COMPOSTING- ELABORATED

Why should I compost?
Composting is a great way of reusing your kitchen scraps and garden rubbish and it's fantastic for your garden because:
it improves soil fertility and texture, and retains moisture and nutrients
your garden will require less garden chemicals because compost rich soil grows healthier, more productive plants
it reduces the amount of garden rubbish going to landfills and the amount of methane generated (methane is a greenhouse gas)
it doesn't cost much to do and it's easy to make.
How does composting work?
Composting involves the breaking down of organic material by a large number of bacteria and fungi. These organisms need oxygen, moisture and the right mix of nutrients to operate efficiently. The right combination of these in a compost heap allows the breaking down of organic matter to happen quickly and the process can generate lots of heat - the centre of the pile can reach up to 60 degrees Celsius in a well-operated compost heap. Lower maintenance composting systems can also produce good compost at lower temperatures over a longer time.
There are two types of organic material you can include in a compost heap - greens and browns.
Green materials have lots of nitrogen and include:
grass clippings (so long as they haven't been sprayed with weedkiller)
weeds (but not invasive weeds such as oxalis, onion grass and convovulus - these won't break down in lower temperature piles so you need to use a 'liquid manure' system or send them to a composting plant instead)
kitchen scraps, including coffee grounds and tea bags (but don't put meat or dairy products in unless your compost system is designed to cope with the pests they can attract).
Brown materials have lots of carbon and include:
sawdust (but not from treated wood)
shredded paper
straw
vacuum cleaner dust.
So how do I compost?
People use a variety of methods for composting including:
Compost heap - a pile of material, covered with carpet or polythene.
Compost bin - buy a plastic bin or make your own from timber or concrete blocks. For big gardens you may have several bins going at once.
Rotating drum - materials are place in a drum that is turned regularly to mix the composting material and provide oxygen.
Trenching - for big gardens, bury kitchen rubbish (but not meat or dairy products) in trenches in your garden, cover with a good amount of soil and plant on top.
Worm farming - using worms to help the composting process. Buy a worm bin or make your own from an old bathtub or stack of tyres.
Get the right mix
You need to get the right mix of greens and browns - too much green can lead to overheating, compaction and loss of oxygen, while too much brown can really slow down the composting process. An ideal mix is 1 to 2 parts green and 1 part brown (or 5 centimetres of brown for each 10 centimetres of green) in alternating layers.
Chop or blend
If you want to speed up the composting process you should ensure that material going into the compost is chopped up.
Keep it moist
You need to keep your compost moist. It should be like a damp sponge - too much water may result in a smelly, slimy mess, while not enough water will slow down the breaking down process.
If your greens aren't very soggy, it's a good idea to moisten the browns as you add them.
If you're not using a purchased compost bin with a lid, you should cover your compost with carpet, sacking, corrugated iron or polythene - this keeps in the heat generated by the breaking down process and helps to prevent rain getting in or moisture evaporating away.
Turn, turn, turn
You should try and turn your compost regularly if you can. This ensures that there is an adequate supply of oxygen to aid the break down process. If you can't turn the compost, you can:
put a pipe with holes in it through the middle of the compost to let air in
add twigs and branches as you build your pile.
Look after yourself when working with compost
Compost and soil contain various living organisms that have, on rare occasions, been associated with illness and allergies in humans (usually people with compromised immune systems or respiratory illness). For this reason it is important to take the following precautions when working with compost:
wash your hands after handling soil or compost
protect broken skin by wearing gloves
avoid confined spaces for handling soil or compost
keep compost moist to prevent spores and dust problems.

ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY SHOPPING

As a compulsive shopper I sometimes feel guilty that by buying somy products, needed and unneeded, I am contributing to environmental damage which I can avoid.

