Will mad cow prevention mean pollution? Nov 22, 2008
Carolyn Kaster / APA bone from a dairy cow sits atop a compost pile on a farm in Lititz, Pa ... Farmers already routinely bury, abandon or compost millions of cattle carcasses each year without serious environmental problems, according to the FDA. ... According to the FDA's own environmental assessment of the new rule, abandoning dead cattle or improperly burying or composting them can cause foul odors; pollute soil, groundwater and streams; and attract insects and scavengers. (MSNBC -- Environment)
Mad cow safeguard carries its own risks Nov 22, 2008
Bones from a dairy cow lie in a compost pile on a farm in Lititz, Pa ... Farmers already routinely bury, abandon or compost millions of cattle carcasses each year without serious environmental problems, according to the FDA. ... According to the FDA's own environmental assessment of the new rule, abandoning dead cattle or improperly burying or composting them can cause foul odors; pollute soil, groundwater and streams; and attract insects and scavengers. (Athens Banner-Herald)
PCA students prepare for garden project Nov 22, 2008
A large school garden has been drawn out architecturally, designating a raised bed for each classroom, plantings for borders and trees, and a large compost pile ... The compost pile also welcomes all the rinds and peelings from the fresh produce. (Princeton Bureau County Republican, IL)
Through the Woods: Winter Pantry Nov 22, 2008
If you have a compost pile, you may have witnessed some changes already. Ever wonder what happens to old pumpkins and squash, and the fields of them that are not harvested. (Hillsdale Independent, NY)
Unearth black gold from yard compost Nov 21, 2008
While it is most often associated with oil, gardeners worth their salt will associate the phrase with compost. Compost is that dark, crumbly, organic material that is often a prerequisite for the green thumb ... Despite being a larger quantity than most home gardeners put in a compost pile, it had broken down and become unrecognizable. (Herald Online, SC -- Lifestyles)
Choose an Amaryllis for Brilliant E... Nov 21, 2008
Examining the bulb is not always possible as these bulbs are often sold prepacked with compost and a decorative flower-pot ... Plant the bulb in mixed compost, half moss-peat and half grit ... Leave about 1/3 of the bulb above the compost. (Suite101.com)
Compost improves the garden Nov 21, 2008
Many gardeners, though, would rather make and add their own amendments by composting. Compost is a black, crumbly, partially decomposed organic residue ... Fall is a good time to start a compost pile because there is an abundance of material to compost. (The Augusta Chronicle)
Coastal voices: Don't miss out on local events Nov 21, 2008
They took me in hand and educated me on worms, which I wanted for my compost pile. They showed me several sites where the healthy critters were munching away on pineapple ends, etc. (Daily Triplicate)
Midd alums continue environmental activism Nov 20, 2008
The Middlebury Campus. Issue date: 11/20/08 Section. (Middlebury College -- The Campus, VT)
Dr. Jesse, B.A. Nov 20, 2008
More importantly, though, several types of worms have been receiving waves of media coverage in the past decade because they have the ability to turn all kinds of toxic waste into nutrient-rich compost, usable as detoxified fertilizer. The best part about worm labor is that they don't care about their working conditions, as long as there is garbage or something funky to munch on - one species' idea of a corner office is a pile of manure. (Middlebury College -- The Campus, VT)
The promise of poo power? Nov 19, 2008
Pet owners and environmental groups debate about whether it's kosher to put pet waste into backyard compost bins. Most scientists warn against it because the compost doesn't heat up enough to kill pathogens such as E. coli, which could be bad news if the compost is used in a vegetable garden ... Industrial composters are a safer bet because they usually reach temperatures of 160 degrees hot enough to kill even the hardiest pathogens. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Green thumbs up: Winterize your landscape Nov 18, 2008
Shriveled plants are removed from the pots and added to my primary compost heap, while the residual used potting soil is collected in a separate pile. When spring comes, it serves as an ideal, organic additive for planting perennials or preparing new beds. (Kingston Mariner, MA)
How to Grow Fall Blooming Chrysanth... Nov 18, 2008
Sandy and other quick draining soils will need aged compost added to the soil zone to help retain soil moisture. Consistency in soil moisture is required for optimum growth for most plants especially mums. (Suite101.com)
