Hello, fellow eco-warriors! 🌿 Today, I'm diving deep into the world of composting – that gloriously mucky cornerstone of sustainable living that we've all come to know, love, and occasionally, get completely wrong. I'm also going to share how to save $3,800 per year for the average Aussie household (see below).
But first, a quick reminder: Adding our voices, our time and our resources to advocate, educate or act for change (collective action👯) can be one of the most immensely impactful ways to fight the climate crisis. For me, collective AND individual actions still matter, especially in high-income nations like Australia, where the combined impact of our individual choices are baked into our National climate plans. Our individual actions also help us flex our "trade-off" muscles, where we weigh decisions, actions, and consequences— and can extend that muscle to our work and activism too. Every step on this journey counts!
Let's start at the very beginning (a very good place to start according to Julie Andrews). Composting, in theory, is simple: kitchen scraps meet garden waste meet brown waste (paper, cardboard, dried leaves), they layer up, and after a whirlwind romance of decomposition, give birth to nutrient-rich soil. It's the circle of life, minus the singing kiddies.
However, as many of you know, composting in practice can be unpredictable, and for some of us newer to gardening, smelly and bug-laden. There are days when my compost bin is a thriving ecosystem, a testament to Mother Nature's brilliance. And then there are days when it's a thriving, smelly, ecosystem of roaches, slaters (pill bugs) and caterpillars and far, far less of a testament of my ability to keep the worm buffet in good shape.
The roaches. These were the first problem I discovered in my outdoor compost, aka the worm buffet bult into my raised garden bed. A bit of googling helped me understand how to rid myself of this problem - water. I tipped several buckets of water into my worm buffet then we all squealed and stomped as they suckers came racing out looking for dry land.
After the roaches we had two more invasions - slaters and caterpillars. The slaters I'm yet to tackle as they seem relatively harmless. I'm keen to try the approach from the 'net - add halves of citrus fruit, wait for slaters to munch together, then dispose of said fruit. Will keep ya posted.
But let's not worry too much about them. No, the real plot twist in my composting saga has been the unexpected guests: caterpillars. Yes, those tiny, wriggly, leaf-munching gatecrashers have turned my herb garden into their personal all-you-can-eat buffet.
At first, I was determined to handle the situation like any eco-conscious gardener would. I tried organic sprays, vinegar, whispered threats, and even attempted a peace treaty by offering them a patch of fast-growing and self-replenishing mint for their troubles. Alas, they seemed to have a taste for my sweet basil and zesty chili plants.
So, I did what any self-respecting gardener would do: I rolled up my sleeves and got down to some serious caterpillar-picking. Morning and night, you'll find me in the garden, engaging in what I like to call "extreme herb-sitting." It's like babysitting, but instead of children, I'm guarding plants from very hungry, very determined caterpillars.
And here's the funny thing – I'm actually enjoying it. There's something oddly satisfying about plucking those little critters off my plants and relocating them (to caterpillar heaven). It's become a ritual, a moment of quiet in the hustle and bustle of family life - some fresh air and zen.
So, what's the moral of this composting tale? Flexibility, my friends. In the world of sustainable living, you've got to roll with the punches (or the caterpillars, as the case may be). Composting, much like life, is full of surprises. Sometimes it's a breeze, and sometimes it's a battle against the elements (and the insects).
But through it all: every peel, every coffee ground, every caterpillar-chewed leaf that you add to your compost is a step towards a greener, more sustainable world. And every minute spent in the garden, whether in contemplation or caterpillar combat, is a reminder of the simple joys of connecting with nature.
Fast facts on food waste:
Food waste contributes ¬3.7% of out total Australian emissions (and aorund 10% of emissions globally)
Of that food waste - a whopping 34% is from households, so forget blaming farmers or the big supermarkets - you have the power to make a difference!!
Amazingly, 92% of most household food waste still goes to landfill, where it decomposes producing methane "a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide to the atmosphere".
According to the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, nearly 300kgs of food is wasted in Australia per person per year, saving waste could save the average household $3,800 per year.
The more you compost (and grow your own food or herbs) the more acute you tend become to food waste and closer to saving that $3,800 a year. Watching the whole cycle through makes us a lot more conscious on how we can use up first what's in our freezer, fridge or pantry. We keep food scraps to a minimum and cut the remainder up small to help the worms get through it quicker. As I've said before - the worms are also a fantastic way to securely dispose of confidential documents!!
So, let's raise our gardening gloves to composting – may it continue to teach us, challenge us, and occasionally, make us laugh. After all, in the grand garden of life, it's the little moments of triumph (like saving a basil plant from the jaws of caterpillars) that make the journey worthwhile.
Until next time, keep composting, keep laughing, and keep those herbs safe. Your friendly neighborhood eco-warrior, signing off. Happy gardening!
Comments