Trim Your Waste Line by Composting at Home
Put Your Worms to Work
What can a pound of little wiggler worms do for your waste in the kitchen? They can help significantly reduce the amount of the garbage that ends up in our city's landfills. By composting kitchen scraps at home, most of that valuable waste can be turned into nutrient rich materials for plants and soil. Vermicomposting or worm composting is simple to do indoors in any apartment or home. A homemade or custom bin can be constructed for food waste and the benefits can be literally reaped in several weeks. Here are some basics before starting:
Any aspiring green thumb without a backyard and a limited amount of space for an apartment can compost. Composting with an indoor bin is an alternative solution for those who are seeking that famed "gardener's gold" but don't have the luxury of their own garden. That's where the worms come in. Red Wiggler Worms are your best friends when it comes to indoor composting. Pale red in color and ranging from 2-4 inches in length, you may remember these as bait, ill-fated for the end of the fishing hook but these recyclers are actually suited for a greater purpose.
Red worms are said to eat up to half its weight in food a day and are content to spend their days and nights eating your food scraps and living in the comforts of the compost bin. Not to be mistaken with other garden variety worms such as nightcrawlers which are deep soil burrowing worms, these red worms do not live underneath the soil and are therefore the perfect composting helpers. They are beneficial because they help to break down the organic residues in soil to release carbon, nitrogen, and other nutrients such as calcium which foster plant growth. This rich compost is actually the worm castings that have processed through the worm's digestive tract and which comes out as the valuable material for your plants.
What exactly can you do with that compost? Some uses for your compost include mixing in with potting soil (usually equal parts) for container plants, flower beds and nearby trees, or as topdressing. Also, you can make compost teas by mixing with water overnight to use for watering your houseplants. Your plants will look healthier for it.
So now you are ready to start your home bin. Since this is a brief primer into the larger world of vermicomposting, I highly recommend using the additional resources provide below. I got started with a few main ingredients acquired from a compost workshop. One pound of Red Wiggler Worms (depends on the size of bin and amount of food), One plastic bin with closing lid, moist bedding and food scraps are what you will start with. These will be the keys to a thriving environment: moisture, air, bedding, right temperature and food. Under ideal conditions, the bin should not smell, have any unwanted pests (the beneficial ones will also be there), and should keep your worms happily inside.
You can fashion a composter out of any plastic bin (rubbermaid storage bins work or you can purchase one from the resources below). Thoroughly wash and rinse the bin before using. It is recommended that you will need a surface area of a square foot for each pound of waste per week and it should be 8-12 inches deep. You will want the bin to be wider than deeper so the worms can spread out easily. I have one made from a clear rubbermaid storage measuring 16"x19"x12" that I purchased from one of the Lower East Side Ecology Center's informative workshops but it is also easy enough to make one yourself). Having a clear bin is also helpful for those who are curious and want to monitor the changes in the bin.
Step 1: Drill nine holes about half an inch spread out into the bottom of the bin. Drill several holes or a couple of larger holes (should add screening) on the upper sides of the bin to provide enough air for the worms. Place a tray or cardboard under your bin to collect any moisture. You will want to keep the bin somewhere with plenty of air circulating and within the temperatures of 55 and 77 degrees F, preferably a garage, basement or your kitchen. Remember to always keep your lid on the bin closed as the worms do not enjoy the light.
Step 2: Next, you will want to add the bedding that your worms will eventually consume and live in. It is this bedding where the food scraps will be buried in and where the worms will do their best work. Shred some newspapers (non-toxic black and white, no glossy colored inserts) into half an inch strips and soak in some water. Ring out excess water so that the shredded paper is damp but not drenched or soggy and add to the bin. Fluff out the paper in the bin so that it does not stick to the bottom. Add a few handfuls of soil to the bedding. You will need to fill the bin about 2/3rds full with the damp paper strips. Over the next few weeks, you will need to add more bedding as the worms consume them. Worms need the moisture to breathe in the bin so be sure to mist or spray additional water if the bedding dries out but be careful not to add too much water or the worms will drown.
Step 3: Now you will add the worms. This is the fun part. You can start with one pound of worms (that's about 1,000 new helpers) which will eat about four pounds of food waste a week. They do reproduce so you can always harvest some of them with the compost and help your friends start their own bins. When you get your worms you will want to lay them unto the top of the bedding you created and leave them to navigate their way down naturally into their new home. Leave the bin in a well lighted place for the first hour so they can find their way into the bedding where it is dark and comfortable.
