{"id":1898,"date":"2019-05-08T03:37:47","date_gmt":"2019-05-08T03:37:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/?p=1898"},"modified":"2019-05-08T03:37:47","modified_gmt":"2019-05-08T03:37:47","slug":"composting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/2019\/05\/08\/composting\/","title":{"rendered":"Composting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><i>Composting is a great way to help the environment. Learn what composting is and how easy it is to\u00a0make one at home.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2083\" style=\"width: 358px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1647-1.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2083\" class=\"wp-image-2083 \" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1647-1.jpg?resize=348%2C232&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"348\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1647-1.jpg?w=2592&amp;ssl=1 2592w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1647-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1647-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1647-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1647-1.jpg?w=1400&amp;ssl=1 1400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1647-1.jpg?w=2100&amp;ssl=1 2100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 348px) 100vw, 348px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2083\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo courtesy of Alexa Sulkowski: Compost Bins in Lancaster County Central Park<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>What is composting?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Composting is a natural process that turns your kitchen waste into food for your garden. It requires three basic ingredients.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Browns- dead leaves, branches, and twigs.<\/li>\n<li>Greens- grass clippings, vegetables, fruit, and coffee grounds<\/li>\n<li>Water<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why is it beneficial?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When you throw away food after it goes to a landfill it gives off methane which is a greenhouse gas that is responsible for climate change.\u00a0 Using a compost bin can decrease that gas.\u00a0 It can also reduce the use of chemicals as fertilizers because it simply can be used as a fertilizer!\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/sustainable-management-food\/reducing-impact-wasted-food-feeding-soil-and-composting#benefits\"><strong>According to the EPA<\/strong><\/a><strong>,\u00a0<\/strong>compost can capture and eliminate 99.6 percent of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, from the air. These vapors and gases can have a harmful impact on your health.\u00a0It also benefits your garden by improving it\u2019s soil.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you make them?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Here is one way to make an affordable, simple bin for your backyard:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>You can recycle or buy a plastic bin that is at least 24 inches tall<\/li>\n<li>Drill about 8-10 holes in the bottom of the bin<\/li>\n<li>Place dry leaves at the bottom filling it 1\/8 inch full.<\/li>\n<li>Place dirt on top of the leaves to fill it about 1\/2 full.<\/li>\n<li>Now you can place your food scrap or paper products in the bin<\/li>\n<li>Then you want to stir your compost making sure your scraps are covered with the dirt<\/li>\n<li>Spray with lukewarm water until its moist but not soaking wet.<\/li>\n<li>Drill the same amount of holes in the lid<\/li>\n<li>Place your bin anywhere you&#8217;d like outside but not in full sunlight (you don&#8217;t want it to dry out.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Don&#8217;t throw away your kitchen scraps, the best materials to add are eggshells, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels<\/li>\n<li>Keep your compost aerated<\/li>\n<li>Keep it moist, don&#8217;t keep it too dry or too wet.<\/li>\n<li>Don&#8217;t add too much of one material<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>According to the Mother Nature Network here are 12 things you should never compost:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bread products<\/li>\n<li>Cooking oil<\/li>\n<li>Diseased plants<\/li>\n<li>Heavily coated or printed paper<\/li>\n<li>Human or animal feces<\/li>\n<li>Meat products<\/li>\n<li>Milk products<\/li>\n<li>Rice<\/li>\n<li>Sawdust<\/li>\n<li>Used personal products<\/li>\n<li>Walnuts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>About LCSWMA <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Lancaster Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA) and the Penn State Master Gardeners of Lancaster County are coming together to host the compost workshops.\u00a0 \u00a0LCSWMA is in charge of over one million tons of solid waste each year.\u00a0 Their visions says \u201cRethinking Waste for a Sustainable Future\u201d and they say they work hard to transform waste into a resource to make great things happen in our community.\u00a0 For example, they have the ability to power thousands of homes and businesses by turning trash into renewable energy.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2241\" style=\"width: 328px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1412-1.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2241\" class=\" wp-image-2241\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1412-1.jpg?resize=318%2C212&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"318\" height=\"212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1412-1.jpg?w=2592&amp;ssl=1 2592w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1412-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1412-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1412-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1412-1.jpg?w=1400&amp;ssl=1 1400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1412-1.jpg?w=2100&amp;ssl=1 2100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 318px) 100vw, 318px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2241\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo courtesy of Alexa Sulkowski<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>LCSWMA supporting communities<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Environment: help build recreational trails for Lancaster County so residents can enjoy the open space and the beauty of our environment.