Compost Awareness Week - Air

Today's Compost Awareness Week's video is about AIR! Did you know that stuff needs air to properly break down and not produce methane? Which is a gas worse for the climate than carbon dioxide!

So I made this video showing you how I add air to my two backyard bins.

 
Compost Tips - Adding Air from Lisa Kercher on Vimeo.

Send me your comments or questions. I could talk about compost all day every day.
I just love it so much!

xo
Lis

FURTHER READING

Check out the other video in this "series" explaining BROWNS.

VIDEO TEXT

One of the reasons we love compost so much over the landfill for your food scraps and your leaves is because when things go to the landfill they don't actually break down. Because landfills usually are covered over and so there's no air in there to help stuff actually decompose, especially the things that would normally just decompose if they were you know...out. So, composts are great because...I don't know. The stuff decomposes, it doesn’t release methane, etc. There are lots of reasons! Let's get into giving our compost air today/ Because they need air to work. 

Okay so the next minute (of the video) is me working in my compost bins. I have a handy pitchfork that I used to stab down in there to get through as many layers as I can, and just work some are down into there. I'm also trying to break up some of the bigger chunks (of material) especially the big wet ones while I'm down there. Because that will of course help it break down more.

I'm also watching for my balance between browns and greens. You'll notice me adding more leaves from my leaf bin as I go because again I've been adding food scraps from my kitchen all winter and not a lot of leaves so these bins definitely need a little balancing.

That gives you a little bit of an idea of how I add air to my compost bins. It takes a bit of time because I don't have a type of bin where I'm easily going to take out all of the material, turn it properly and put it back in and add more carbon - browns - to it but I do my best with what I have. And I'm not super worried about the amount of finished compost I'm going to get out of my bins every year. I do it more to divert food scraps and leaves and yard waste from the landfill and to supplement my garden soil every year.

There are certain types of compost bins that you can buy at home stores like these but that make turning in your compost a little bit easier. This is what I have and it works for me! Another way that you can easily add air to your compost is by adding some bigger sticks. They're not going to break down as fast obviously as other things in your compost bin, but it adds some breathing room and space into your compost. So it gives it that air without you having to do much work!

But that wasn't much work. And it's kind of fun to be outside, and listen to the birds, and mess around in my yard for a little bit!

If you have any questions about simple composting hit me up I'm always ready to talk about composting forever. It's my favourite. I think that's it.

Compost Awareness Week - Browns

Apparently, it's Compost Awareness Week right now. That wasn't on the Social Media Planning Calendar I was provided!

But seriously, I am always excited to chat about composting.


Little Compost Lesson - Browns from Lisa Kercher on Vimeo.

FURTHER READING

Each municipality has a different set of rules when it comes to compost. It's best to check out the local info, usually on their official website. For Edmonton, there is some info here.

Favourite Plus Fun Fact

In early March, I started participating in an Instagram "hashtag" started by a local artist. It was fun at first, but quickly became stressful and overwhelming for me. (Especially when I saw what the other folks were creating in response to the prompts.) I realized then that I wanted a simple, silly, easy creative outlet in these PANDEMIC TIMES. So I created "Favourite Plus Fun Fact".

Everyday I could share a drawing of a favourite something. And a fun fact about that thing or why it was a favourite. For the first few days, I was coming up with the something on the fly. But then I got my proverbial shit together and started writing out my options. I figured if I could put together enough prompts to take me to the end of April, I was laughing.

I created some graphics to share on IG in case anyone wanted to play along, and off I went! It was "real" now.

WHAT I WANTED

I was really hoping that this would catch on! That parents and their kids would sit down to create with each other. And that this would become a "thing".

And you know. Sometimes things don't go as planned!

WHAT I GOT

But I had fun! And we had some good chats in the Comments too. And my pal Nicole played along with all the prompts. And would text me pictures of her creations at the end of the day (for which I am 100% eternally grateful).

And most importantly I now have a fun book filled with drawings of some of my favourite things. A good reminder to create for yourself first.

It also served as a fun way to practice some new Photoshop skills! My goal at the end of April was to start looking into online education opportunities. And Photoshop was at the top of the list.

