THINK COMPOSTING TOO HARD? THINK AGAIN
You know the good reasons for composting those food scraps like replenishing the soil’s vitality, supporting a healthy soil ecosystem that reduces the need for pesticides and synthetic fertilizer (made from oil), less landfill use and subsequent release of greenhouse gasses and saving money (your money and community funds) to name a few. Despite the good reasons, composting those food scraps often seems daunting. Now, an organization that does the composting for you has come to our area. This organization will take your food scraps and turn them into rich soil at a modest cost and little effort on your part.
This organization, based in Shawnee Kansas is called “Food Cycle Kansas City LCC”. It operates some pick-up services in the Kansas City area and even services apartment buildings and commercial entities. Go to https://www.foodcyclekc.com for a full listing of places they serve. In the Lawrence area there is a “bucket-swap” service, but no pick-up service. There are two places for the swap, The MERC CO-OP, 901 Iowa St. on Saturday’s 9-12 noon or the Lawrence Farmer’s Market, 824 New Hampshire (April-Nov.) from 7-11:30 AM.
The system is very simple. Go to the website, sign up for the service for a $10 fee. You will be given a 3 -gallon bucket with a tightly filling lid. When full, return the full bucket, get a clean bucket and pay a fee of $6.00. The scraps go to a family- owned farm in Johnson County, where it is turned into “gardener’s gold”. The finished product is given to school-yard gardens, urban farms and even participants in the program like you. You may choose to be placed on a list to receive a certain amount of rich soil back for your own plants. The website lists what items can and cannot be placed in the recycling bucket. The website also lists resources for you to consider as well as commercial partners that help fund the process. This service makes it so simple to be a part of renewing the soil.
EARTH STEWARD ACTION: Decide to finally recycle food scraps that your family generates. Choose this service or a DIY project.
SOIRCES: Https://www.foodcuclekc.com , https://www.epa.gov/recycle/compostimg-home
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/how-to-use-food-scraps (A guide to use leftover scraps before they become ready for the scrap bucket.)