• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Backyard composting — an easy way to turn food waste into a natural resource

by MSR News Online
August 12, 2014
4
SHARES
72
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

Green2GreenWe hear about composting a lot but often it seems like a complex task only for experienced gardeners. What really is composting and how can it be more accessible?

Michael Chaney, founder of Project Sweetie Pie, can often be found on the organization’s urban farms throughout North Minneapolis among the youth engaging in community agriculture. Chaney, who understands the role of composting within urban farming, says Project Sweetie Pie is exploring and learning more about increasing composting within their urban farms. Composting can close the gardening loop by creating usable, nutrient-rich soil to grow food. Once you get started, composting is easy, economical and great for the environment!

Organic waste — like food scraps and yard trimmings — make up about 16 to 30 percent of waste produced by the average household in Minnesota. Our state has huge potential for reducing organic waste and enhancing urban farms through composting.

Composting converts kitchen or yard waste into a nutrient-rich mulch or soil amendment with many benefits. The process decomposes organic matter, like food, into usable soil amendments that can reduce waste and help improve soil. Compost can help improve plant growth, increase moisture capacity, improve drainage, reduce erosion and much more.

 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Backyard composting tips:

Organic material such as fruit and vegetable peelings, grass clippings and leaves can be composted in your backyard, but certain materials, like meat and dairy can’t be. A more detailed list of items for backyard composting can be found at www.hennepin.us/composting.

Four basic ingredients create good compost: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and moisture. It is best to aim for a 3-to-1 ratio between carbon, or “brown” materials (leaves and twigs) and nitrogen, or “green” materials (fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds and grass clippings).

Where do you put all your compost? Hennepin County sells backyard compost bins at the Brooklyn Park Drop-off Facility for $45. You can also pre-order online and pick up a compost bin at a distribution event, such as Metro Bloom’s event on September 12. You can put the compost bin in your backyard, or you can go in with a neighbor or friend to compost together!

Each city has different backyard composting ordinances so make sure to check with your city recycling coordinator about specific regulations.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

You can learn more about composting from experts at upcoming events in the Twin Cities:

• Open Streets: Franklin Ave. E. (hosted by Hope Community), Sunday, August 17, compost bin pick up: 10 am – noon, E. Franklin Avenue and Park Avenue South, Minneapolis

• Cedar Isles Dean Plant Distribution (hosted by Metro Blooms), Friday, September 12, 4-6 pm, Chowen Triangle, W 28th and Chowen Avenue, Minneapolis

• Como Cookout (hosted by Southeast Como Improvement Association), Sunday, September 21, 2-4 pm, Van Cleve Park, 901 15th Avenue SE, Minneapolis

 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Once you have a compost bin, follow these easy steps:

1. Build or buy a compost bin and put it in either a sunny or shady location.

2. Add appropriate food scraps and/or yard waste.

3. Add a little water.

4. Use a shovel or garden fork to mix the pile about once a week.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

It should take about 2-4 months for a compost pile to be ready to use. The finished compost pile will be half of its original size and look dark and crumbly.

Composting is fun, environmentally-friendly and easy once you get started. Take a step in reducing your waste with backyard composting. Learn more about composting tips and Hennepin County’s composting resources at www.hennepin.us/composting.

 

This information was provided by Hennepin County Environmental Services.

 

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

What will a credit card cost me?

Next Post

Minnesota injustice

MSR News Online

Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.

You Might Also Like

Sickle Cell Awareness Month: Breakthrough treatments on the horizon
Health & Wellness

Sickle Cell Awareness Month: Breakthrough treatments on the horizon

Health department concerned about Stillwater water supply, but says it is safe to drink
Local

Health department concerned about Stillwater water supply, but says it is safe to drink

Wanted: Freelance reporters
Employment

Call for writers

Champagne flows as Twins make the playoffs
Sports

Champagne flows as Twins make the playoffs

MN labor groups rally with auto workers
Local

MN labor groups rally with auto workers

‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ gives girl groups of ‘50s and ‘60s their due 
Arts & Culture

‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ gives girl groups of ‘50s and ‘60s their due 

Next Post

Minnesota injustice

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 27
8:00 am-12:45 pm

It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race™

Sep 27
7:30 pm-9:30 pm Recurring

Ayodele Casel Rooted

Sep 30
9:00 am-1:00 pm Recurring

Cars and Caves

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: