CCC Workshop - Part 2: Small-Scale Composting Systems/Processing BMPs [Jeffrey Neal, Howard...
-
Upload
nick-stumo-langer -
Category
Environment
-
view
113 -
download
1
Transcript of CCC Workshop - Part 2: Small-Scale Composting Systems/Processing BMPs [Jeffrey Neal, Howard...
Best Management Practices (BMPs) at
Howard University Urban Garden Community Compost Cooperative&
Rhapsody Condo Worm Composting
Jeffrey NealILSR and Loop Closing
USCCC 2017 - Cultivating Community Composting
Loop Closing and ILSR
Existential Threat
• Rats are ubiquitous in DC, especially in areas with restaurants
• Keeping them at bay incorporated in every element
Loop Closing and ILSR
BMPs (and then what really happens)
• Threat Mitigation• Site specifics• Feed stocks• Turning• Curing• Sifting• Data• Signage• Help• Worms
Loop Closing and ILSR
Site Specifics
• DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR)• Urban Farm Plans - Compost Knox 3-bin system• “Squat” at Howard University’s Urban Garden
Before After
Loop Closing and ILSR
Site Specifics
Browns staged
3 bins and 2 curing corals
Loop Closing and ILSR
Site Specifics
Curing corrals
Finished compost staged
Loop Closing and ILSR
Feedstock• Browns are gold• Leaves• Neighbors bag, collect bags, HU or DC deliver• Compost Cab• Parents house in the DC suburb of Reston
Loop Closing and ILSR
Feed stock
• Rat resistant storage• Leaves: Whole vs Shredded or decomposing• Changes volume ratios from 2:1 to 1:1
Loop Closing and ILSR
Feed stock
• Wood chips• Add 1:4 wood chips to leaves• Stage and add the overs
Loop Closing and ILSR
Feed Stock – Adding Food Scraps• All food scraps go straight into bin 1, no staging• Bin 1 has scale, bucket, and shovel• Thermometer left in all 5 piles
Loop Closing and ILSR
Turning• Use mixing bins and tarps
Loop Closing and ILSR
Turning• Check moisture, hand squeeze test• Add water• Tarp, too
Loop Closing and ILSR
Curing (oops)
Rats tracks
Loop Closing and ILSR
Curing
Loop Closing and ILSR
Sifting
FinishedOvers
Loop Closing and ILSR
Data
• Google Sheet• Weights• Temperatures• Moisture Content• Notes, including bad things
Loop Closing and ILSR
Data
Loop Closing and ILSR
Testing
• Germination test• Conduct lab test complying with USCC STA
Loop Closing and ILSR
Signs and Set Workdays and Hours
Loop Closing and ILSR
Partner or Perish (burnout)
• Co-Managers – Valerie Onifade, clone her!• ILSR• Compost Cab, LLC• Howard University• Rhapsody Condo Board• Washington DC, Department of Parks and Recreation• Eco-City Farm• Urban Farm Plans• Neighbors, Community
Loop Closing and ILSR
Worm Composting in a Building
• Condo of 160 units, pilot project with 10 units• Residents divert plant-based food scraps from the
landfill or waste water treatment plant• Residents stage food waste in the trash room
Loop Closing and ILSR
Worm Composting in a Building• Select individuals transfer food to the worms• Worms staged in the stairwell bottom landing• Out of the way; accessible; climate controlled by the earth;
and available in most mid- and hi-rise buildings
Loop Closing and ILSR
Back-up Slides
Loop Closing and ILSR
Photos- Bin Lid Rat Resistance
Loop Closing and ILSR
Photos- Biolayer built-in
Loop Closing and ILSR
Photos
Loop Closing and ILSR
Capstone Project – Condo Loop ClosingExtended Project – Halo Green Garden Compost Bins
Loop Closing and ILSR
Photos
Loop Closing and ILSR
Opportunities and Hurdles– Use the compost for potted plants, a community
garden, or returning to farmers– Board approval delay of 4 months: Lesson learned is to
state what I’m doing vice ask for approval– Water access at Halo Green Garden at Howard– Processes needed: how, inclusion, metrics, growth– Telling my own story (not what to do)– We are not alone!– Lesson I need to learn: Stop going at it alone!– Return DC compost to farms providing DC’s produce?
Loop Closing and ILSR
Next…• Greatly increase local composting, excess on hand• Sandy Lerner, MS '81, Co-Founder of Cisco and Founder of Ayrshire
Farm: “Problem with selling to farmers is that farmers have no money to buy anything”
• Think local, disposable income of DC residents• Everfi model: Banks fund web-based instruction• Umbrella support for diverse network of composters: QC, testing,
marketing, scheduling, etc• Local laws remove blocks to diversion, limiting food waste to
landfills pending?• Farmers market farmers, organic markets, grocers, food
distributors?
Loop Closing and ILSR
Condo Back-up Slides
– Start with 7 bins that are 2SF, estimate 7#/week rotated on a 2 week basis. Needs 30 SF to start.
– Laydown area for bins: 90 SF in 3 stairwells, 100SF in the parking garage, ???SF in storage rooms
– Can grow to at least 10 fold to 70#/week assuming worms eat their body weight weekly
– Space to deliver to and from via loading ramp– Provide extensive signage and email notices– Start with 10 motivated residents, grow from there