Introduction
Composting is quintessential for recycling nutrients back into the soil and improving fertility to growing plants. Composting is beneficial for plant growth and the soil, but one problem with compositing is that it takes a very long time to break down organic matter. If we introduce worms to the compost than the decomposition process will get sped up and also increase fertility hand over fist. Due to the worms breaking down the green waste.
Llyod's Mission statement Producing premium Vermicasting and Soil Amendments from local, sustainable sources. Llyod started to make composting in 2009.
General Information We are dedicated to providing castings and high-quality organic soil amendments to the Humboldt County and surrounding areas.
The Arcata Farmers Market produces a large amount of waste from food and produces vendors, most of which can compost or recycled. In an attempt to make the farmers market have a zero waste goal.
[1]: Link to PowerPoint.
Ongoing Processes
Outreach to Volunteers, Community Involvement/Support, Education, Encouragement, Product Elimination, Expansion to other Humboldt County markets, Peer Pressure & Incentives
Operation
• The compostable material is discarded into 5-gallon buckets located around the Arcata square. • The buckets are emptied into 55-gallon trash cans and transported to Lloyd’s worm farm. • The compost is dumped into the first pile of a three pile system.
9:00 AM Set up the buckets and signs for the day. Gather 8 green compost buckets and 8 blue recycle buckets from the farmers’ market truck as well as 8 recycle signs, 8 compost signs, and 8 landfill signs. Place compost/ recycle bucket pairs at each corner of the Plaza next to the trash cans, up on the planter, with the signs behind them and the trash can. Place the other 4 bucket pairs in the center of the Plaza next to those 4 trash cans, up on the planters, with signs behind them.
12:00 PM Check the buckets and signs. Take a look at each compost and recycle bucket to be sure they aren't overflowing. Push down on full compost buckets or empty and refresh them. Full recycle buckets can be dumped into the main recycle bin in the center of the Plaza facing the band. Check on the signs and re-stake them as needed. Optional:If you are up for it, you may see easy to grab compostable items in the trash cans that can be picked out and put in the compost.
Maintenance
Teaching people what can be put into the compost is pivotal for success. -Distinguishing organic matter from recyclable matter -Creating clear signage is needed for this system to function properly. -Separation of all trash and recycling will help to have a healthy compost.
Page Created By: Aidan Belleau, Ben the great, Stefan Robles