Compost from Food Waste and Brown leaves in 35 Days

Topics that you will find in this First Module.

An interesting perspective of Compost which can be extrapolated into our everyday life.

This will outlines themes such as sustainability, mindfulness, positive mindset around compost, reflection on waste management topic, along with food waste awareness.

Let's grow our environmental awareness on a collective level.

Thanks for listening people!

Compost wisdom brings the journey from life to death to rebirth.

Embracing compost as a symbol for life and death. Understanding Mother Earth, Gaia, as a mediator for the cycles of life. Organic matter is an important factor in understanding how our life is in constant transformation.

What do you think about this? How do you feel about this? Have you ever thought about your organic waste in this way?

Also, remember this could be a great conversation starter with your children as they learn about life cycles, or even the process of life and death with nature.

This clip ignites the opportunity to reflect on one of the most crucial environmental crisis we may face today, the food waste challenge.

I know some of you may feel anxious or concerned but let's shift the perspective and view it with a different lens.

This is taking on a growth mindset. The best way to reflect is to turn that focus from the external and look within.

We as individuals can make a positive, environmental impact by taking small steps and working together as a collective.

What if there were more human beings embodying solutions?

Some governments, institutions, activists are doing great but... what about us?

To be continued...

Please share your reflections.

According to the EPA, in the US more than half of Residential Food Waste still goes to landfills, despite all efforts of governments, activists, environmental businesses. Doesn't it tell us something?

Should Home Composting be considered as a short term solution to face the Food Waste challenge?

Composting food waste at home should be considered as a waste reduction practice, as the Waste generated is not leaving the generation source, bringing only benefits to those practicing it. It could be done at a really low cost environmentally and economically speaking... and you can literally start today!

This is an opportunity to expand our collective awareness. Share your thoughts and comments down below.

Thanks for listening dear friends!

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Sources:

EPA - 2018 Wasted Food Report https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/202011/documents/2018_wasted_food_report.pdf

What a Waste 2.0 : A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050 https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/30317

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I believe having really nourishing and healthy foods is going to be next important worldwide challenge.

Quality compost contributes to having better and healthier soils.

If we have healthier soils, we have nutritious food. Healthier soils can be sustainable and be persistent in time.

The challenge of course is having to change the mindset about these possibilities.

Are you going to be one of them? The most important thing about composting is actually doing quality compost under the limitations we are given.

We will always aim to do our best in order to be authentic to the purpose of what compost means.

So let's get into it, what happens when we compost?

Environmentally, economically and socially.

Share your thoughts, if you want to add up more benefits that Compost brings, go for it!

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Thanks for listening my friends.

Compost has brought me a sense of belonging.

As well as a learning to quieten the mind after a busy and chaotic day.

This mindful practice will bring you in the present moment. Pretty much needed in these days.

All of your senses awaken when you get in touch with the cycle of life.

You have a deeper appreciation for what Mother Nature is and how she works... There is no such thing as waste in Nature.

Gratitude will be practiced, as Mother Nature put food on the table and then she is ready to receive them back in order to complete the loop of life.

What does Compost mean to you?

What does Compost bring to you?

There is more to it when we are starting our composting journey.

These 5 virtues listed not only help us to achieve Compost, but life itself.

Accept the challenges that might arise during your Compost journey as well as life, by taking on a positive mindset.

How has Compost helped you shift your mindset?

What challenges have you faced within your Composting journey?

Topics that you will find in this Second Module.

In this module we will talk about the whole composting setup that is usually overlooked and not considered as part of the composting process.

I want to give you the tools so your composting journey is smooth.

Composting food waste, starts in your Kitchen.

How you set up, sets a strong foundation in order to achieve better results.

The KISS principle promotes simplicity and efficiency in the way processes are achieved.

In this Composting program, this principle fits perfectly.

That is precisely what I want to show you, that the process doesn't need to be complicated and can be replicated even with basic tools that anyone can access easily.

