Nichole A. Woodman, City of Flagstaff Sustainability Manager writes:
Composting is nature's way of recycling organic material back into the soil. The billions of living organisms in healthy soil transform dead plants into vital nutrients for new plant growth.
Since healthy plants come from healthy soil, one of the best ways you can build healthy soil in your garden and lawn is by using compost.
You can easily make compost with landscape trimmings and food scraps in your own backyard. With a small investment in time, you can improve the health and appearance of your yard, save money on fertilizers and mulch, all while preserving natural resources and protecting the health of your family and pets.
Here are some great reasons to compost:
- It's earth-friendly. Food scraps and yard wast make up 2-30 percent of the waste stream. Making compost keeps these materials out of landfills, where they take up precious space.
- It benefits your yard. Compost improves soil structure and texture, increases the soil's ability to hold both water and air, improves soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development in plants.
- It's easy. You can start with just leaves and yard clippings, then work your way toward composting your food scraps.
- It saves money. Adding compost to your garden can reduce or eliminate the need to buy chemical fertilizers or compost. If you pay for the amount of trash hauled, composting can also cut down on your trash costs.
If you want to learn more about composting, the City of Flagstaff is hosting free backyard composting workshops on May 19 and May 20 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the New Start Garden, 320 N. Aztec Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.
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