Very quick video showing the basics of worm composting.

Lots of novice gardeners believe that their plants and vegetables only need plenty of water and sunlight in order to sustain a healthy and fruitful lifespan. However this is not entirely true as plants also need healthy soil rich in nutrients to be able to survive and grow properly. The solution to this dilemma is composting.

Most of us aren’t too sure of what the heck composting is or what it even entails - I know I didn’t! An easy way to explain it is composting is a way for us to give back to the earth by using organic materials such as food scraps, vegetable scraps, grass clippings, leaves and manure from grass eaters like cows, sheep and rabbits. In general, composting is a wonderfully organic process that benefits your garden and the environment tremendously. In today’s article we’ll go ahead and talk about the benefits of composting, what you should and shouldn’t compost, and some composting systems you should consider investing in.

We all know that when anything dies it starts to decompose - humans, animals, plants, it’s all a very natural process. But did you know that in turn, the soil becomes very rich in nutrients and new life starts to grow? That’s the true benefit of composting and that’s what you want for your garden. In addition to improving your soil, composting saves you money, makes for terrific mulch for your garden, and places less burden on landfills.

Before you start undertaking a large composting project, there are a few key things you should keep in mind, like what you can and can’t use for composting. Let’s start with what you shouldn’t compost; this includes weeds full of seeds and/or diseases, pesticide infested plants, wood ashes, lime, barbeque charcoal, meat, grease, bones, dairy products, cat, dog and/or human waste, plastic, metal, glass, branches, wood chunks, anything contaminated, and large loads of soggy matter. Obviously anything in the aforementioned list would have an adverse effect on your compost, or won’t decompose properly, especially the bones, but we’ll go more into that later on in a future article.

With that said, it’s highly recommended that you use grass clippings, leaves, non-diseased and seed sprouting weeds, dead plants, food scraps like fruit and veggie wastes, cow, sheep or llama manure, straw/hay, coffee grounds, and even hair and lint when composting. These items break down quick and easily, giving you the end result that you’re looking for.

The next thing that you need to keep in mind is where you’re going to be doing all of this composting work. While some don’t mind working on their compost heap out in the open, like in the woods or in an open area preferably away from prying eyes (I never said it was a pretty looking process), I suggest looking into a bin or tumbler system. There are a couple of compost bin systems that you should consider: the one bin and multi-bin systems. For the money conscious the one bin system is the preferred method since it is easy and most municipalities even work with manufacturers to make this method available to the public.

In addition, it’s easy to move about, most can hold heat well and is sturdy enough to keep rodents and other wildlife out. The multi-bin system is for households that produce a lot of waste; it generally does the same thing as the one bin method but it allows you to stockpile your materials in one bin and in the other when more materials become ready. Both methods take anywhere from three to eight months in terms of ready to use compost. Another method you can consider is working with a compost tumbler, which isn’t cheap, but it is small if you’re working with limited space. Think of the benefits though: tumblers rotate which keep your compost aerated and generate heat, which in turn means that you’ll have a batch of ready to use compost in about three weeks. The wire collector is another option to weigh. Great for garnering up quick, ready to use composting, it’s cheap and you can even make one yourself out of rabbit wire or field fencing. However, I don’t really recommend it too often because it’s easy for wildlife to break in to and it doesn’t hold in heat very well. But the great thing about it is after your compost is done and ready, all you have to do is just remove the wire covering.

Do keep in mind the laws of your city. You wouldn’t think it, but check with your local government agency to see what your city will let you compost, like food scraps and what not. After all being cited for not composting within the legalities of your city isn’t very green. And when choosing the ideal composting system, think about your needs, how much waste you can you’d regularly add to it, how animal-resistant it is, and whether you can easily remove your ready to use compost. I know it’s a lot to think about before you begin, but trust me, it’s well worth the effort. In our next installment I’ll go ahead and talk about the science and art of composting - stay tuned! *Referenced from Home Composting Made Easy by C. Forrest McDowell, PhD and Tricia Clark-McDowell, 2002.

by Duong Vicki
For a wide selection in compost bins and rain barrels be sure to stop by Composters.com.

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/peteashton/50835402/

Many people love their indoor carpeting and look forward to having brand new wall to wall carpeting installed. Did you realize however, that no matter how clean you keep your rug, even if you steam clean it weekly, it is still highly toxic to you, your family and your pets?