Every element in this program that you are about to witness, is adaptable under any circumstances and can be executed with several other items or set up in different ways.

Let's show to the world that quality composting can happen successfully even if limitations presents to us.

The setting up is extremely important before you even consider starting piling up your food waste and composting it.

Have in mind that in many cases you will have to interact with people around you that have no clue about what you are doing.

This is just to set up an intention before we dive in into the composting process.

What is a process train? How does this concept applies to the composting vocabulary?

Your compost actually starts in your kitchen, where the food waste generation source is placed and ends with the final product, which  in this case is called Compost.

What composting means? What is involved?

Know the importance of the size of the input particles for the composting process.

Everything starts in the generation source. If things in this station are done correctly, the product will have bigger chances of success.

Know the types of greens that exist in our kitchens and what to use and not to use to have better results.

Remember, this is one of the most crucial steps in the whole process.

My point of view of what the Food Scrap mindset represents.

Just like the mindset around recycling, it is important to keep improving and taking on another level of awareness when it comes to compost.

The art of chopping and preparing your own Food Waste / Food Scraps for next step: storing.

This is purely demonstrative and shouldn't be taken literally.

Happy to hear your thoughts!

Reflection questions- write answers in your journal

• what type of food waste could be avoidable or edible?

• was there anything that surprised you?

Gathering your Food Waste enough to build a decent size Compost pile, is one of the biggest challenges you will face.

The main key is to have all the logistics properly set up so we can make better decisions when it comes to your time and effort.

Knowing your Food Waste/Scraps generation rate will determine everything you need to know around home composting.

Be introduced to the concept of density and generation rate.

Remember that being clear, clean and organized with your process will drive you to success.

The composting space is where the compost magic is going to happen.

This clip will show you, the fundamental elements you need to consider when choosing your composting space so you are prepared for any challenges.

Anything is possible when it comes to Compost. It is all about your drive, your mindset and how these will take you to find solutions.

Compared to the food waste or greens, brown materials have a higher carbon content, enough to provide energy to those microorganisms within our composting process.

Where to find these brown materials?

What type of browns can we add to our compost piles?

How and where do I get my brown material?

Find out in this lesson.

Reflection questions

• what browns did you find easily?

• what browns were more difficult to find?

• what type of browns did you use?

• where did you get your browns from?

• how are you storing them?

Gathering Food Waste from your kitchen, enough amount to create a decent compost pile, is a main key for success before you even think about composting.

How can you manipulate your Food Waste without attracting noxious fauna?

This is what I call, the pre-batch process.

I have gathered around 1 month worth of Food Waste from my own kitchen.

This amount of Food Waste is generated by 2 people (my partner and I) that mainly consume plant based meals.

This to me, is the best practice I could ever do before building any compost pile. It keeps everything organized and guaranties to me, no noxious odors and nocive fauna in any step of the preparation process, like flies, cockroaches or even rodents.

If you consider these steps, basically you will maintain respect to the people living with you or those surrounding your compost environment like neighbors, landlords, etc.

Even if you are not interested in being immersed in the compost process with your bare hands; you can always apply these tips mentioned in this lesson. This is for the purpose of minimizing the recollection costs in case you are using a compost curbside service or you dropping the food waste in an recognized organic waste drop-off nearby.

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Remember composting process features microorganisms (usually harmless when processes are done properly). but just to be careful, make sure to use the proper equipment in order to decrease the chances of having allergies or any other type of condition that might arise.

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Thanks for your support my friends!!

Happy Compost!

How to Compost leaves & Food Waste together?

Witness the creation of an on-ground, stationary compost batch.

The Lasagna Method is developed step by step so you can follow and lose fear around your first attempts of composting.

Food Waste is everyone's concern. Let's not wait until someone does it for us.

Of course it is very respectable if you don't want to do it, but specially for those with that environmental "itch" wanting to step it up... go for it! Nothing can stop you now!

