I have been eager to try both these concepts out; it sounds so green and romantic..turning waste into something useful. But first, I’ll have to learn about it. What better way than to research and blog on it..
Here’s some information from Sierra Club on Composting:Composting is just as important as recycling. As food and other organic waste decomposes anaerobically in the landfill, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas that’s more than 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide. Because composting is an aerobic process, it only produces carbon dioxide and not methane.
This is probably as good a definition as any of Composting: A process whereby organic wastes, including paper, food scraps, and yard trimmings, decompose naturally, resulting in a product rich in minerals and ideal for gardening and farming.
Yearly Impact:If the average family composted regularly, that household would prevent about 30 pounds of methane emissions per year, the equivalent of around 620 pounds of carbon dioxide.
So, it turns out (Thank God!) there is more than one variety of composting. You can reduce waste and give your garden a healthy dose of nutrients by composting food scraps and yard clippings. Or, if wigglers don’t give you the willies, give vermi-composting a try. For those who feel space may be an issue; compost bins and worm condos come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some communities also pool their resources and form massive compost heaps. I think I might like to try that approach initially.Try composting at home, or contribute your organic matter to a community garden!! Here are some good sites that give plenty of tips to hep get started.
And this is what grist.org has to say about Hydroponics:1 hour build- This version is designed to be easy to assemble for folks who want to try out a window-farm but are not quite ready to build the structure needed for larger window-farms. This system grows three plants and costs less than $30. The basic configuration includes three bottles that act as plant holders, a bottom reservoir to capture/hold water, and tubing to move water through the system. It also utilizes a small air pump that uses water displacement to elevate the water up to the top of the system, where it can then trickle down through each plant.