• State officials solve mystery of floating beets Nov 18, 2008
Sonny Buhidar, the Department of Environmental Quality regional water quality manager, said the unidentified feedlot owner has since cleaned up many of the beets that were in the creek _ and moved his compost pile back from the water. Information from: The Times-News, http://www. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
Burning Kumquat looks to increase crop yield Nov 17, 2008
The co-op s crops include all kinds of vegetables and produce, and are grown using compost and natural organic fertilizers instead of chemicals. Students organized the Burning Kumquat near the end of last year and eventually developed a hierarchy of what one of its members, junior Hitomi Inoue, calls farmigarchs. (Washington University Student Life, MO)
By Lynn Welp Nov 17, 2008
When you transplant, use this opportunity to amend the soil with compost and use a root stimulator. Olsen-Haworth recommends watered-down liquid fertilizer at half-strength and low in nitrogen for fall application. (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)
Hospitals take part in effort to reduce waste, emissions Nov 17, 2008
State-own cancer hospital Dharmais in West Jakarta has been reducing its electricity and water usage, reusing paper and producing compost out of its organic waste for years, said head of public relations and domestic affairs at Dharmais, Bambang Purwanto, in a recent interview. Dharmais has been encouraging staff members to reuse administration papers and recycle organic waste as compost fertilizer for the past five years, Bambang said ... He said the hospital produced up to a ton of compost... (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- City)
City digs up ways to tighten budget belt Nov 16, 2008
Compost, used to keep turf grasses and flower beds healthy, and gravel cushion for trails are examples of operating supplies. So are things like basketballs, baseball bases and tennis nets, but Gaukler said Parks and Rec is going to try to approach the replacement delays in ways that aren't noticeable, at least in the short term. (Missoulian, MT)
There are lots of chores for the November gardener Nov 16, 2008
Turn your compost one last time before freezing temperatures set in ... Spent plants can be composted if they were not affected by disease ... Compost and manure can be added to the garden and tilled in if needed to increase nutrients and organic matter. (Westerly Sun, RI)
Use nature's fall leaves to nurture your garden Nov 15, 2008
You can save time and money, and have a more beautiful yard and garden, if you turn those leaves into mulch or compost ... To reap the benefits of autumn leaves, you don't need to buy anything special or even make a compost pile ... You can make compost with your leaves, a source of garden "black gold." Choose between two leaf composting methods, slow or fast. (Herald Online, SC -- Lifestyles)
Mullis: Fall leaves will make good mulch Nov 14, 2008
Many gardeners use leaves in their compost pile or vegetable garden, which is great. But too many gardeners shy from using them because they are less attractive than other materials and they may blow away. (The Augusta Chronicle)
Fight against falling leaves: Getting rid of pesky foliage doesn't have to be a chore Nov 14, 2008
Which is precisely why many communities ban leaf burning, requiring residents to either compost them or bag them to be hauled away ... Weather-resistant, biodegrad-able paper bags are more eco-friendly than the polyethylene-based bags that can't be composted with yard waste or burned, but are more expensive, have a smaller capacity and are difficult to find in stores. (Carroll County Times)
Plantations struggle as CPO prices in free fall Nov 14, 2008
Efforts are underway to use fertilizers more efficiently and to look at replacing costly chemical-based fertilizers with natural organic compost waste. The drop in oil and gas prices should help bring down fertilizer prices, although companies have yet to notice and confirm this trend. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Business)
They Turned Trivial Pursuit into a Game Show. Roll Again. Nov 12, 2008
The big prize (10 days of eco-tourism in Costa Rica) is as predictable as the stage patter ("Be sure to catch our next show, where I'll be composting the script for this week!"). But don't the rules of keeping a compost pile forbid the addition of manure. (Slate)
How to Build Your Own Pet Waste Com... Nov 11, 2008
How to Build Your Own Pet Waste Composter: An Odour Free Way to Keep Your Dogs Poop Out of Landfills ... How to Build Your Own Pet Waste Composter ... How to Build Your Own Pet Waste Composter. (Suite101.com)
To sleep, perchance to dream Nov 9, 2008
