19
Nov

Island Green invites public to “Backyard Composting” workshop

Daily News Staff Nov 19, 2019

As the territory’s landfills quickly reach their capacity and pose a growing health and safety risk to the public, the need to compost waste — in simple, easy-to-learn ways — has become less a “green trend” and more a necessity.

To that end — and in honor of Virgin Islands Recycles Month — Island Green Living Association, along with Git Hill School and the Iowa State University EARTH Program, have teamed up with the V.I. Waste Management Authority on a “Backyard Composting” workshop offered free to the public.

The event, which will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at St. John’s Git Hill School upper campus, will provide live demonstrations and all the basics for a variety of composting techniques that can be carried out right in the kitchen and backyard.

Tours of the expansive EARTH Program gardens at Git Hill School will also be available.

The public is invited to share their composting experiences and have gardening and composting questions answered by local experts.

“Studies show that nearly 80% of our waste stream is either compostable or recyclable,” said Harith Wickrema, Island Green Living president, in a statement. “Given the current state of the territory’s landfills, it is imperative that we utilize these resources rather than continue to toss them away. Please consider your household food scraps a resource that will provide nutrients for your home gardening.”

David Minner, coordinator of the Iowa State University EARTH Program and Island Green board member, said the great thing about composting is “everyone can do it relatively easily with a minimum of space and the result can truly make a difference.”

“The Backyard Composting workshop provides our community with the information they need to be part of the solution,” he said, in the statement.

The following backyard composting methods will be demonstrated:

• Hot composting
• One cubic yard and greater pile composting
• Cold composting
• Small cages composting
• Crank and tumbler composting
• Gallon bucket composting
• Bokashi anerobic composting
• Vermiculture worm composting

Both EARTH Program interns and Git Hill School students will assist with demonstrations and activities.

Refreshments will be available at the workshop and there will be a drawing for a variety of giveaways including a tumbler composter and kitchen counter compost bins.

The event will take place rain or shine, and will move indoors should there be inclement weather.

For more information, the public can contact Waste Management Authority Communications Management at 340-513-4171 or email communications@viwma.org.

You are donating to : Island Green Living Association

How much would you like to donate?
$25 $100 $500
Would you like to make regular donations? I would like to make donation(s)
How many times would you like this to recur? (including this payment) *
Name *
Last Name *
Email *
Phone
Address
Additional Note
Loading...
Loading...