Over 60% of homes in the USA have carpeting. Carpets cover the floors of our business and schools. Children play for hours on them, infants crawl on them and breathe deeply of their fumes, proud homeowners inhale that ‘new-carpet smell’, and all the while we are being poisoned by the chemicals, allergens and toxic dust that lurks in our carpets.

Whether your carpets are new or old, they probably have more bad things in them than you want to imagine. The list is staggering. For new carpets there are ‘volatile organic compounds’ VOC’s. These include toluene, benzene, formaldehyde, ethyl benzene, styrene, acetone and a host of other chemicals, some of which have already made the EPA’s list of Extremely Hazardous Substances. Known carcinogens such as p-Dichlorobenzene are in new carpets, as are chemicals that produce fetal abnormalities in test animals. These chemicals also cause hallucinations, nerve damage and respiratory illness in humans.

Other compounds in new carpeting that affect your health are adhesives, stain protectors, mothproofing and flame retardants. That ‘new carpet smell’ comes from 4-PC, associated with eye, nose and upper respiratory problems that are suffered by many new carpet owners. 4-PC is used in the latex backing of 95% of US carpets. In 2000 the 3M Company removed the chemical perflouro-octanyl salphonate from their product, Scotchgard, because it had been found to cause reproductive problems in rats. It had also been found in high levels in the wildlife of urban areas. Mothproofing chemicals contain naphthalene, which is known to produce toxic reactions, especially in newborns. Fire retardants often contain PBDE’s (see our report Toxic Flame Retardants and Children’s Health) which are known to cause damage to thyroid, immune system and brain development functions in humans.

Older carpets can be more of a hazard than new ones: Not only do they contain the chemicals banned from more recent production, they also have had years to accumulate pounds of dust mites, dirt, pesticides and other toxins brought in on shoes, feet and pet’s paws. Did you know that your carpet can hold 8 times it’s weight in toxin filled dirt and you can’t even see the trapped dirt that your carpet is hiding! The EPA has stated that 80% of human exposure to pesticides happens indoors. Every time you spray for bugs or use a fogger, the chemicals settle in the rug and stay there for years. If you paint your room the curing paint leaves its VOC’s in the carpet for you to inhale long after the walls no longer smells of paint. Just put in a new wood or laminate floor? You’ll be living with those toxins, sealers, solvents and glues even after you clean with all the right products. Household dust contains lead and other heavy metals, because lead is in our soil and will be for a long time to come.

Older carpets are so toxic that your chances of being exposed to hazardous chemicals are 10-50 times higher in a carpeted room than outdoors. If the carpet is plush or shag, your risk increases substantially.

What can you do? First you can take action to reduce your exposure to carpet toxins. First, if you can, get rid of the carpeting. If not that, then vacuum with a well sealed high quality HEPA Vacuum Cleaner that can do a much better job of cleaning your carpets than the cheaper vacuum cleaners found at most department stores. Low quality vacuum cleaners are not sealed well! Even many of the so called filtered ones often leak air through gaps in their cases causing dirty air to blow back into your indoor environment! Steam cleaning can kill dust mites and bacteria. A good doormat will stop a lot of toxins right at the door. Take your shoes off when entering your house and you make it a much safer place. If you must buy a rug or carpet, choose one made of naturally flame retardant fibers such as wool, and get a woven rug. Don’t glue your new carpet to the floor, attach it with staples instead. Finally, get a Quality HEPA Air Cleaner or Air Purifier that will remove dust and toxins that rise from the carpet or rug every time you step on it or vacuum. If you follow as many of these precautions as possible, you will certainly have a cleaner and healthier home.

Another tip at Tree Hugger.com recommends the following when looking for a safer carpet. “First, look for carpets with the Green Label Plus Certification. In 2004 this initiative by the Carpet and Rug Institute certifies that carpets have passed independent laboratory tests for emissions from thirteen notorious chemicals. “.

Your best alternative is to seek area rugs made from natural fibers such as wool, hemp and corn husks laid on top of natural hard surface flooring. If that is not possible, open your windows and do the best you can with air filters because you can bet that your home is much more toxic than you ever realized.

This information, is brought to you by Absolute Air Cleaners and Purifiers Inc.
Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/paws_and_toes/2163265916/

• Red Composting Worms
• Rubbermaid Bin
• Worm bedding such as old leaves, grass clippings or shredded newspapers

You can put it under your sink, feed it anything compostable, do your part to save the environment and get some excellent fertilizer for your lawn or garden (for free).