Compost leaves if you have space or shred 'em and till or dig into vegetable and annual flower beds ... Toss diseased plants and compost the rest ... Dig or till fresh compost or shredded leaves into the vegetable and annual flower beds. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
End of Year One in the Peace Corps Nov 9, 2008
We are showing how to grow food with more sustainable practices such as organic compost and green manures. The best part is now the neighbors are starting to notice and want to try some of our techniques. (Ames Daily Tribune, IA)
Why composting is a good idea Nov 9, 2008
The Tumbelweed Compost Tumbler from Clean Air Gardening makes compost quickly and keeps the material off the ground and away from varmints. Lauren Seiple has been composting her entire life ... Even though she now lives in an apartment, she continues to compost, but now she has the help of worms, something called vermicomposting. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
All the little bits add up Nov 9, 2008
"I tried composting in the back yard but had to give that up when the dog got interested in [eating] the pile. Then I went vegetarian for six months but got bored with the diet. Maybe because I didn't know what to eat or didn't like what I was eating." ... Mrs. Weiss started the vermicomposting project in 1990 as part of a display for the town's celebration of the 20th Earth Day and kept the worms going for 10 years ... Mr. Weiss mows his small yard with an electric lawnmower and there's a... (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Authors say you can overwinter tender perennials Nov 9, 2008
You ve probably already brought in your geraniums at least I hope you did, because if not, those below-freezing nights likely polished them off and they are only good for the compost heap. But did you know there are lots of other plants you could be overwintering in the house. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
Plant your own veg garden Nov 8, 2008
If you've got a sandy or clay soil, you can amend its properties by adding some topsoil or compost, which should include any biodegradable substance made from livestock manure. This should be applied at least once in the spring and once in autumn. (iAfrica.com)
Judy Eisenberg: Putting the garden to bed for the winter Nov 8, 2008
Compost non-diseased cuttings ... Annuals: Pull up by the roots and compost non-diseased residue ... Apply 3 to 4 inches of organic compost to vegetable bed. (Somerville Journal, MA)
Opportunities, challenges of going organic Nov 7, 2008
If you don't have enough compost ready you will need to purchase it and then you will spend more time and labor spreading the fertilizer compared to if you were using chemicals ... He sells granulated compost and finds that his customers prefer it to bulk compost because the granules make the compost feel and look like chemical fertilizers ... "We have a dozen cows here now and in the future we plan to seek assistance to obtain more so that we can produce enough compost to sell as well. "We... (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
Tedrow: Chopping, composting better for turf Nov 7, 2008
Or try your hand at composting. Use those chopped leaves as part of a balanced compost pile. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Free trees Saturday at Kmart back parking lot Nov 7, 2008
Additionally, free compost will be available along with species-specific care instructions. The Kahulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program funds the program through a grant via the Garden Island Resource Conservation and Development and the program has been able to expand over the past several years. (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
The real magic of mushrooms Nov 7, 2008
In one day scavenging compost outside the city of Changchun, Wenping found 53 different fungi. Only one may turn out to have enzymes that will convert corn waste, said Wenping, who is based at Novozymes's headquarters in Bagsvaerd, Denmark. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Time to tuck in the gems of summer Nov 6, 2008
Cut down the dead tops of perennials and annuals (but not woody shrubs), and compost everything except disease-prone foliage, invasive weeds, and weed seeds, which should be bagged as trash ... Rake or blow leaves from lawns, ground cover plantings and paved areas, and alternately layer them in your compost pile with green material cut down in your veggie and flower beds ... In 18 months they will have turned to leaf mold, a rich weedless type of compost. (Boston Globe)
The Begonia is a Popular Home and G... Nov 6, 2008
