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Composting
Top 10 Reasons to Compost
1-Feel good about yourself-Be environmentally responsible
2-Save money-Reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and mulch
3-Create a gorgeous and healthy landscape
4-Improve the quality of your soil
5-Reduce the amount of yard waste going to the landfill
6-Protect the Chesapeake Bay and watershed
7-Decrease water use in your landscape
8-Protect your privacy-It's a final resting place for your shredded personal papers
9-It's easy! Compost happens!
10- Free bin to Howard County residents makes it even easier
Composting removes your grass chippings, weeds, leaves and other yard trimmings from of the waste stream and turns them into a valuable soil amendment, It's the ultimate recycling activity, and you can do it in your backyard.
Backyard composting basics are fairly straightforward: layer equal amounts (by volume) of green, nitrogen-rich materials (grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, weeds, plants, and/or manure) with brown, carbon-rich materials (dry leaves, shredded paper, sawdust, wood chips, and/or wood ash), adding some finished compost or soil between the layers, if desired, to boost the microbial levels. Water the layers so that the pile is about as wet as a wrung out sponge. Then, let it rot! As the microorganisms, earthworms, centipedes and other decomposers in the pile feed, the pile will shrink to a fraction of its original volume. The decomposition can happen without much intervention on your part, but making sure that the pile has adequate moisture and oxygen is important to the health and efficiency of your compost pile. Turning the pile periodically using a pitchfork will aerate and help speed up the process, as will adding water
The pile should be at least 3x3x3 feet, and probably not more than 5x5x5 feet. A bin is not necessary for the compost pile, but helps keep it neat. You can construct a bin from chicken wire, old pallets, lumber, or snow fencing. Various types of bins are commercially available. Free black plastic bins are available to residents from Howard County.
Alpha Ridge Landfill, Centennial Park (near boat launch), Howard County Conservancy, and Schooley Mill Park (near horse ring-- Red worm composting demonstrations too!)
Our 2009 Demonstartion Schedule:
April 2009
Saturday, April 4 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge, Centennial
Wednesday April 8 • 7pm • Schooley Mill
Saturday, April 11 • 11 am • Howard County Conservancy
Saturday, April 18 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge
Tuesday, April 21 • 7 pm • Centennial
Saturday, April 25 • 10 am • Schooley Mill
May 2009
Saturday, May 2 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge, Centennial
Saturday, May 9 • 11 am • Howard County Conservancy
Wednesday May 13 • 7pm • Schooley Mill
Saturday, May 16 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge
Tuesday, May 19 • 7 pm • Centennial
Saturday, May 23 • 10 am • Schooley Mill
June 2009
Saturday, June 6 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge, Centennial
Wednesday June 10 • 7pm • Schooley Mill
Saturday, June 13 • 11 am • Howard County Conservancy
Tuesday, June 16 • 7 pm • Centennial
Saturday, June 20 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge
Saturday, June 27 • 10 am • Schooley Mill
July 2009
Saturday, July 4 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge, Centennial
Saturday, July 11 • 11 am • Howard County Conservancy
Wednesday July 15 • 7pm • Schooley Mill
Saturday, July 18 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge
Tuesday, July 21 • 7 pm • Centennial
Saturday, July 25 • 9 am • Schooley Mill
August 2009
Saturday, August 1 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge, Centennial
Saturday, August 8 • 11 am • Howard County Conservancy
Wednesday August 12 • 7pm • Schooley Mill
Saturday, August 15 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge
Tuesday, August 18 • 7 pm • Centennial
Saturday, August 22 • 9 am • Schooley Mill
September 2009
Saturday, September 5 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge, Centennial
Wednesday September 9 • 6pm • Schooley Mill
Saturday, September 12 • 11 am • Howard County Conservancy
Tuesday, September 15 • 6 pm • Centennial
Saturday, September 19 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge
Saturday, September 26 • 9 am • Schooley Mill
October 2009
Saturday, October 3 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge, Centennial
Saturday, October 10 • 11 am • Howard County Conservancy
Wednesday October 14 • 6pm • Schooley Mill
Saturday, October 17 • 9 am • Alpha Ridge
Tuesday, October 20 • 6 pm • Centennial
Saturday, October 24 • 10 am • Schooley Mill
More information about composting is available at from the University of Maryland's Home and Garden Information Center at http://www.hgic.umd.edu/_media/documents/hg35_002.pdf
Interested in composting but don't have room in your yard for a compost pile? Consider indoor redworm composting. http://www.hgic.umd.edu/_media/documents/IndoorRedwormCompostingHG40pfv.pdf
Need more information? Contact mgcompostdemo@verizon.net
For more information, contact WebMaster
Last updated: 06/9/2009