“We haven’t yet learned how to factor the health of the environment into our economic paradigm. We need to get to work on this calculus quickly, for a stock market crash will pale by comparison to an ecological crash on an oceanic scale.” Charles Moore

Did you know that there is a body of garbage floating in the Pacific the size of a continent? Unless you read a lot of “green“, there is a shockingly good chance that you have not heard of the North Pacific Gyre. Circular currents around the center of the gyre collect flotsam and garbage floating in our waters and deposit it permanently on the pile, building it into a larger and larger mass. This was not a problem prior to the development of plastics because everything deposited in the gyre was biodegradable and it eventually decomposed.

“Because of the stability of this gentle maelstrom, the largest uniform climatic feature on Earth is also an accumulator of the debris of civilization. Anything that floats, no matter where it comes from on the north Pacific Rim or ocean, ends up here, sometimes after drifting around the periphery for 12 years or more.” Mindfully.org

Image: The North Pacific Gyre: A Plastic Hurricane

This great, floating garbage patch also known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the Eastern Garbage Patch or the Pacific Trash Vortex is composed almost entirely of plastic. This is no tiny garbage patch either. It is the size of Africa. Ten million square miles. It is literally a continent of garbage. Experts say that it would be easier to vacuum up every square inch of the United States than to simply vacuum up the gyre.

What is causing it?

“The plastic is coming from both inadvertent and intentional dumping of debris in the ocean (or in rivers that eventually run to the ocean). According to AMRF, even we in land-locked areas are part of the problem since land-based sources contribute 80% of marine debris.

In addition to the usual assortment of junk you might expect – plastic bags, pieces of plastic lighters, plastic bottle caps—Captain Moore found the bulk of waste to be “nurdles,” tiny plastic pellets used by industry in the production of everything from CDs to plastic pipe. Nurdles find their way from manufacturing plants into the stomachs of marine life who mistake it for food.” - Ecocycle.org

Why is it a problem?
OK, so what if human beings have created a toxic, virtually indestructible product that is taking over our environment? It is in the middle of the Pacific, right? Not true. Plastics are gradually destroying the ecosystem. Birds are dying from starvation and dehydration because their stomachs are filled with indigestible plastics. Jellyfish, seals and other marine life live in danger of getting caught in discarded plastic fishing nets. Albatross mistake plastic toys, lighters and Legos for food and feed them to their young chicks. Animals are dying and it is our fault.

If that isn’t bad enough that we are endangering and killing sea life in the Pacific, we are polluting them as well. As it turns out, these animals are becoming even more polluted because the plastic they are ingesting are sponges for toxins such as DDT, PCBs and nonylphenols. Thus the toxins become part of the food chain, eventually ending up in human beings.

What are the Solutions?
This floating garbage dump cannot be cleaned up. It is simply too large, prohibitively expensive and there is life existing within this enormous pile of trash that cannot be extricated. The “solution”, if you can call it that, it to stop contributing to the pile of garbage.

Yes people, even if you live in Michigan you are contributing to a monumental problem in the Pacific ocean if you use plastic products. Sorry, you don’t get a landlocked pass. Rivers carry plastics to the ocean. The corporations that manufacture the plastics you use are dumping their waste in the ocean. The fisherman who caught the fish that you ultimately bought from Walmart dumped their lines in the ocean to avoid fees on land. You are responsible whether you like it or not. So here are a few simple suggestions of how you can get some plastic out of your life:

Stop buying plastic stuff that you don’t need
Forgo the toy at McDonalds, use a water filter rather than bottles and lighten up on your personal care products.

Use a natural alternative to plastic when possible
Use glass bowls and instead of plastic, matches instead of lighters, wooden toys instead of cheap, plastic ones and reusable grocery bags instead of those horrible, ubiquitous plastic nightmares.

You must recycle and compost
Its just not that difficult to recycle. Just do it. Make it a point to never, ever throw away plastic. An even better solution is to purchase biodegradable and compostable plastic alternatives and throw them in your composting bin. Composting is a bit more work than recycling but it basically eliminates the garbage entirely and you can add it to your lawn or garden.

“Past studies have shown that less than 5% of plastic ever gets recycled and each American disposes of roughly 65 lbs. of plastic each year.” Triplepundit.com

Be aware
If you are not interested in going vegan to avoid contributing to unscrupulous fishing practices, then simply go out of your way to try to find the source of your fish. Look for products that are wild caught and sustainable. Thank goodness corporations are beginning to understand the impact of their waste products and some are beginning to clean up their plastic pellets (nurdles). We will not see the removal of this great garbage dump in our lifetimes but perhaps our granchildren will see the results of our efforts.