But rest assured, pencil crayons still hold my heart.

xo
Lis

Favourite Plus Fun Fact from Lisa Kercher on Vimeo.

FURTHER READING

If you are also looking for Photoshop help, I have found some good articles on the Adobe site (here). Otherwise, I use the "Guided" setting within Photoshop for the basic actions.

From the Archives - I used to do a "feature" on this blog called "Tell a Story." This one from 2013 about Lucas and drawing is the sweetest.

I really enjoy creating mini albums out of envelopes, old cards or other bits of paper that would normally go in the recycle. Here's a fun one I did for my 5 Year Plan.

You're Invited! Art Night Turns 1!

Art Night Anniversary Invite from Lisa Kercher on Vimeo.

Art Night turns ONE YEAR OLD next week.

On the one hand I am so sad that I don't get to do all the fun in person things I wanted. And on the other hand who cares?! I started a thing one year ago that is kind of a small, silly, thing, and here it is. One year old. A little toddly baby taking its first steps out into the world of the internet.

Boo yah.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP!

How it's going to work:

1. Click the link to RSVP
2. I'll send you the Hangouts link
3. At 7:00 pm (MT) on Friday, May 8 you click that link on your smart phone or laptop
4. Do art! Make a craft! Meet new pals! Online!

I wanted to do something a special in honour of the celebration, so I will be doing a live painting, and giving it away to someone in attendance.

Everyone is welcome.

Every art or craft or creative whatsit is welcome.

Please send me an email or leave a comment if you have any questions. And don't forget to RSVP!

Zero Waste - Community Garbage

Community Garbage is a Community Responsibility.

Community Garbage Pickup from Lisa Kercher on Vimeo.


I HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS ON THIS! I try not to get too preachy with my low waste shtick, but sometimes I can't shaddup about it.

Even though we've only lived in the neighbourhood for 8 months, we've walked past this field often. I personally walk past this field practically every day. And yet, there were many many seasons of garbage in this corner. It felt like an archaeological dig at one point. Just when I thought we had reached the bottom, I pulled back another layer of leaves to find yet another layer of gatdamn plastic baggies. (Don't even get me started on plastic baggies).

There were families playing in the field, and a man practicing his football moves. A few folks walked by and said something about what we were (obviously) up to. But I was the first person who thought that maybe she could help out and clean up this mess? Really?!

I believe that Community Garbage is a Community Responsibility.

Yes, this garbage is in a school field. But it's not just school garbage. There is a DQ and a Burger Baron up the road. There were bits of construction stuff, and household waste in this pile as well. Stuff that has blown from who knows where. And been trapped by the fence.

This is a place where people should feel comfortable to come and hang out with their friends and family. I mean once COVID is done of course, but it would also be a pretty sweet place for a physically distant hang out for a group. But we think, oh it's a school so the school should clean it up. You could replace "school" with church, or parking lot, or greenbelt, or pretty much any public space where we assume than someone else will be responsible.

Dudes. Dudes! It's us! There is only us!

I dunno what I'm trying to say. Just, keep your eyes open. We are in THIS together, but we are also in ALL OF THIS TOGETHER. We can each do our part.

I'm not afraid of being passionate about this kind of thing, and pissing people off with my passion. I'm more afraid of being alone in this, being the only one looking out for easy opportunities to help out. I know that individual actions won't 100% get us out of this mess we've made, but they help. Every little bit helps.

Lis

FURTHER READING

I have added a label to this post that I am only 75% comfortable with, but it's a familiar term, so I'm sticking with it. For more tips, and ideas, and chatting about "ZERO WASTE", all my posts are organized under this tag.

Picking up trash is a good habit to start in your journey towards a low waste lifestyle.

If you like those "10 Reasons to..." posts, this one is for you!

"Plogging" is a thing! "Plalking" is also a thing, but it sounds less snazzy.

Picking up litter does actually help the environment!

But I also totally agree that doing so doesn't address the root cause of the problem: too much plastic crap out there.

This resource has some kid-friendly tips and reflection questions when out picking up trash together.