<\/li>\n<li>Economy: they support organizations that help with the growth of the economy.<\/li>\n<li>Culture: they support events like the Long\u2019s Park Summer Concert Series, Harrisburg Mural Festival, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Prince Street Cafe<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Prince Street Cafe in Lancaster is working with Oregon Diary Organic&#8217;s to turn compostable items from the cafe into high quality compost for home gardeners, landscapers, park and athletic field managers, and organic farmers. Prince Street Cafe says that being sustainable and limiting waste we contribute to the world is part of our mission.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2084\" style=\"width: 348px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1644.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2084\" class=\"wp-image-2084 \" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1644.jpg?resize=338%2C225&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"338\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1644.jpg?w=2592&amp;ssl=1 2592w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1644.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1644.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1644.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1644.jpg?w=1400&amp;ssl=1 1400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/IMG_1644.jpg?w=2100&amp;ssl=1 2100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2084\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo courtesy of Alexa Sulkowski:<\/em><br \/><em>Prince Street Cafe<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>What is Oregon Dairy?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>They are a composting facility that takes manure from local farms and turns material from local landfills into high quality compost for home gardeners. They prevent polluted runoff from reaching Lancaster&#8217;s streams and rivers and improve soil health without chemical fertilizers. \u00a0Oregon Dairy Organics sells 12,000-14,000 cubic yards of compost a year which is 6,000 \u2013 7,000 tons of compost.\u00a0It takes 3 months to change raw product (cow manure, horse manure, food waste) to ready to use compost.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Compost Park in Manheim<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This composting park accepts garden residues, shrubbery and tree pruning, sod, leaves and grass for composting.<\/p>\n<p>Hours:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>April 1st through May 31st &#8211; open every day, excluding Easter Sunday, Memorial Day Holiday &#8211; 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.<\/li>\n<li>June 1st through August 31st &#8211; open every day, excluding July 4th Holiday &#8211; 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.<\/li>\n<li>September 1st through October 31st &#8211; open every day, excluding Labor Day Holiday &#8211; 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.<\/li>\n<li>November 1st through November 30th &#8211; open every day, excluding Thanksgiving Day &#8211; 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.<\/li>\n<li>December 1st through December 23rd &#8211; open every day &#8211; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>References<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For more tips about composting visit\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/compostguide.com\/composting-tips\/\">http:\/\/compostguide.com\/composting-tips\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cFREE Home Compost Workshops.\u201d\u00a0<em>LCSWMA<\/em>, www.lcswma.org\/news-blog\/free-home-compost-workshops-4\/.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy Compost?\u201d\u00a0<em>Why Compost? | Recycle Now<\/em>, www.recyclenow.com\/reduce-waste\/composting\/why-compost.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cReducing the Impact of Wasted Food by Feeding the Soil and Composting.\u201d\u00a0<em>EPA<\/em>, Environmental Protection Agency, 2 Aug. 2018, www.epa.gov\/sustainable-management-food\/reducing-impact-wasted-food-feeding-soil-and-composting#benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Hunt, Kristin. \u201cWhat Is Composting?\u201d\u00a0<em>Green Matters<\/em>, Green Matters, 7 Dec. 2018, www.greenmatters.com\/food\/2018\/12\/07\/ZboPlt\/what-is-composting.\u201cOrganics\/Compost Facility<\/p>\n<p>The Farmstead.\u201d <i>Oregon Dairy<\/i>, www.oregondairy.com\/the-farmstead\/compost-facility.\u201cCompost.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><i>Prince Street Cafe<\/i>, princestreetcafe.com\/pages\/compost.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0Composting is a great way to help the environment. Learn what composting is and how easy it is to\u00a0make one at home. &nbsp; What is composting? Composting is a natural process that turns your kitchen waste into food for your&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[31,7,23,32,4],"class_list":["post-1898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-educate","tag-community","tag-composting","tag-lancaster","tag-recycling","tag-sustainability"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1898","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1898"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1898\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2242,"href":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1898\/revisions\/2242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}