According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2018, 103 million tons of food were wasted in America. This is an alarmingly high amount, and it's only continuing to grow.
This organic waste ends up in landfills and over time, releasing methane, a greenhouse gas. In these environmentally challenging times, we must reduce the impact that organic waste makes.
Imagine if you could somehow make use of this “trash” and do more good than harm? Well, with composting, you can.
What is Composting
Compost is created through the mixing of organic waste, bulking agents, and by giving them time to stabilize. This combust can be used as a substitute for soil in planting and is one of the solutions to food wastage.
Decomposition is a natural process of organic matter over time. However, through composting, we provide this matter—food, grass, and plants—with a suitable environment to speed up the process. This is done by providing bacteria, insects, worms, etc., with an adequate environment to work their magic.
Why You Should Compost
What started as climate change has now turned into a climate emergency. People must take action at the individual level and make healthier and more conscious decisions.
This is why more and more people are beginning to garden and grow fruits and vegetables in greenhouses in their backyard. This gives them fresh fruits and vegetables, and also reduces the harm that transportation does to the planet.
Moreover, when fruits and vegetables are mass-produced, farmers use chemical fertilizers which instead of taking carbon dioxide from the air, release it back into the environment, thereby doing more harm than good. This is also avoidable when people grow their food.
Instead of chemical fertilizers, compost can be used to ensure healthier growth in plants.
Environmental Benefits
Compost is good for the environment due to a multitude of reasons. When organic material accumulates in landfills, over time, they produce methane. But when this organic waste is turned into compost, the production of methane is reduced significantly.
Moreover, compost is useful for reforestation, it enhances water retention in soil, and is a cost-effective alternative. Compost can be used as a substitute for chemical fertilizers and gives a higher agricultural yield.
Composting 101
Composting requires four elements: Nitrogen, Carbon, air, and Water. Nitrogen and carbon are provided by your green and brown organic waste, respectively. Fresh waste, such as kitchen scraps, and dry waste, such as twigs and newspaper.
Meat, dairy, and animal feces should be avoided as they will attract pests and animals and slow down the composting process.
A Composter for Your Treasure
So, the trash in your house is a treasure waiting to be found! Instead of using manual methods and household containers, invest in a composter today to smooth out the process.
At Mulberry Greenhouses, we offer large and small greenhouse kits along with affordable greenhouse accessories. The accessories include a range of products, such as a portable outdoor sink, Automatic Greenhouse Watering System, and most important, composters!
For more details, get in touch with us today.