If you are interested in the state of our oceans, you simply must watch Altered Oceans

Author: Hillary Marshak

The NoteBaert Nature Museum hosts a multi-level Extreme Green House, inhabited by the fictitious and wacky Green family, who shows you how to be “green” in your bathroom, your basement, your dining room, and of course (the reason why we’re here)…your kitchen.

Demonstrating landfill capacities, and displaying live rotting meals, museum experts offered loads of information from the simple recycling tip, to the science of composting. They showed us what bacterias were good and bad for us, as well as what cleaning products are more eco-friendly than others. They even sold a kit for making your very own cleaning products.

Want to make your own green cleaning products? It is not only an eco friendly choice, but an economical and safer choice as well. Skip the toxic blue window cleaner. Mix white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Trust me, it cleans better and costs pennies. Sprinkle salt on a lemon half to scrub your counters. Make your own soft scrub by cleaning your sinks with baking soda. You will learn that you can clean just about anything in your kitchen with salt, vinegar and baking soda.

I didn’t have the time to take in all of the Green family’s great tips, but I was inspired to do more research about how one could consciously maintain a greener kitchen. From the simple tip, to more structural tips, here is what I found:

1. Induction cooktops - Heat is released directly toward the pan or pot only. Not only does this save a great deal of energy, but the rest of the stovetop isn’t hot.

“Induction cooking is one of many advances made in home cooking. With induction cooking, surfaces stay cool while the food gets warm or hot. It uses magnetic friction to deliver heat through coils to the pots or pans on the surface. This prevents the ceramic surface from becoming hot, which prevents burns.” www.eei.org

2. Countertops made from recyclables - Supposedly sleek, these suckers would make for the truest green kitchen out there.

3. Use recyclable products AND recycle them - I am a hypocrite sitting in an office that uses styrofoam cups and plates, but I know that we should use paper so that it can be recycled. Go out of your way to purchase recyclable products, and make it your mission to recycle them! All paper can be recycled…even paper towels! If you buy biodegradable products you can add them directly to your compost bin and do your own recycling.

4. Water conservation - Never walk away while the faucet is on. Even if it’s just for a second, it’s not like electricity where it costs more to turn it on and off. It costs more to leave it running! Even though we’re not always savvy to this fact, we really do need to conserve water in this country.

The little things really do make a difference. Shop locally. Seek out organic, sustainable and fair trade items not only for your refrigerator and pantry but also for your housewares and kitchen decor. Find more tips on creating a green kitchen at www.eei.org.

Buy the Book: Good Green Kitchens

About the author:
Hillary Marshak is an editor at Recipe4Living.com where she enjoys reading and writing all about food! She loves trying out new recipes and thinks that everyone out there should be adventurous with their food! Among her favorite cuisine is Japanese. She also writes entries for the “Chew on That” blog to be read at http://chewonthatblog.com. Check it out!

Author: Duong Vicki

You may have heard of Cesar Milan, also known as the Dog Whisperer, but are you familiar with Vern Culteur the Worm Whisperer? Unlike his canine counterpart, Culteur is well versed and in tune with the ways of the worm and its needs for a successful and fruitful compost. Compost, you say? What in the world does a worm have to do with composting? Well, my friend let me tell you more…

According to Culteur, known to his friends as Verny the Wormy, worms play a vital part in the composting process. In fact, there’s an entire composting process called vermicomposting or vermiculture which involves food scraps, yard wastes and worms. When visiting troubled gardeners and composters alike, Culteur adamantly but gently tells each one that if they’re going to start composting with worms, then they’ll have to adapt to a few changes. For instance, one of the first mistakes that many novice composters make is using the wrong worm.

“Recycling the organic waste of a household into compost allows us to return badly needed organic matter to the soil. In this way, we participate in nature’s cycle, and cut down on garbage going into burgeoning landfills…..The great advantage of worm composting is that this can be done indoors and outdoors, thus allowing year round composting. It also provides apartment dwellers with a means of composting.” Cityfarmer.org

Earth worms, though commonly found in the soil of any backyard and along sidewalks on rainy days, make for great fishing bait but not for worm composting. The reason, Culteur explains, is that even though earth worms aerate the soil they don’t properly digest the organic matter and produce worm castings, which is what’s needed for composting. “The best worms to use in the composting world are red wiggler worms,” says Culteur. “Night crawlers work well, also, but they don’t tend to survive for long in too damp of an environment. You’d be better off with red wigglers.”