I started searching for ways to reduce my guilt and here are some shopping tips which will help you in reducing accumulation of rubbish which can not be easily recyclable and contributes to global envirmental damage.
There are lots of innovative things you can do to help reduce your rubbish – check out some of the shopping tips below to get started.
Tips for avoiding plastic carry bags:
Carry a cotton bag that can be scrunched up very small in your handbag/school bag/briefcase in case you need to do some unexpected shopping.
A cardboard box, or even a laundry basket, can be used in the boot of your car for groceries. Groceries can be loaded straight from the trolley into the box/basket, eliminating the need for plastic bags.
Want to take your own bag but keep leaving them at home? Try keeping a stash of plastic bags in your car so they're on hand when you shop.
Ask the supermarket checkout operator to put more items in a plastic bag than they usually do. This will reduce the number of plastic bags you end up with.
Tips for avoiding plastic packaging:
If you are buying potato chips for children's lunch boxes, do not buy multi packs - instead, buy large single packs of chips and put servings into a plastic container that can be reused.
Instead of buying freezer bags, use fruit and vege bags from the supermarket.
Buy as many items as you can without packaging (eg fruit and veges).
Use reusable elasticised plastic wrap when taking a plate.
By taking your own containers to the butcher you can save on packaging. The butcher just puts the meat straight into a container, which can be labelled and put in the freezer.
Buy your meat in plastic bags rather than meat trays. Meat is the same price per kilo at the supermarket counter.
Lunch boxes with partitions eliminate the need to wrap each item in plastic.
Instead of using individual serving pottles of yoghurt, put one litre tubs of yoghurt and place servings into re-useable containers.
Tips for buying gifts:
Give experiences as presents. Massage vouchers, dinners out, and even your time make marvellous presents... and they don't require any wasteful packaging.
Babies don't know the difference between an expensive toy and one made from recycled materials. Plastic bottles filled with pasta, rice, old beads etc. make great rattles (the bottle needs to be safe and clean). Different bottles and fillings can be used to make different colours/textures/rattling sounds. Once your baby has outgrown a rattle, its contents can be recycled.
If possible buy toys that can be repaired if they break (e.g. wooden toys).
Tips for purchasing household items:
Buy rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
Using 2-in-1 shampoo means that you:
Only use one container instead of two.
Save money.
Save water (rinsing once instead of twice).
Save time.
Do not pollute as much (half the amount of soap down the drain).
Use pens with replaceable refills - this way you only dispose of a refill, not the whole pen.
In some areas milk vendors will still deliver milk in glass bottles. Where available, use this service because it is more environmentally friendly than using plastic bottles (even if you recycle them).
Instead of using potentially toxic cleaners on the sink, bath, basin or shower, use a cloth made of tulle. The texture of the fabric makes a wonderful scourer and you aren't left with bottles to dispose of.
Buy magic cleaning cloths. They clean and polish just as they are - no cleaning fluids or other products needed. They are a great way of saving waste, time and money.
Buy in dry-goods bulk from a wholesale supplier by getting together with a group of friends.
Instead of buying window cleaner from the supermarket, buy a window cleaning cloth. This will cost you more intially, but they are terrific for cleaning windows because they leave no residue of lint or streaks.
Baking your own bread, cakes biscuits, etc. is a great way to reduce rubbish.
General shopping tips:
The internet can be used to search for information and prices, rather than requesting brochures and price lists.
Pre-cycling is the best way to reduce waste. If it cannot be recycled, don't buy it.
Instead of buying countless bottles of water, re-use a single bottle and keep it in the fridge.
Buying more goods second-hand will increase the reuse of items and will reduce the amount of unsold secondhand goods being sent to landfills.
Buy products that use recycled materials in the product itself or in the packaging.
Buy refill products that use less packaging, or buy larger sizes to reduce the amount of packaging used.
When buying products such as shampoo, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, and cooking oil, some shops allow customers to bring their own containers and to refill them from the store’s bulk supplies.

All very simple means but will make a great diffrence to environment when we all follow these tips.

