What's it mean to be green? From bay to compost bin
I'm pleased to join Meredith Cohn and Christy Zuccarini on B'more Green, where we aim to share news and information about folks - including businesses, government, groups and individuals - trying to live greener and more sustainably.
I come to this from decades of covering the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland's environment, seeing up close how individual behaviors can have big collective impacts, for good and ill. People have shown they care about the bay, with their voices and their votes - not to mention their license plates - so politicians have a hard time ignoring that groundswell. By the same token, Marylanders still make choices in where and how they live, drive and consume that pose challenges for the bay.
I'm a journalist, who's bound to report on environmentalists' flubs as well as their triumphs. But I'm also a citizen. So I try to live more gently on the land, when I can and when it makes sense. For instance, I recently signed up to buy wind-generated electricity after learning that it was actually cheaper than the standard power offered through Baltimore Gas Electric. That kind of green is too good to pass up!
I recycle, too, have for years, diverting plastic, cans, bottles and paper from my trash, and finding that we have far less trash to throw away. But I've had a harder time getting into composting kitchen scraps. We bought a bin from Baltimore County several years ago, and I set it up just outside our kitchen door. I've tried on occasion to feed the bin, chopping up old melon rinds and tossing them in along with other produce scraps. But the convenience of the dispose-all in the sink has just been too great so far. It's a habit I haven't been able to break. If anyone else has struggled with this, or has tips on how to make it easier or more automatic, please don't be shy. We hope to learn as well as inform.
Comments
The Dollar Store has kid sand pails for (surprise) a dollar. They're brightly colored plastic (I know, my carbon footprint!) that is, at least, cute when it sits on the kitchen counter while I peel and chop and slice.
I don't have a disposal, so this beats having my kitchen garbage stink, anyway.
Posted by: Eve | May 26, 2009 3:02 PM
I am so excited about this blog.
Composting - I keep a bucket with a lid underneath my sink for compostable scraps. When the bucket is filled, I take it outside. Use any type of bucket, coffee can, container, etc.
Posted by: NotableM | May 26, 2009 4:25 PM
I also wanted to compost, but was unhappy with using a bin. A good solution for me was to do trench composting. Granted, you need a yard and the motivation to push some soil around, but I prefer it to the hassle of managing a bin. I keep my kitchen scraps in a plastic container in the fridge and empty it into the ditch every few days. You can find more info about it by googling "trench composting".
Posted by: lynda | May 26, 2009 9:47 PM
I read in Urbanite that you can bring your scraps to Whole Foods, and they'll compost them for you. I'm collecting two giant freezer bags full (in my freezer) and then dropping them off soon. Pretty easy!
Posted by: Mary | May 27, 2009 7:40 AM
Taking scraps to Whole Foods is only easy if you live near or actually shop at Whole Foods (driving all the way to a store that's not nearby just to recycle scraps seems to defeat the purpose. But I guess if I rode my bike...)
I'd be interested in hearing about how to compost in an apartment without any outdoor space. I'm slowly becoming open to vermiculture, but am hunting for other methods first without spending a lot of money on a mechanical composter. Any ideas?
Posted by: aeb | May 27, 2009 11:28 AM
I'd be interested in reading about the wind generated power you bought. i looked into this a couple of years ago and couldn't find a viable option. So, info please!
Posted by: Lesley | May 27, 2009 11:57 AM
Tim, we have a disposal, but almost never use it. Kitchen scraps from veggies go right into the compost container next to the sink. Used tea leaves or tea bags can go in, too.
I miss my favorite (now closed) Starbucks that used to bag up used coffee grounds and give them away free to gardeners. The grounds are great for breaking up our heavy clay, and I think they repel bunnies, too.
Posted by: Dahlink | May 28, 2009 5:20 PM