Culteur also mentions that in order to ensure a successful composting experience, you’ll have to keep your worms happy, which means you have to regularly feed them. “Things like banana peels, chopped up vegetable stalks and leaves, in addition to some grit like a cup full of soil and some newspaper strips will keep your worms feeding and wanting for more.” After a few weeks, you’re most certainly guaranteed to have rich, black gold known as worm castings to add to your garden’s soil. Before concluding, Culteur made sure to add, “Unlike dogs, you won’t have to maintain who’s the boss in this relationship; your worms will be the hardiest of workers!”

“I’ve never been a big fan of bugs, spiders, worms and other small creatures. I don’t go out of my way to step on them or anything, but I usually prefer that they live in their world and I live in mine, and hopefully, never the two shall meet. I know that they have their place in the food chain and they are beneficial in many ways, but I’d usually rather not invite them into my home. EXCEPT, when having them around will reduce waste, create wonderful organic matter, and generally benefit the environment and my garden.” - Worm Compost - A Recycling Revolution

About the author:
For an excellent selection in lawn sweepers, compost bins stop by Composters.com today.

Buy the book: Worms Eat My Garbage

by Ian and Jo Ludlow

Home owners who are remodeling their kitchens are increasingly seeking environmentally friendly kitchen design ideas. Kitchens are responsible for around 40 percent of a home’s energy consumption so not only does an eco friendly design help on a global scale but it can also seriously reduce a family’s electric bill.

We have put together a number of kitchen design ideas from recycling food waste to green products that do not necessarily add expense to your home improvement project. Indeed, the long term cost savings made from energy efficient performing materials in the kitchen should reduce your carbon footprint for years to come.

Here are some high-impact environmentally friendly kitchen design ideas:

* Kitchen Recycling Center
Look for sets of kitchen recycling bins that allow you to easily separate trash - paper, food, bottles, plastics, etc.

* Waste Disposal machines
These are ideal for reducing the physical amount of food waste down to small pieces. Then start a compost bin or wormery where worms can compost down the food waste more efficiently. Use the compost on your houseplants or garden.

* Energy-Efficient Kitchen Appliances
Advanced technology now means that appliances can use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models so look for the Energy Rating when considering your refrigerator, dishwasher or washing machine purchases for the kitchen remodeling project.

* Induction Stoves
Induction cooking uses electricity to produce a magnetic field that reacts with the ferric content in stainless steel, cast iron, and enameled steel cookware. This excites the molecules and produces heat. The cookware (and therefore the food) gets hot, but the stove-top doesn’t. Less heat is wasted and the food heats faster, saving time and energy. Induction cooking is about 90 percent energy efficient as compared to gas and electric radiant, which are 50 to 60 percent efficient.

* Dishwashers and Washing Machines
Use a full load in your dishwasher and washing machine. If you are thinking of buying a new machine, make sure you buy a water efficient model. Have a look at our website where we have collected more information on water efficient appliances.

* Stained Concrete or Indigenous Stone Kitchen Counter-tops.
Your kitchen design should include materials that are durable and water-resistant for both counter tops and back-splashes. Stained concrete uses non-toxic, natural pigments rather than surface-applied stains. Many types of indigenous stone are available and can come from salvage sources. Make sure they are adequately sealed to prevent staining.

* Energy-Efficient Task Lighting and Lighting Controls
Kitchen designs often include two or three light settings such as general, task lighting, and mood lighting. Maximize natural light wherever possible and low voltage systems for task and mood lighting.

* Eco-Friendly Kitchen Flooring
Products manufactured from renewable forests can provide you with a beautiful, affordable and durable floor - and an environmentally responsible choice. Bamboo, cork, and eucalyptus mature in roughly half the time (or less) that it takes hardwoods, grown in colder climates, to reach market size.

* Wall Insulation
Nothing improves the comfort and energy efficiency of a kitchen more than plenty of insulation in the exterior walls. To add insulation to existing kitchen walls, blow fibrous insulation material - fiberglass or natural materials like cellulose and mineral wool - into enclosed wall, floor and roof cavities. “Dense packing” the insulation inhibits air circulation within the cavities, thereby eliminating a major cause of condensation, moisture problems and air leakage.

* Kitchen Windows, Doors and Skylights
Well-designed windows and skylights can lighten the feel of a kitchen and save on fuel bills as well. Ensure the products used have low heat emission glass with solar shading, which increases the room’s comfort, protects items from sun damage and reduces condensation on windows.