There is no more excuses for you to not give Compost a go. Food Waste can have a sensational transformation process with your help through your management skills.

Let Mother Nature do the MAGIC.

Composting is accessible in terms of effort and money applied (not to mention that composting can be free).

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Remember composting process features microorganisms (usually harmless when processes are done properly). but just to be careful, make sure to use the proper equipment in order to decrease the chances of having allergies or any other type of condition that might arise.

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Thanks for your support my friends!!

Happy Compost!

The Temperature is a key track element to know if your compost pile is really activated or not.
Temperatures differ depending on different factors like:

• The size of your compost pile (which the majority of the compost literature will promote volumes of 1 cubic yard or so)

• The recipe (mix ratio of greens and browns)

• Moisture content (40% to 50%)

• Type of greens and browns

Even though the temperatures I show are not optimal, the process tells me that I am on the right track, considering the limitations I faced.

Temperature is always relevant, even with a small scale composting process like the one shown here in this lesson.

Share your thoughts, results and lets share!

1 week has passed since the creation of our compost batch.

Let's see what is really happening and let's reflect on it.

Reflection questions during this lesson:

• What did you observe in the surroundings?

• What kind of fauna did you find?

• Why do you think you found them?

• What color did you observe?

• What odors did you perceive?

• Did you find any original materials? what is the decomposition rate of these materials?

• Compare the different food scraps and what is decomposing faster/slower

• What do you think is difficult/easy to decompose?

• What did you find easy today when composting?

• What did you find difficult when composting?

• Temperature reading within the batch

  
  

All of these will help you determine the status of your process and where you can do better next time as we are always learning.

From now and on, this reflection is going to be a recurrent thing to do.

Week after week, things within our compost environment will change. It is always important to keep record of it, as it will tell us if we are on the right track on our managing skills.

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Remember composting process features microorganisms (usually harmless when processes are done properly). but just to be careful, make sure to use the proper equipment in order to decrease the chances of having allergies or any other type of condition that might arise.

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Happy Compost!

2 weeks have passed after the creation of our Compost batch.

This is to me one of the most interesting stages as you will tell, that there is so much going on in our microenvironment.

Nature provides resources that humans can manage, like the things you will witness in this lesson.

Reflection questions during this lesson:

• What did you observe in the surroundings?

• What kind of fauna did you find?

• Why do you think you found them?

• What color did you observe?

• What odors did you perceive?

• Did you find any original materials? what is the decomposition rate of these materials?

• Compare the different food scraps and what is decomposing faster/slower?

• What do you think is difficult/easy to decompose?

• What did you find easy today when composting?

• What did you find difficult when composting?

• Temperature reading within the batch

• What are the changes from your last weeks observation?

  
  

All of these will help you determine the status of your process and where you can do better next time as we are always learning.

Remember It is always good to keep track to the temperature within the compost batch.

***

Remember composting process features microorganisms (usually harmless when processes are done properly). but just to be careful, make sure to use the proper equipment in order to decrease the chances of having allergies or any other type of condition that might arise.

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Happy Compost my friends!

3 weeks have passed since the creation of our Compost batch.

We finally see a huge improvement on the decomposition rate of our initial input materials.

Self-satisfaction starts to arise. We are on the right track here!

Reflection questions during this lesson:

• What did you observe in the surroundings?

• What kind of fauna did you find?

• Why do you think you found them?

• What color did you observe?

• What odors did you perceive?

• Did you find any original materials? what is the decomposition rate of these materials?

• Compare the different food scraps and what is decomposing faster/slower?

• What do you think is difficult/easy to decompose?

• What did you find easy today when composting?

• What did you find difficult when composting?

• Temperature reading within the batch

• What are the changes from your last weeks observation?

  
  

All of these will help you determine the status of your process and where you can do better next time as we are always learning.

