Gardening and compost trial breaking myths
It’s over two years since we’ve been gardening and growing food in the streets and composting there.
The compost trial results in Peace Park will be compiled by early 2012.
So far the gardening and composting has broken some myths and created valuable new data.
Here are some interesting facts:
- several people come here from nearby suburbs of Pyrmont, Ultimo, Darlington and Glebe to use our compost bins and to garden or to take the fruit and veggies because they are in units where the body corporate won’t let them compost and there’s no useful garden opportunities in the units or the roads
- no rats from the compost
- sometimes there is some smell if you are up close or if the bins are not maintained
- real community is generated when we meet new people or friends while composting and gardening
- some vandalism of the plants but overall probably less vandalism generally (eg of cars) due to the greater community and activity in the streets which we now enjoy because of the gardening and composting
- anyone may take our fruit n vegies
- the longer the trial goes on the more people turn out for gardening and composting and the more councils and communities copy the project
In summary, road gardening and composting is an opportunity for greater community and the fears about road gardening and composting are not supported by our experience here.
There’ll be a summary of data on food waste cut, pollution prevented, and costs saved later in the year.
Put it this way; we can’t reduce pollution, increase the village life of our cities and cut waste by business as usual. New ways such as we are trialling are the only viable option.
M
Hi Michael, i am reading about your project with great intrest, this is such a down to earth way of fighting the negative overconsumtion we´ve had for the last century, and a beautiful way of taking responsability in the way we produce and consume, and furthermore in true communitybuilding, hands on, free of charge, straightforward.
About composting: I´m looking forward to the summary you mentioned you will put up later.
I live in a suburban area with flats, but we have a big beautiful green area that would be so great for a project like yours.
For now, i have wormcompost in my balcony, but i´ve already filled two big laundrybaskets…trying to find courage and practical information to present the idea of communal composting to the landlord. And also in the blurry plan there is an idea of recycling stuff, and planting of vegetables and fruittrees and bushes of course.
Nice to read about your experience, i´ll be back for more
Best regards
Laura in Sweden