Tuesday 4 September 2012

First days and compost bins

Yesterday was a strange sort of a day for me, my youngest went off to be away from for the first time ever, at the local Steiner kindergarten, and my eldest stayed home. Monty was really excited and very ready to go off on a new adventure but I hadn't expected to feel so emotional. I had a very real ache in my chest as I said goodbye that didn't go until I had him back in my arms at the end of his big first day.









I decided that as the weather was perfect for a spot of sawing and hammering, Eli and I should get cracking with the planned compost bin.

Recycling facilities in Calderdale are pretty good I think, with collections for glass, paper, plastic and food waste it doesn't leave too much recyclable material left over. As a household however we still don't manage to deal with all of our compostable waste. I've had intentions to build a compost bin for some time without actually just getting on with it so Zero Waste Week has already been a great motivator!

Eli and I used bits of wood that had been lying around for ages; the remnants of an old Ikea child's table and some old skirting board that I'd been hoarding. We also had some really thick planks that we split down the middle to make two of the uprights. Now, I'm fully aware that this construction of ours is not going to win any prizes for looks, but as it will mostly be full of decaying matter I don't think that's too important.

We've just put it together with nails for now - hammering in nails is much more fun than screwing for a five year old - and we'll get some screws in it before we put it to work.






I think Eli was fairly proud of his first joinery efforts (as you can see from the cheesy expression) and I'm hoping he continues to be interested in the whole business of filling up the bin and watching the decomposition process. I'm also fairly proud that I finally did something I've been talking about doing for at least a couple of years!



There are so many things like this, that as individuals and families we know we be should be doing. Life is busy and time is short, but I'm already feeling better for doing my 'one more thing'. Thanks Rachelle for giving us the push we needed.


Click here for National Zero Waste week 2012

8 comments:

Mel Horrod said...

Love this post! Happy Composting!xxxx

mrs green @myzerowaste said...

that is such a wonderful and inspiring post - thanks for sharing. LOVE the pics, you're both quite right to feel proud and I hope your older one enjoyed kindy and your heart is mending x

Selina Gough said...

Thanks Mel, I briefly glanced at your profile and see that you have a whole clutch of blogs! I'll start having a read soon, may take me a while...

Selina Gough said...

Thanks Rachelle, for your comment and for inspiring me

sustainablemum said...

Your compost bin looks great, hope it is big enough. We have two huge ones and a womery!

Henry Gibbons Guy said...

Nearly three thousand miles .. It's good to pop into your life and see what's been going on. More satisfying than fb .. Feels like we should all blog. Looking forward to getting home and catching up. Lots of love xxx

Selina Gough said...

Ah hello my lovely! I was thinking about you today, must have sensed your presence. It's been a long time, we need to arrange that visit. Hope Canada is all you need it to be xx

Selina Gough said...

Apparently worms don't last too long around these parts - too cold or wet or something. Hoping it meets our needs for now, maybe next year we'll build a bigger one!