Push the wedges into compost, do not let them overlap and cover the tray with clear plastic to increase humidity. After 4-6 weeks new sprouts should appear. (Suite101.com)
Schoolchildren's exchange returns from campaign trail Nov 6, 2008
"We have started a compost kit and an organic garden at our school.". The students also sent one to Sen. (Florida Times-Union)
How to Grow Organic Roses Nov 4, 2008
Roses are heavy feeders, so the compost application that satisfies most other perennials in the organic garden won t be enough to the high-performing rose bush. Fishmeal, dried blood, and cottonseed meal are two excellent sources of nitrogen for roses, ensuring healthy leaf production. (Suite101.com)
Maintaining Curb Appeal Through Winter Nov 4, 2008
Neatly rake leaves and debris and place your compost pile in the back or side yard; you don't want anything to distract from the beauty of your home. If you live in an area that experiences harsh winters, it's understandable that your yard isn't exactly going to be lush. (RealtyTimes)
Pumpkin growers 1,118-pound entry places at Topsfield Fair Nov 4, 2008
The patch is prepared in the fall, and lots of manure and compost and maple leaves are added. Q: Wow, 1,100 pounds, how did they get that big. (Billerica Minuteman, MA)
Green teens take the lead, wait for govt to reciprocate Nov 4, 2008
It will turn into a compost that can be used for our school's plants. It is practical and economical. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- City)
Turf Needs TLC Too Nov 2, 2008
Organic gardeners like to spread about an inch of organic compost (not manure, not leaf mold, and not chemical fertilizers but organic compost) over their lawns at this time of year ... Purchase Organic Fertilizers and Compost ... Look in your phonebook for an area company that offers organic compost. (Suite101.com)
Garlic: Love It or Hate It! Nov 2, 2008
Add four to six inches of compost in the planting area and work into the soil. Plant between September and November. (Suite101.com)
November Waterwise Garden Chores Nov 2, 2008
Putting leaves in compost bins ... Time to add compost or organic fertilizers to the lawn. (Suite101.com)
Extension connection: Planting a leisure lifestyle Nov 2, 2008
If it is hard-packed or a heavy clay, add organic matter such as compost, leaf mold or peat moss to improve drainage. Your local nursery center may offer help in selecting bulbs and suggestions for planting. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
Come on in, the gardening's fine Oct 30, 2008
Scattered about the tabletop are votive candles and a few knobby yellow squash that crashed this year's compost pile. The table's getting a little crowded. (Herald Online, SC -- Lifestyles)
A modern-day knights tale Oct 30, 2008
Marvin s has donated plants, compost, fertilizer, equipment use, labor and more for years, Duren said, because it supports the knights dedication to organic gardening. I m 30, and I ve been working in the gardens and grounds there since I was about 10, when my dad would bring me, he said of company founder Marvin Duren. (Cincinnati Business Courier, OH)
Guerilla tactics in a vegie empire Oct 29, 2008
I then dumped several barrow loads of our premium quality triple-A rated compost, all the while being beeped by passing drivers, who otherwise expressed their enthusiasm by requesting that I display certain parts of my anatomy to them. Once the soil was prepped, I planted a row of tomato seedlings - which I had thinned from my garden inside - plus a selection of seeds, including a cucumber called a Lebanese Mini-Muncher, and the space-saving pumpkin delicata, which grows in a bush rather than on... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Composting Fall Leaves Turns Garden Trash into Treasure Oct 29, 2008
You may already know that composting is a better way to deal with bags of leaves and backyard waste. But if you've avoided composting because it seems like too much work and mess -- or you just weren't sure how to start -- fall is a great time to try your hand at turning this year's yard debris into next year's natural fertilizer ... Composting delivers many benefits. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
Students 4 Sustainability Oct 29, 2008
For their morning snack and lunch, beside the edible items, everything else on the table is recyclable or compostable ... They'll put anything not recyclable into the compost bin next to the school's garden. (W-USA News, DC)
Downtown eatery goes green Oct 28, 2008
"They use local ingredients and compostable implements: straws, cups, plates and all compostable containers. They will compost them for you as opposed to being tossed for you.". Elaine Meder-Wilgus, owner of Webster's, said though she hasn't gone through the Green certification process, she has been using environmentally friendly practices for years. (Daily Collegian, PA)