RECYCLING - HOW TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF IT

A WISE MAN ONCE SAID: A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED

There are lots of innovative things you can do to help reduce your rubbish – check out some of the tips below to get started.
Making use of your mountain of plastic bags:
Use them as bin liners.
Place them in the bottom of plant pots and hanging baskets - they act as great drainage systems. Children can use them for carrying PE gear to school.
Scrunch them up to surround items when you're packaging as an alternative to bubble wrap.
Use them in the garden to hold your grass cuttings and hedge trimmings before transfer to a compost bin.
Use them when packing for a holiday to keep dirty/wet clothes and shoes away from dry clothing.
Use them as 'doggy doo bags' when out walking your dog!
Some supermarkets recycle plastic bags, so you can return plastic bags to them.
Re-use washed zip lock bags for sandwiches and snacks rather than using plastic wrap.
Ideas for recycling paper:
After children's drawings and paintings have been displayed for a while they can be used to wrap presents - this also makes the present special.
Discarded A4-sized paper can be cut and stapled together to make notepads. Alternatively, if you save five reams, it will cost you about $5 to get a print company to convert this paper into 'proper' notepads.
'Use the envelopes you receive in the mail a second time by placing a new address label over the last address. I call this the OMT System ("One more time system"). Old envelopes can also be used for scribbling down shopping lists, to-do lists, and notes.'
Resealable envelopes can be reused many times: 'My daughter takes one to school when she orders her lunch. The envelope has all details written in felt on the front and the money sealed inside. She brings the envelope home and we use it again until it gets too shabby.'
Old calendars, colourful pictures, etc. can be used to make your own envelopes. You can unstick a used envelope and use it as a template for making envelopes.
Old rolls of wallpaper can be used for childrens' drawings.
Junk mail can be used as scrap paper, or as bedding for pets.
Cardboard cartons can be used to collect paper for recycling, instead of plastic bags (even breakfast cereal cartons are good).
SPCA and pet shops appreciate old newspapers.
Toilet roll centres can be recycled - they're made of cardboard.
To fill in a rainy day get a paper recycling kit and get the kids to rip up old used paper to make recycled paper, it can be great fun.
Old magazines are appreciated by:
Doctor and dentists' surgeries
Motels
Friends
Ideas for recycling household waste in the garden:
Aluminium trays from pies and cakes make ideal 'drip saucers' to put under pot plants.
Old tyres can be used outside for plant pots - especially good for plants that like warm soils as they trap the heat.
The following waste items can be modified and used for planting seedlings:
Egg cartons
Tetra-pak cartons
Plastic bottles
Plastic containers for cherry tomatoes
Old boots and shoes
Plastic containers for takeaways
The cardboard centres from toilet rolls
Plastic icecream containers.
Lawn clippings can be used to cover weeds and keep from growing in the garden through winter.
Broken crockery can be used as drainage at the bottom of pot plants.
Tin cans can be used as:
Water reservoirs for new plants and trees. Tape a piece of hose pipe in a can and fill the can with scoria or pumice. Then, when you plant a new tree or plant, bury the can below the root level and leave enough hose poking out of the ground. You can water the plant in summer by pouring the water into hose pipe. If the hose is short enough it can be mowed over on a lawn and does not look obtrusive.
Pot plant holders. Decorate the outside of the can to your liking, put some soil in it and plant away. (Make sure you put some drainage holes in the bottom of the tin before you start potting the plants.)
Old newspapers (including those gathered from your friends) can be used to mulch and weed control the garden. Wet newspaper and place thickly on the garden. Cover with bark or stones.
Plastic milk bottles can be used to hold snail bait and are pet proof.
Old stockings can be used to tie up plants in the garden.
Plastic icecream containers can be cut into strips for seed labels.
Ideas for recycling organic/garden waste:
Local pig farmers often appreciate any kitchen scraps that you can offer them. If you know of any in your area, get in touch with them and find out if they are interested in your kitchen scraps.
If you've done any trimming of trees and hedges, contact the local Zoo to see if they can use these for their animals, either as food or environment improvement.
Avoid using kitchen waste disposers and compost food scraps instead. This reduces the load on sewage treatment plants and local government can concentrate on the treatment of real sewage.
If you need leaf mulch for your garden approach a local school and ask what they do with the leaf litter. Some schools throw theirs away.
Get a couple of hens for the household. They eat all the kitchen scraps and provide fresh eggs as a bonus.
Ideas for recycling other items:
Old or broken household goods such as toasters, transistor radios can be used by others for parts. Sell them cheaply at a garage sale.
Carry a supermarket bag with you when you go walking so that you can pick up glass, litter or other plastic bags.
Creches, schools and kindergartens often need boxes, plastic bags, old buttons, used wrapping paper, greeting cards, ribbons, tiles, crockery and other materials for art resources. They may also want old phones, keyboards, etc as learning toys.

Wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and boxes can be used to wrap someone else's presents.
Recycle jars by using them for home preserves.
Ice cream containers can be reused around the home in a number of ways:
Storing food in the freezer
As a container for toys, crayons, clothes pegs
Biscuit container
Meat trays, yoghurt containers, egg cartons, and film canisters can be kept and used by the kids to 'create stuff'. This is a great way to keep the kids amused and even make gifts for family and friends.
An upside down bottle with small holes in the top can be used to provide water for your pets while you are on holiday.
Materials left over from home sewing can be used by schools for collages. Larger pieces can also be used for patchwork and crafts by people in rest homes. In Wellington (and possibly other centres as well), there is a group in the women's prison who choose to do patchwork as part of their rehabilitation.
After you have finished a ’family-size’ yoghurt pot (and since they aren’t recyclable), rinse it out and use it as a lunch box or cookie jar.
Use ice cream and other plastic containers to put kids toys in. Also good for nuts and bolts and taking away camping, or clothes peg containers.
The black meat trays from the Supermarket make great paint trays for both adults and kids.
Stronger plastic bottles can be used to hold tools and nails etc in the shed. Simply cut three sides and leave one side longer and nail to the wall in the shed.
Old furniture, clothes, kitchen gear, and bedding are always wanted by organisations like Drug Arm, and the Salvation Army.
General tips for recycling and avoiding rubbish:
Buy a smaller rubbish container for the kitchen. This makes you to remember to recycle.
Make sure bottles and tins are clean before putting in the recycling bin. This prevents flies both at home and the recycling station.
Reorganise the kitchen so it has an efficient recycling area with good sized bins to help with sorting and holding. This will encourage other members of the household to contribute and help share the work instead of it being reliant on one person.
Cutting both the tops and the bottoms off tin cans (and placing them inside) and squashing them makes them smaller to fit into the recycling bin.
Put a 'no junk mail' sticker on your letter box. You'll be amazed at how much this reduces your rubbish.
Spread the word. By telling other people and helping them to get started, we increase the savings that can be made. Also get your children involved – if we can educate them early, they will grow up and appreciate waste reduction and will be able to apply these skills in later life.