May 29th is National Learn about Composting Day in the USA.
Compost Action Day / Protect the Environment
Composting is a good and above all easy way for everyone to reuse a wide range of things that would otherwise just end up unnecessarily in the trash. Especially in May, when the beds are being prepared and the vegetables and flowers are being planted, the compost serves as fertilizer and is used a lot.
– Sustainable living and economic activity with a view to future generations. –
The word compost comes from the Latin and means “put together”. Compost refers to the collection site, the material deposited there and the product created by the decomposition. Composting describes the part of the nutrient cycle in which organic material is broken down by soil organisms under the influence of atmospheric oxygen.
But what does all this have to do with yoga?
Yoga is about mindfulness, body and mind should be consciously felt & brought into harmony with our environment and nature, but also with our fellow human beings. Those who are mindful during their yoga class usually continue to do so in their lives outside of the yoga studio. It starts with the glass bottle/copper bottle, which is placed next to the recyclable mat. You won't see any plastic bottles here. During a yoga class, natural scented oils are often used. Fair yoga clothing has long been established. Organic tea for all yogis present after the course is also not uncommon. Products are carefully selected, local/organic or growing produce in the garden are far healthier and more sustainable than cheap plastic-wrapped options.
Benefits of composting:
- Is a biological form of recycling, making an active contribution to environmental protection in your own garden
- With the right waste, there is little work involved
- Reduced production of organic waste/return of household waste to natural cycle
- Save on man-made fertilizer and save on garbage fees
- Valuable humus is produced from vegetable waste
- For bed preparation in spring and during growth, "black gold" serves as an excellent fertilizer
How do I compost correctly?
- Optimal placement of the compost
Not in the blazing sun, otherwise the material would dry out. It is best suited in the semi-shade under a shrub/deciduous tree. The compost is also protected from rain, so it does not get completely soaked. The subsoil should already contain ready-made compost, because only then can microorganisms such as earthworms penetrate.
- Choose the right waste for composting
Lawn clippings, cut branches, wilted plants, vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee filters/tea bags, eggshells. Peels from tropical fruits like bananas and oranges can be composted in small amounts. In principle, all vegetable gardens and kitchen waste without pollution are considered compostable.
-The more diverse the mixture of compost waste, the better the rotting process.-
- Crushing the material before composting
We recommend chopping bulky items to 5 to 10 cm to ensure adequate ventilation. Leaves can be easily shredded with a lawnmower. The chipping of wood waste ensures that the fibers of the wooden parts are broken up and microorganisms can thus penetrate better to decompose the material.
-The better the material is crushed, the faster it rots. –
- Pay attention to a balanced mixture
A good nutrient supply for the microorganisms is recommended by using the most varied starting material possible. The mixture of wet, green material & dry, woody parts is ideal. While turf clippings provide plenty of nitrogen, the woody materials and foliage provide carbon for microorganisms. The material can be layered or mixed together.
- Provide optimal moisture
While the microorganisms need enough water to work actively, the rotting material must not be too wet, as there is a lack of air and it starts to rot. In heavy rain, the compost can be well protected with straw or a felt mat. In the case of an extensive drought, the compost can be watered.
- Turn over the compost regularly
Even if it involves a lot of work, it is advisable to turn the compost 1-2 times a year. The materials from the edge get inside, where the rotting process is most intensive. Ventilation improves, so there are fewer low-oxygen areas. The best time to turn the compost is in early spring.
"Sustainability is a process in which we leave the old behind and allow the new to emerge." -Nicola Knoch-