Seminars on growing a healthy yard being offered (3) Oct 28, 2008
Several presenters will deliver PowerPoint presentations and there will be outdoor visits, including a wagon ride to a prairie bottom field and a stop at a food compost machine. Topics will include converting a lawn to a prairie, building a rain garden, producing and using compost, preventing soil erosion in the urban setting, and native plants for flower beds. (Jefferson City News Tribune, MO)
Composting Supplies for Gardeners Oct 28, 2008
Gardening Accessories to Help Make Organic Compost Quick and Easy. Organic gardeners who aren't getting quick results from their composting methods can speed up the decomposition process with these compost helpers ... An ample supply of compost is necessary to a thriving organic garden, but sometimes a home compost pile can t keep up with the gardener s need for humus. (Suite101.com)
Water tips from Seattle can pay off Oct 28, 2008
When yard and food wastes are composted at home or sent away to be composted through the city or county, we re keeping carbon-rich organic material out of the landfill ... Composting, however, allows these organic materials to break down aerobically (with oxygen) ... When you use compost, soil organisms store much of the carbon dioxide as organic matter. (Corvallis Gazette Times, OR)
Neighbors raise stink over compost Oct 28, 2008
ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman Steam rises Monday morning from more than a dozen mounds of compost left in a field at the corner of Trunk Road and the Palmer-Wasilla Highway ... Wally Evans, an environmental programs specialist with the Department of Environmental Conservation, said he had been touch with the people at Evergreen and said they planned to move the manure and grass compost pile today or Wednesday to another farm in the Valley. (Wasilla Frontiersman, AK)
Keys to keeping your money in tough times Oct 27, 2008
"Products made with recycled materials generally cost 40 to 70 percent less to manufacture; in time, this will translate into savings for all of us. Compost food waste; grow your own vegetables and buy produce locally.". Chadwick would have you sell your poor investments for "tax-loss harvesting" and get a tax benefit on your 2008 return. (New Britain Herald, CT)
Green thumbs up: Nows the time to divide and transplant perennials Oct 26, 2008
Cut back withered foliage and discard in the trash to minimize perpetuation of leaf diseases that can overwinter on the ground or in compost piles. Lift the entire clump and air dry until the soil can be carefully brushed away from the tree-like roots to reveal their reddish-pink buds, referred to as eyes. (Kingston Mariner, MA)
Lower gas prices help boost businesses Oct 23, 2008
The Barnesville company, which hauls organic trash and turns it into compost, was spending up to $1,500 more per month on fuel. Now, with prices falling, the company has decided that money can be used to create a new job. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Business)
Choose the Best Compost Bin Oct 22, 2008
Compare Home Composters for Your Organic Garden. Gardeners must compare the features of tumbling compost bins, wire compost bins, and plastic composters before buying this essential equipment for the organic garden ... After one season of spending a premium on bagged compost, most organic gardeners decide to invest in a system. (Suite101.com)
Green Gardening: Save Time, Money and the Environment Oct 22, 2008
Or use the shredded leaves in your compost pile. Combine fall leaves with other plant waste, a bit of soil or compost, and a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer like Milorganite to create compost. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
Green Thoughts: Hail To The Queen Oct 22, 2008
Wednesday 22 October, 2008. Mysterious holes eaten into sweet potato vine leaves are made by an even more mysterious golden beetle. (Hillsdale Independent, NY)
Guerillas in our midst Oct 21, 2008
For around $40 members get a start-up kit of seeds, compost and instructions -- as well as the support of one of dozens of community representatives that help sort out any horticultural problems. A ground force of community action. (CNN -- International)
Rien Surie: The passion(ate) fruit grower Oct 21, 2008
The leaves, she said, could be used as compost and the stems in fogging insecticide to kill pests found on the vines. In 2003, Rien, a law graduate from Muhammadiyah University, Jakarta, began to make passion fruit syrup in large quantities for sale in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi and Bali. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