Step 4: Finally, you will add the food scraps and waste that the worms will eat to eventually make the compost you will use. Organic waste such as vegetable scraps, fruit peels (in small amounts), coffee grinds and filters, tea bags (staples out), crushed egg shells and plant leaves are all fine dining for these "vegan" worms. No meat, fish, grease, or pet waste should go into the bin. For an additional list of acceptable compostable foods please check out the websites listed below. Add the scraps to the bedding by pulling up some bedding about halfway in and bury the food by covering completely with the bedding. This will discourage pests like fruit flies and unwanted odor.
Get to know your bin and make sure it is not showing signs of distress. In about six to eight weeks or so you will need to harvest the compost. This will keep your worms healthy. By then the bin's contents should resemble dark crumbly soil and when ready should smell very earthy and odorless. Push all the food scraps to one half of the bin for a few weeks. Eventually the worms will work their way to the food source and move from one side of the bin. Once all the worms are residing in the other half, you can take out the vermicompost that is free of the worms and the food. Do the same thing to the other side of the bin and you will have plenty of compost to sprinkle on houseplants. Scoop up some of your worms to give away to other future home composters or as housewarming gifts. You may need to experiment and play around with your new ecosystem to get the ideal conditions but there is always help.
Joshua Cohen who is the Project Manager of the Urban Composting Program at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden strongly advises that anyone trying vermicomposting at home should attend one of the free workshops to better understand the process and know what to expect when composting indoors. There is also a helpline available at (718) 623-7290 or email at compost@bbg.org.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden (www.bbg.org) features Home Composting Exhibits and compost bin displays. Their composting workshops are given in both Spanish and English and you can purchase a Garden Gourmet compost bin there for $20. Classes offer a wealth of information and troubleshooting tips for any beginning composter. Funded by the Department of Sanitation, these workshops are offered by all the boroughs' four Botanic Gardens and the Lower East Side Ecology Center in Manhattan. Each Garden also has the certified Master Composter Program for those who want to take composting education even further.
But what if you can't compost at home? You can bring your food scraps to your local community garden for composting. Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Bushwick have some of the finest gardens that are active in composting:
Green Dome - A Volunteers Garden near McCarren Park located on North 12th St between Driggs and Union Aves in Williamsburg is open from Dusk until Dawn every day and feature three very prominent composting bins.
Sunshine Community Garden on McKibbon St between Graham St and Manhattan Ave in Bushwick is also active in composting and have hosted workshops there with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
6/15 Green Community Garden – a little further out on 6th Avenue & 15th Street in Park Slope is a public compost site open Saturdays 10 am to 2 pm, Sundays 4 - 8 pm, and Thursdays 6 - 8 pm, or whenever the gate is open.
If your local community garden does not currently compost, ask them to start or search for a garden through Greenthumb (www.greenthumbnyc.org) by calling (212) 788-8070 or map one on www.oasisnyc.net.
April is the hottest month for compost aficionados with free compost givebacks, wormshops and related e-waste recycling events. You can receive free compost at these giveback events on Saturday and Sunday April 8th and 9th and April 22nd and 23rd between 8am and 2pm at the Spring Creek Composting Facility in Brooklyn (Flatlands and Fountain Aves). Free to all NYC residents, bring your own pails or bags to collect the compost. Also discounted pre-made compost bins will be sold there for $20 (usually $70).
Lower East Side Ecology Center holds many invaluable workshops in the city where you can buy worms and a pre made discounted bin for only $10 or a voucher for pickup at the 14th Street Union Square Green Market. You can also purchase worms and bins from the center at their regular price without attending their workshops. Their website at www.lesecologycenter.org has plenty of news and information. Wormshops are available for teachers and schools by reaching the rotline at 212-477-3155.
Berry Street Garden on Berry St between South 2nd and
3rd St will be happy take compostable scraps. The
hours are 12-2pm but you can look for Juan during the
mornings in the garden or drop off at the gate.
Red Shed Community Garden on 266 Skillman Ave and
Conselyea St just started their compost bin last year
and encourage member drop offs.
A more comprehensive and current list of compost happenings can be found on www.nyccompost.org and additional helpful tips on www.compostguide.com.
You may begin composting!
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The Loudest Little Street in the Land
A Humorous Complaint
By Scott Robertson
It’s 6 a.m. on a Tuesday morning, my alarm clock doesn’t go off for another three hours, but yet I am awake. I live on Devoe Street.
I escaped to Williamsburg from Manhattan three years ago, after hearing from my close circle of friends about the quiet calm that seemingly comes with waking and working in Brooklyn.
