Two for One: Reducing your emissions and regenerating the soil.

I’m not sure how many of you know, but our left over veggie scraps kind of give us a superpower. Veggie peelings and kitchen off-cuts tell a powerful story about our food systems and our environmental impact. On average, Australian’s dispose of 20% of the food they buy. Before produce even makes it to the shelves, 20-40% of it is discarded due to spoilage. What does this mean for the planet and our own food systems?

So, aside from making our grandmothers say “Waste not want not” and revealing the wasteful side-effects of mass-produced food, why do these discarded food wastes matter so much? Well decomposing food waste emits methane gas - and a lot of it! It is estimated that methane gas being emitted by green waste landfill in Australia is a staggering equivalent to 6.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Who knew the food not on our plates could be emitting so many toxic, dangerous cow-fart equivalents into the atmosphere?

While countries like France, Italy and Denmark have enacted laws and achieved reductions of food waste by up to 25%, Australia has not such laws in place. But, do not despair; this is where our two for one sustainability tip comes in to play.

So, how can you reduce your emissions, improve soil health and take steady steps to growing great food? Composting! Now, while I hear the collective groan of backs breaking under rigorous composting turning schedules, there is a no-fuss way to compost. Cold composting!

For this eco savvy trickery, you will need:

1. A pile of green organic garden matter: green clippings, green leaves, grass clipping and the like

2. A pile of dry brown organic matter: dried out leaves, branches, clippings, shredded paper, dry lint

3. Your all powerful food scraps from last nights tea: include egg shells (not eggs), coffee grinds, all fruit and veggie off-cuts. Meat, dairy and fats cannot be included, these can attract some hungry critters.

4. Some chicken or cow manure.

5. A layer of cardboard or newspaper - yay more recycling

   These materials will be used to make a many layered, compost sandwich if you will. This sandwich, like in a child’s schoolbag, breaks down slowly over 6 months and will have a bed right ready to go for you next spring planting. To create this layered glory:

   1. Lay cardboard and newspaper down on surface you would like to make into a bed, covering any underlying grass completely

   2. Lay green organic matter (clippings etc) first and then add on top food scraps and coffee grinds etc

   3. Cover this with a brown layer of leaves, shredded paper and the like at the same thickness

   4. Repeat step 2 and 3 until you have a pile about 30cm high. The top layer must be a good thickness of brown organic material to keep flies and pests away

   5. Add to the pile periodically in the same order as above. There is no need to turn the pile like hot compost. After 6 months of adding to it consistently you will be able to plant into a very rich soil.

The organic matter will slowly decompose creating a well balanced nitrogen:carbon ratio and a microbial rich soil. This will be the perfect fodder for your plants and consume all you green waste for you. Who knew veggie peels could be so powerful?