As is tradition, Christmas lunches are big and, in
addition to unwillingly carrying away more food
from family visits, you are usually left making
space in your fridge for large amounts of leftover
food and wondering what you’ll do with it all.
Prof Suzan Oelofse, President of the IWMSA says that several million tonnes of waste are generated in Nigeria each year.
And what’s even more
alarming is that the majority of waste food ends up at landfill sites. This is extremely harmful to the environment.
According to Prof Oelofse, all this waste produces methane gas and is a major contributor to
greenhouse gas emissions.
If after GivingGiving food to your friends, family, neighbours and the homeless you still don’t know what to do with all those leftovers, here’s how your garden can benefit from it.
There are numerous benefits of composting organic waste as it produces mulch, soil
amendments, organic fertilisers and blended products that can assist in saving costs such as
substituting compost for chemical fertilisers,”
says Stuart Gower-Jackson, Senior Environmental
Scientist at Jeffares & Green and member of the IWMSA.
Composting of organic waste is relatively easy.
Here's how to turn your leftover food into great compost for your garden:
1. Set out an area in your yard: The size should be approximately one cubic meter.
2. Start mixing your waste: Mix two parts brown (dry leaves, small twigs, straw) with one
part green (grass clippings, food waste).
3. Make large pieces smaller: Cut or break anyany twigs and large pieces of fruit and vegetable waste so that materials can break down faster.
4. Add water: Water your compost to keep it moist, but not saturated.
5. Turn your compost: Compost needs air. Turning the compost will help to break it down
and will prevent it from smelling unpleasant.
6. Rich soil: When the compost is ready, it should look and smell like rich soil. Use finished
compost to feed your garden, flowers, potted
plants and lawn.
News24
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