Well, as fate would have it, a quaint one-bedroom on Devoe Street had my name on the door and I couldn’t wait to live on what I thought was the perfect Brooklyn street. Taking a stroll down Devoe it’s hard not to fall in love. The straight and shady blacktop is outlined by green sidewalk trees and warm tiny homes, it’s exactly what I had pictured Brooklyn to be, a small and peaceful place, complete with cannolis, luncheonettes and grandparents.
Over the past three years Devoe Street has most certainly lived up to my father’s “I remember when…” anecdotes about when the Dodgers called Brooklyn their home. However, I’m pretty sure it’s a creative choice when he chooses to omit the hours between 6 and 9 a.m., when my transient neighbors pay Devoe Street a brief, but noisy visit.
I would like to introduce you to my diverse collection of daily alarm clocks.
Con-Ed Mondays
I know that electricity is important, but so is a good night’s sleep. Con Edison vans park along Devoe Street so often you’d think they were part of an undercover sting operation. Maybe that’s it? Yes, Operation Wake Up! It’s as if the epicenter of New York City’s electricity supply is located directly outside of my bedroom, below the unassuming concrete. Why not pick on Ainslie or Powers every once in a while, they need electricity too. And by the way, the only people that should be drilling at 8 a.m. are dentists.
Fire Truck Tuesdays
Sure, firemen are a vital part of any community, and their ability to respond quickly and adeptly is essential. However, when my neighbor across the street burns his morning toast, that is not an appropriate time to let loose the entire fleet. Maybe they just like sliding down that fun pole any chance they get, understandable, but why the obsession with Devoe? A fire truck can barely fit down this snug street, so there is no need to send two or three at a time with their symphony of sirens. Next week when my neighbor cooks breakfast please park your chariots on Graham Avenue; it’s just a few blocks away from his well-done omelet.
KeySpan Wednesdays
Yes, central air conditioning is as miraculous an invention as penicillin, but I’m starting to think that KeySpan and Con-Ed are both involved in this mysterious Devoe Street sting operation. Unlike Con-Ed however, KeySpan enjoys leaving the engine of their trucks running, which is odd, as they are supposed to be helping us use energy more efficiently. Perhaps they think the excruciating rumble of the engine muffles the sounds of the worker thrusting his way through the pavement with one of the most repugnant machines on the planet. Ya know, the one that looks like a pogo stick.
Helicopter Thursdays
There doesn’t appear to be a lot of traffic on Devoe Street, nor is it a central bridge, tunnel or highway, but that doesn’t stop the flocks of helicopters that hover over it like seagulls above the ocean. Perhaps these helicopters are the Air Force Division of Operation Wake Up? Whatever their purpose may be, I’m sure it could be easily accomplished by blimps, and who doesn’t like blimps?
Pavement Fridays
Devoe Street has many potholes, granted they are mostly caused by Con-Ed and KeySpan’s incessant drive for destruction; they still need to be fixed. Have you ever seen a road get paved? It’s a ballet of bulldozers that chew and spew your street like cud. It sounds a little bit like hell I imagine and probably smells worse. The problem is however, the endless cycle that ensues. Con-Ed and KeySpan dig their holes and do their damage, the bulldozers and other asphalt machines pave the street anew; then Con-Ed and KeySpan come back the following week only to break ground once more. Poor Devoe Street, just when it gets comfortable with an imposed makeover, the surgeons return to nip and tuck.
Marching Band Saturdays
I’m all for holidays, little leagues and the impulsive celebration, but what’s with the full ensemble marching bands? Brooklyn is chock-full of talented teenagers, but it has to be the snare drum capital of the world. While I am fond of the occasional rendition of reveille, I was unaware that I’m based at Fort Devoe.
Neighbor/Honker Sundays:
My neighbors are sweet and kind and fill the air with the delightful scents of their unrivaled home cooking, but a few of them seem to think that Sunday morning is soapbox time. I’m not sure exactly what they rant and rave about, but it probably has to do with the Devoe Street recycling schedule or a car parked too many inches from the curb. These issues are important, but let the rooster crow first, then begin your shouting match. Oh yeah, the honkers. I don’t know who these people are, but they seem to suffer from Turrets Syndrome, honking uncontrollably for no reason during the still hours of Sunday morning. You know those “Don’t Honk” signs, the ones that come with a “$350 penalty”. Well, I don’t know if they have ever been enforced, but I’m going to buy one on eBay and hang it up on Devoe, the loudest little street in the land.
Sleep tight.
