialists gave their awards to kitchen sink, faucet and accessory maker Kraus USA for sustainability, GE Profile for smart home integration, GE’s luxury appliance brand Monogram for living in place (i.e., universal design, aging and accessibility) and Brondell, known for bidets, and air and water filtration products, for wellness.

KBIS has a ‘people’s choice’ award as part of its DesignBites segment, a speed-dating style round-up of hot new products. Called the “Brand With the Biggest Bite,” this year’s honor went to appliance maker Beko, a subsidiary of a Turkish-based global manufacturer, which promotes both sustainability with its clothes washers made using recycled bottles and wellness with its produce nutrient-protecting refrigerator technology. Last year, the brand debuted a lighting system that promised to keep produce fresh for up to 30 days. This year, they upped the freshness power with a circadian-style lighting system that protects your fruit and vegetables’ nutritional value.

Jamie Gold, Contributor

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February 7, 2023
California baker creates life-sized Han Solo out of bread

BENICIA, Calif. — Han Solo may be a hunk. But “Pan Solo” is a hunk of bread.

That’s what a bakery in the San Francisco Bay Area has dubbed its 6-foot (1.8 meter) bread sculpture of the “Star Wars” character as he appeared after being frozen in carbonite in “The Empire Strikes Back.”

Hannalee Pervan and her mother, Catherine Pervan, co-owners of One House Bakery in Benicia, California, spent weeks molding, baking and assembling the life-sized sculpture using wood and two types of dough, including a type of yeastless dough with a higher sugar content that will last longer.

The two worked at night, after the day’s business was done. The lovingly crafted details show Han Solo’s anguished face and his hands straining to reach out.

Hannalee said she might have gotten a bit obsessed.

“Mom made me leave it because I was obsessing over the lips,” Hannalee Pervan told the New York Times. “She was like, ‘You need to walk away.’”

Creating Pan Solo was particularly meaningful, she told the paper, because she contracted COVID-19 in January 2021 and lost much of her senses of smell and taste.

“So just to find joy in a different part of food is really important,” she said.

The sculpture is now on display outside of the bakery, located about a half-hour’s drive north of San Francisco.

Pan Solo is the bakery’s entry in the annual Downtown Benicia Main Street Scarecrow Contest. The public will get to vote on their favorites from among more than two dozen creations entered by local businesses.

The Pervans, who are big science-fiction and fantasy fans, entered another “Star Wars”-themed creation in 2020 featuring the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda.

Unfortunately, Pan Solo won’t last forever. The dough eventually will be composted, not eaten.

So as a wise Jedi might warn: Don’t use the forks, Luke.

———

This story was first published on Oct. 15, 2022. It was updated on Oct. 16, 2022 to correct the spelling of baker Hannalee Pervan’s first name.

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October 16, 2022
Californians will soon be able to turn their remains into soil with human composting | CNN

CNN
—

California has become the latest state to provide its residents with an eco-friendly, if unorthodox, option for their remains after death: composting.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law last Sunday, according to a news release from the bill’s author, state Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia.

The process is officially called “natural organic reduction,” and involves “fostering gentle transformation into a nutrient-dense soil, which can then be returned to families or donated to conservation land,” the release explained.

Natural organic reduction is less harmful to the environment than the other two legal options (cremation and burial), according to the release. Burial can allow chemicals to leek into the soil, and cremation requires the burning of fossil fuels and releases carbon dioxide.

The law will not go into effect until January 2027, according to the text of the bill. The law stipulates the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, a subdivision of the Department of Consumer Affairs, will develop regulations for facilities performing the process.

In the release, Garcia called natural organic reduction “an alternative method of final disposition that won’t contribute emissions into our atmosphere and will actually capture CO2 in our soil and trees.”

“If more people participate in organic reduction and tree-planting, we can help with California’s carbon footprint,” she said. “This bill has been in the works for the last three years, and I am very happy that it was signed into law. I look forward to continuing my legacy to fight for clean air by using my reduced remains to plant a tree.”

Recompose, a company which has been offering natural organic reduction services since 2020, also lauded the law in the release.

