In nature, there is no waste! Turning food scraps into fertilizer, practically without spending a dime, is one of the most breathtakingly simple common sense solutions that we can all participate in.
Almost effortlessly, we can fertilize and rebuild the soil while reducing waste. About one third of the space in landfills is taken up with organic waste from our yards and kitchens, just the type of material that can be used in compost.
Think about this: The transportation of your food wasted fossil fuels along the way to your table. If you are not composting you are paying AGAIN -- using both money and oil -- to move it to a landfill. We are talking about 30% of household waste!
This video demonstrates a simple way to create a compost bin out of chicken wire. The basic idea is to mix brown matter, like leaves and other garden waste, with green matter, which is your food scraps. Throw in all food scraps, just no animal by products - the exceptions being eggshells and manure from herbivores (chickens, rabbits, etc). You can turn frequently - or not at all! Compost will happen regardless!
If you do not have outdoor space you can compost indoors in a simple plastic bin.
Compost loosens clay soils and helps sandy soils retain water. It improves soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development in plants.
With a small investment in time, you can contribute to the solution of our landfill crisis. Food scraps are not garbage!