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Conservation: Chiefland Volunteer Awarded Volunteer of the Year
April 26th, 2013

Conservation: Fish of the Week: Black Grouper
April 20th, 2013

Conservation: Fish of the Week: Bonnethead Shark
April 13th, 2013

Conservation: FRIENDS OF LOWER SUWANNEE AND CEDAR KEYS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES 2013 ANNUAL MEETING / REFUGE OPEN HOUSE
April 5th, 2013

Conservation: Fish of the Week: Red Snapper
March 28th, 2013

Conservation: Fish of the Week: Gray Triggerfish
March 22nd, 2013

Conservation: Fish of the Week: Goliath
February 22nd, 2013

Conservation: Fish of the Week: Dolphin
February 20th, 2013

Conservation: Fish of the Week: Bluefish
February 8th, 2013

Conservation: Fish of the Week - Cobia
December 18th, 2012

Conservation: Fine art at Dennis Creek
December 14th, 2012

Conservation: CEDAR KEY SCRUB STATE RESERVE CELEBRATES THE NEW YEAR WITH A FIRST DAY HIKE
December 14th, 2012

Conservation: Cedar Keys’ Holiday Light(house)
December 14th, 2012

Conservation: FWC`s Women’s Fishing Clinic a Huge Success
December 13th, 2012

Conservation: Fish of the Week - Black Sea Bass
December 12th, 2012

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Conservation Corner - WHY COMPOST?

Conservation Corner - WHY COMPOST?

Bev Ringenberg

A couple of years ago, when I first joined the Energy Advisory Group, one of the other volunteers suggested that we promote composting along with other initiatives like curbside recycling with unit based pricing, electric/water conservation and the weatherization program. My response at that time was - OMG, that`s way over the top --- only the most dedicated "tree huggers" would ever do THAT! And, anyway, I thought to myself, "I don`t have a garden and I hate yard work, why would I compost???"

But, recently I read a book called Let It Rot! by Stu Campbell (Storey Publishing, LLC, 1998) and the 2nd Chapter (entitled "Why Compost?") helped me better understand why even a non-gardener and less dedicated "tree hugger" might become a composting convert. Here`s the argument that convinced me to give it a try.

* Many of our landfills are full or filling up and are becoming more costly (economically and environmentally) to maintain. Some already ban yard trimmings. Clearly, something needs to be done to reduce what we put into the landfills.
* Recycling is a major first step in decreasing what we send to the landfill. Since the initiation of curbside recycling and local yard waste composting in Cedar Key there has been a 25% decrease in the amount of waste sent to the landfill from our small island. However, it is estimated that of the remaining stuff in your trash about a third could be composted along with your yard waste, further reducing the amount hauled off Island to landfills.
* So, even if you don`t plan to use your composted material to improve your soil quality or add nutrients to your vegetable garden, you can further reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill by composting.

The book goes on to tell you more than you ever wanted to know about composting, but the bottom line is without too much investment or time, you can use one of a wide-variety of methods to start composting. It tells you some "dos and don`ts" to minimize odor, various ways to encourage rapid decomposition, and deter the interest of "varmints." I`m sure there are many other books that I could read but as Tom told me in the beginning "it`s not rocket science and it pretty much takes care of itself." So, I`m giving it a try!

This column is a project of Cedar Key`s Energy Advisory Panel, which welcomes first-person accounts of how individuals are conserving (or, even, aspiring to conserve) our community`s natural resources. Your submission may be made via email to eileenlbowers@yahoo.com. Please include your full name and your phone number.

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