Let's Celebrate Compost for Earth Day

… and nematodes crunching through piles of leftover greens as we continue to reduce, reuse and recycle.

 
When your elderly mother lives alone, you can’t help worrying about accidental falls.

You rely on her good sense not to tackle potentially dangerous projects. Especially if they appear to be “nonessential.”

Imagine how alarmed I was to hear Mum had taken advantage of a couple of clear days over the winter to relocate her compost bins?

Unlike my trendy little ‘nod- to- composting’ revolving barrel, Mum has two substantial plastic bins she uses in rotation to compost her kitchen waste (ever mindful to reduce her carbon footprint.)

But is it a good idea for 80-year-olds to be shifting piles of decaying vegetation around their back gardens unsupervised? Apparently dragging a tarp, covered in decomposing potato peels and shredded Weetabix boxes, is just the thing to relieve the boredom of lockdown!

I’m glad to report that this mission was accomplished without mishap. Now a little closer to the back door, Mum’s treasured ‘black gold’ continues to brew valuable nutrients for her perennials from its more convenient location.

And as you may know, research has confirmed that home composting reduces food waste, conserves water and cuts methane emissions from landfills. Go Mum!!

Introducing young children to the idea of reusing random household items to reduce waste is a doddle now we have Pinterest.

Anyone can scroll for 30 seconds and find 101 novel ways to put our trusty crafting friend the humble toilet roll to good use.

But rather than just making more stuff, how about encouraging your kiddos to put your loo-roll innards to work in the garden as a handy seed propagation system?

 
Thank you to eco-warrior company @whogivesacrap* for highlighting the advantages of this method of propagation. Your seedlings will have their own insect-proof cardboard protective collar when you add them to your veggie plot. And getting back to composting, this seedling protection system will gently disintegrate and create compost as your tiny plants grow. 

(*An Aussie company producing sustainable paper products that donates 50% of their profits to provide proper sanitation around the world)

So this Earth Day, as you contemplate the benefits of composting and eco-friendly craft activities, please encourage your little explorers to leave technology unplugged for the day and follow Henry’s adventurous lead into the garden.

Perhaps the promise of finding a prickly ball of indignation like Henry’s friend Bertie under a few dried leaves might spark your kiddos’ curiosity to explore nature’s nooks and crannies and come to cherish this wonderful planet we call home.