It is always good to track the temperature within the compost batch if you have access to a thermometer

**

Remember composting process features microorganisms (usually harmless when processes are done properly). but just to be careful, make sure to use the proper equipment in order to decrease the chances of having allergies or any other type of condition that might arise.

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Happy Compost dear friends!

At this stage, I know you might be thinking that our batch is ready to go by the looks of it.

I recommend to wait another week as microbial activity still happening.

Patience is very much needed in this time because although you might see the compost ready, there is still a process of maturation that needs to occur. 

Reflection questions after you have composted

• What did you observe in the surroundings?

• What kind of fauna did you find?

• Why do you think you found them?

• What color did you observe?

• What odors did you perceive?

• Did you find any original materials, are they still decomposing/what is the decomposition rate?

• Compare the different food scraps and what is decomposing faster/slower?

• What do you think is difficult/easy to decompose?

• What did you find easy today when composting?

• What did you find difficult when composting?

• What are the changes from your last weeks observation?

All of these will help you determine the status of your process and where you can do better next time as we are always learning.

It is always good to track the temperature within the compost batch if you have access to a thermometer

**

Remember composting process features microorganisms (usually harmless when processes are done properly). but just to be careful, make sure to use the proper equipment in order to decrease the chances of having allergies or any other type of condition that might arise.

***

Happy Compost dear friends!

We are almost finished, now it is time set aside the product(s) in order to place or built a new compost batch with the Food Waste you have more recently accumulated.

Now, after 5 weeks of creating our compost batch, we are finally sure that the final product is close to being stable. However, it is still necessary to keep curing it.

At this stage, our Compost Is not ready to use yet; Composting literature recommends that, in small scale backyard composting processes, the compost harvested takes on a curing process of at least 30 days.

So let's try this recommendation out and see what happens...

Reflection questions during this lesson:

• What did you observe in the surroundings?

• What kind of fauna did you find?

• Why do you think you found them?

• What color did you observe?

• What odors did you perceive?

• Did you find any original materials? what is the decomposition rate of these materials?

• Compare the different food scraps and what is decomposing faster/slower?

• What do you think is difficult/easy to decompose?

• What did you find easy today when composting?

• What did you find difficult when composting?

• Temperature reading within the batch

• What are the changes from your last weeks observation?

  
  

All of these will help you determine the status of your process and where you can do better next time as we are always learning.

Remember It is always good to keep track to the temperature within the compost batch.

**

Remember composting process features microorganisms (usually harmless when processes are done properly). but just to be careful, make sure to use the proper equipment in order to decrease the chances of having allergies or any other type of condition that might arise.

***

Happy Compost dear friends!

Volume and mass have decreased. This phenomenon only indicates that our final product was still being decomposed tending to stability.

Now it is the time to try out our lovely soil amendment into our gardens, plants, etc.

This is it dear friends!

We finally have gotten to the final result.

This is a matter of discipline, drive, compassion, awareness.

Please be proud of what you have achieved here. Cherish Mother Nature and yourself, you have made the best team possible.

Remember we are all here in this world to continue to improve in whatever we do.

Thanks so much for trying it out and finding out that we can make a difference in this world. It doesn't really matter how big or small it is, it is still a difference.

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Just an ultimate reflection and on of the most important things to consider when we talk about Waste pollution:

Mass and volume reduction is an important reason why composting should be considered as a strong strategy to deal with the Organic Waste worldwide challenge we face these days.

Reflection questions to finish this Composting program:

• Are you satisfied with the result? If not, What could you do differently next time?

• How do you feel in general after witnessing Mother Nature's magic?

• What did you find challenging?

• What did you find easy?

• Were other people around you involved? Were they affected somehow?

• If you any other thought please share

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Anyway,

Dear friend, I very much appreciate you sharing this journey with me.

Remember you can continue to come and revisit this whole process.

Please keep in touch and share with me your results.

Hope you enjoy this journey as much as I did.

Happy compost!

With love...

Carlos Sierra