About the Author:

Ian and Jo Ludlow have worked in the home improvement industry for many years. They can be contacted through any of the following websites. http://www.design-ideas-for-kitchens.com
http://www.home-and-garden-ideas.com & http://www.sales-and-management-training.com

Ian Ludlow’s background is in sales training and coaching with a specialization in supporting companies that sell direct to the public.

Buy the book: Good Green Kitchens

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/jonze/300811798/

Not too many people realize it, but composting is one of the best ways to return your resources back into the earth. In a way, composting is our way of saying thank you to Mother Earth for providing us with the resources needed to feed ourselves and our families. Simply put, composting is a lot like recycling, except you don’t take your reusable goods to a recycling center, but rather you put it in a compost bin or tumbler and back into your garden.

Let’s start with a common scenario for households of two or more. In the beginning, there was food, and it was good. Fruits and vegetables were abundant, but so were the leftovers and food scraps. Instead of tossing all the food scraps into the trash where it would take up unneeded space in landfills, why not recycle it all back into the earth? Food scraps are easy enough to compost because there’s always such an abundance of it lying around, so what have you got to lose other than the scraps themselves?

Always consider what you can and cannot compost. For instance, it’s strongly advised to never, ever compost bones, meat and dairy products, fats and oils since they take too long to decompose or won’t decompose properly at all, smell really foul after half a day, and they attract all sorts of critters and wildlife. Unfortunately, not everything can be composted; I would recommend that you toss the aforementioned items in your trash and properly dispose of them. Veggie stalks, fruit rinds, apple cores and even coffee grounds are the goodies you want to compost. You wouldn’t think it, but coffee grounds are great for the composting process since they’re rich in nitrogen and aid in adding heat to your compost pile.

We know that composting is great for the earth, but why and how? Well, if you think about it, composting cuts out a lot of costs. You would be saving a lot of money on water and garbage bills just by making free natural and organic soil fertilizer for your garden and houseplants. And did I mention it would improve the vitality of your soil? By returning nutrients back into the soil that will be released over the course of a couple years, you would be maximizing the growth and health of your plants and veggies. The soil itself will also have improved aeration and drainage. And even if you’re not an avid gardener, composting takes very little of your time and like I’ve mentioned before, what have you got to lose other than your food scraps?

*Special thanks to C. Forrest McDowell, PhD and Tricia Clark-McDowell for their compost guide Home Composting Made Easy, available on Cortesia Press.

About the Author:

For an excellent selection in wood chippers and lawn sweepers, be sure to stop by Composters.com today.

Buy the Kitchen Compost Crock

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/stepintomythimble/2050628548/

By Duong Vicki

Summer means barbeques, family gatherings, picnics, beach parties, and even more barbeques! Summer is the time of year that all your good dishware and silverware stay in their cupboards and drawers and you utilize nothing but disposable plates and cutlery. But did you ever consider how much waste that adds up at all the landfills? So many plastic utensils end up piling up landfills and aren’t being recycled, because who would even think to recycle that? A better alternative that does the job and is good for the environment that’s now catching on in the market is biodegradable cutlery.

Made from corn starch and other biodegradable “plastic” fillers, eco-friendly utensils are on the rise in popularity. Contrary to belief, they will not fall apart on you if you use them in hot items like soups, and they will not break if you use them in cold foods or desserts like ice cream. Biodegradable utensils work just like their normal plastic counterparts; the only difference is that they won’t pile up in landfills and can even be used in your compost bins.

For the avid gardener who likes to compost, these eco-friendly utensils can be highly beneficial to your garden. After you’re done using these utensils, toss them into your compost bin or heap instead of the trash can. In most cases, the packaging that the utensils come in is also biodegradable, which means you can add that to your compost bin, too.

Since they’re made out of corn starch and other eco-friendly materials, these biodegradable utensils will not harm your compost heap, adding to your nutrient-rich compost. Do keep in mind that if you plan to toss these utensils into your compost bin that it can take anywhere from six to 18 months for them to fully decompose.

So the next time you’re planning your big summer barbeque or food outing, consider using the eco-friendly alternative versus the regular plastic ware. Not only would you be reducing waste at landfills and giving back to the earth’s soil, you’ll feel good knowing that you’re doing your part to protect the earth while enjoying the barbeque.

About the author:
For a wide selection in chipper shredders and lawn sweepers, be sure to stop by Composters.com

Shop for biodegradable plates & utensils