“Recompose is thrilled that the options for nature-based death care in California have expanded,” said the company’s CEO and founder Katrina Spade in the release. “Natural organic reduction is safe and sustainable, allowing our bodies to return to the land after we die.”

According to Recompose’s website, natural organic reduction works much like composting your vegetable scraps does. The body is placed in a vessel along with wood chips, alfalfa, and straw. Over a month, microbes work to break the body down into a cubic yard of soil, which can then be used in a loved one’s garden, or anywhere else.

Washington became the first state to legalize so-called “human composting” in 2019. Lawmakers similarly cited the ecological benefits of reduction over burial and cremation.

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October 1, 2022
The Little Green Truck That Could!

The Nosh Pit Detroit announces expansion plans.

Press Release
–

updated: Nov 29, 2017

Hamtramck, MI, November 29, 2017 (Newswire.com)
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The Nosh Pit Detroit announces expansion plans for their little green food truck. In January, the Nosh Pit Detroit will be open for dinner service at their new brick and mortar location, 2995 Yemens Street in Hamtramck. Operating hours will be evenings on Thursday through Saturday evenings initially with intentions to expand service hours in the future.

This month, the Nosh Pit Detroit launched an Indiegogo campaign hinting at the makings of a restaurant and food truck park. “Having a brick and mortar location would allow us to not only provide mobile cuisine but have a location where we can increase our ability to cater and have a place that the Detroiters can count on, year round. With your contributions, our vision is to not only to have a brick and mortar location for food service, but a location that is large enough to host regular food truck rallies, offer composting services and support our local community.” Donors have the opportunity to receive their very own Nosh Pit T-Shirt, at home dinner parties and can even get a sandwich named after them. “National Geographic recently named Detroit top unexpected city for food lovers in North America and we’re doing our part. I’m proud to be a part of a city built on perseverance, determination and innovation.” Eric Schultz said.

Nosh Pit represents far more than a food truck, catering business or restaurant. We aim to be a positive presence in the community, an economic engine for growth and a social movement all wrapped into one.

Karen Schultz, Owner, The Nosh Pit Detroit

“Nosh Pit represents far more than a food truck, catering business or restaurant. We aim to be a positive presence in the community, an economic engine for growth and a social movement all wrapped into one” Karen Schultz, Owner of Nosh Pit Detroit said. The Nosh Pit incorporated sustainable operating procedures resulting in over 3 tons of recycling and composting in just one year. Additionally, they have been spearheading a project with the Detroit Food Lab to provide tools to help make sustainability practices easier for the Detroit food industry to implement.

Nosh Pit fans, John and Tyler, frequent the food truck regularly and eagerly await January’s restaurant launch. They hope the community will continue to support the Nosh Pit because of the vegan variety at such an affordable price. “You can taste the love in all the food” and by “being so kind, generous and approachable with free samples and tasty eats, the Nosh Pit Detroit is familiarizing vegan food options.” John and Tyler said. This dovetails nicely into one of the Nosh Pit hashtags, #EatYourVeggies. “We love to help our community get more veggies without sacrificing the taste of what is considered delicious food!” Chef Stefan Kudek said.

About The Nosh Pit Detroit:
The Nosh Pit Detroit is a female-owned vegan food truck in Detroit. They compost, recycle and source local and organic ingredients to bring tasty and healthy vegan eats and sweets. Although, just barely over a year old, the Nosh Pit’s passion for food innovation has already attracted both local and national recognition, winning multiple awards including: Best in Show for Arts, Beats & Eats 2017, 1st place for their hummus at the Shawarma Fest in Royal Oak, 2016, 2nd place for the best restaurant at the International Veg Fest in Novi, 2016 and 3rd place for the best pumpkin recipe (Pumpkin Soup) at Detroit Food Labs, 2016. The Nosh Pit Detroit was nationally recognized in 2017 as one of the best vegan / vegetarian food trucks by Mobile Cuisine Magazine.

Press Contact:
Alexandra Laxmi Iyer
The Nosh Pit Detroit
alexandra@noshpitdetroit.com
www.noshpitdetroit.com
www.facebook.com/noshpitdetroit
https://igg.me/at/noshpit
Twitter & Instragram: @noshpitdetroit

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Source: The Nosh Pit Detroit

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November 29, 2017