Composting
What could be more fun than starting your own compost bin at home? Whether you're an avid gardener or you'd just like an easy way to get rid of your excess greenwaste, you'll find that a home compost project could be right for you. While most City of Redding residents have the option of participating in the City's free curbside greenwaste program, don't let that stop you! You might want to keep some of that good green stuff to make your own compost at home to use as a soil amendment in your garden, flower boxes and container plants.
You can use a store bought compost bin or you can make your own. Designs need not be fancy. The simplest design of all is a 3' x 3' x 3' pile of compostable material. You might want to create stable sides for the pile to keep it contained. You can do this by simply enclosing the perimeter of the pile with compost. Old pallets can be used for sides as well. Stand them on their sides and wire them together so they form a three-sided bin. This leaves the front of the bin open for easy access. Chicken wire and pallets are great building materials because they allow ventilation, which is critical to the composting process.
Check out the links on the right hand side of this page for composting basics.
Grasscycling
Grasscycling is the natural recycling of grass by leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing. Grass clippings will quickly decompose, returning valuable nutrients to the soil.
Grasscycling saves time, money, and protects the environment. Mowing time is reduced since the bagging and disposal of clippings is eliminated. Grass clippings add beneficial organic matter to the soil, which provides free fertilizer and produces healthy, green lawns. Grasscycling reduces turf grass fertilizer and water requirements, which can minimize toxic runoff entering storm drains and polluting lakes, creeks, and rivers.
Grasscycling also reduces the amount of yard waste disposed in landfills. Research has shown that lawns can generate approximately 300 pounds of grass clippings per 1000 square feet annually. This can be as much as 6 1/2 tons per acre each year! Grass clippings are too valuable to throw away, and grasscycling allows this green material to be reused in the natural environment.
Think grasscycling is just for your lawn at home? Think again! California businesses are embracing the idea of grasscycling. Ask your commercial landscape maintenance contractor to leave the clippings on the lawn. This can reduce your costs: it's less labor-intensive than raking and bagging clippings and there's absolutely no disposal cost!
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