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Page 28, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, June 19. 1996 COMPlOSTJNG «.. 1S FREE AND EASY ,Maniy Canadians are now composting in order to produce a ricli soil conditioner for their garden, lawn and house plants and at the samre time reduce household garbage by one-third. This time ofyear a composter will continually fil up with lots of veggie/fr-uit peelings and yard waste However, within a few days the volume wýill decrease as earthwornis and other compost creatures break down the material, turning it into a soil conditioner called compost. You don't need any special knowledge or equipment nor do you need to. be 'a dedicated gardener. Simply find a suitable location to compost then begin layering yard debnis with kÏtchen organic wastes. Once you've got it going, it takes care of itself. Start your compost heap with a base of brush cuttings to ensure a good flow of air into the Pile. As wel as adding eggshelse and tea baga etc., you can include cooled wood ashes, sawdust from untreated-wood, clothes dryer lint, hair clippings3 and pet fuir, wilted flowers, cotton, felt, rope, feathers and string. Soü should be added occasionally as it acta as an odour suppressor and introduces more microorganisms to speed up the decomposition. Items which should not be placed into your backyard unit include meat scraps, fats and dairy products. Periodically the compost, should be turned with a pitchfork or prodded with an air ventilator. This helps ta rejuvenate the natural process causeing the pile ta heat up. In a few-months'time, your efforts will be rewarded with wormn castings which are an excellent-soil conditioner. In Pickering, Rosebank Village Retirement Centre and Rougemount Co-op are lookinginto viable ways te compost on-site. Holy Redeemer church is setting up a uni*t ta collect ail wilted ilowers as weil as the small amount of organic waste such as cofYee grounds generated by its members. Unfortunately, Durham Region no longer offers subsidized funding for backyard composters due te lack of provincial funding. Anyone interested in purchasing a unit wiil have ta do so at the retail prioe. Check-large supermarkets, building supply stores, and nurseries ta see what kinda are available or simply build a unit from scrap* lumber. COMPOST TLPS: If the pile is not composting, it is probably too dry. Moisten with water until damp. Trainers' mailing list compiled Cornrunity Based T7rainers, involved with the Durham Region Local Board, are, trying taÃ" develop a mailing list. To qualify for the group, a community- based education and training organization muati be characterized as not-for-profit, non-legislated and communfty managed. It must promote inclusion within the co*inmunity while improving and encouraging employment. To be added ta thé niailing liet, write to Carol Ashton, 39' Welhingtn St. E., ~Oshawa, L1H 3Y. Take--Whitby Tni AVOID THE PARKING CONGESTION DOWNTOWN! Take Regular Transit Service 8am-7Pm Spon.sored by 'A,"V .Whitby Transit.*'ý-"-*ý TEMPORARY DOWNTOWN BUS STOPS DUE TO STREET CLOSURE FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 299 1996 Ro ute #1 and 2 - Coiborn e St., Green to Athol Route #39 4 and 5 - Coiborne St., Athol to, Hickory Route #6 ~ Green St., Coilborne toDunlop mnsit to the Camfival Denotes street closed to vehicular traffic -ni SATURDAY JUNE 299 1996 1961]