Composting Seminar at Bay Community House

Spring is a great time to start a compost pile. All you need is a sunny spot in the backyard and you’ll be able to create a compost pile using a mix of “brown” and “green” materials.

Backyard composting is a key to reducing the waste that goes to the land fill. When the organic matter such as kitchen and yard waste go to the landfill, the nutrients are not returned to the soil. Through composting, you reuse valuable materials by returning the nutrients from the food you eat and the plant material in your yard back to the soil. According to the EPA, nearly 25% of all waste that goes to the land fills is compostable.

What can be composted?

The compost process adds 1-2 parts GREEN materials with 2-3 parts BROWN materials.

· Green (organic) materials include: Plant clippings, vegetable scraps, fruit scraps, flowers, grass clippings, coffee grounds, tea bags

· Brown (organic) materials include: Dead leaves, straw, sawdust, wood chips, shredded newspaper, dryer/vacuum lint, nut shells

A properly maintained compost pile will have an “earthy” smell and will provide you with a free source of valuable organic soil amendments to use in place of fertilizers.

Compost Seminar:

Come and join Kathy Rocco of the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District on Wednesday, April 13, 7-8:30 PM to learn all about backyard composting. The Seminar will be held at the Bay Community House, 303 Cahoon Road, in Bay Village and is open to the public. The seminar is free and there will be two styles of outdoor compost bins available for purchase at a discounted price of $50 each. There is also a compost scrap pail for $5. (Cash or check only).

To register:

Contact Warren Remein wlremein@yahoo.com

January 2011 Meeting Updates

The Bay Village Green Team hit the ground running in the New Year. Despite the weather, the January meeting brought together a few familiar faces of the past along with some new faces from the community–welcome one and all!

In the past the GT has identified and focused on 5 areas of sustainability that include: general sustainability, waste management, transportation, environment and energy & green buildings. Since the budding success of the community garden last summer a 6^th category was added with the heading of local foods.

2011 goals were discussed in each of the areas beginning in communications. Some highlights include: The BVGT fact sheet is currently in its final stage of completion, soon to be ready for release; the team is looking for ideas and writers for monthly “green” articles for submission to the Westlake Bay Observer; arrange for speakers at the monthly meetings on a quarterly basis and develop a presence on the new city website.

For those of you that didn’t know… on January 24^th City council members unanimously voted to pass the implementation of automated trash pick-up in the city beginning this Spring. Although this is a city-sponsored project, the Green Team is in strong support of the increased curbside recycling that will be available. We’ll be promoting recycling awareness as part of the ATP roll-out to help residents identify the proper items to be placed in the recycle bins by creating a label to be attached to the lids of each Recycle bin. The team is currently writing a grant proposal to the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District for funding on a postcard to all residents on the Recycle Bank Program as well as a video explaining how and why to recycle for posting on the City website. The grant will be awarded the end of March. Ideas were discussed on the best method for disposal of existing residential trash cans to avoid being land filled. A city-wide collection and donation to Habitat for Humanity was suggested as one possible solution. Old trash cans can also be easily repurposed for composting or digesting food scraps or animal waste appropriately and responsibly. Here is a great video link for a DIY backyard digester: http://vimeo.com/15752957.

For a complete set of minutes from the January 11^th meeting email us at bayvillagegreenteam@gmail.com. Join us at our next meeting Tuesday, February 8th at 6:30 PM—City Hall. Make a difference, get involved!

Semi Annual Review of the BVGT

This month’s Bay Village Green Team meeting was the semi annual review of GT activities to Mayor Sutherland. Beginning with the Waste Management Update, Brenda O’Reilly gave a report on Recycling in Public Places and the 24 recycling bins the team received, in the form of a grant from the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District. Acknowledgment and thanks was given to the City’s Service Center since each bin needed to be lettered with recycling instructions along with being placed in strategic locations around town and for special events. The Service Center also provided paper recycling bins in all city buildings, significantly reducing waste. Also covered was a follow-up to the SWD Compost Seminar held in July. Forty-five attended with 17 compost bins being sold resulting in more people composting and less waste going to our landfills—more organic waste being repurposed; way-to-go fellow composters!

With regard to further recycling discussion, Bay currently recycles 50% of its waste—this is due primarily to a very successful leaf and brush pick up program. The leaf and brush is picked up by the city and is delivered to the Westlake compost facility, made into mulch and humus. Excluding the leaf and brush, Bay recycles around 13%. There is an opportunity to increase recycling with Automated Trash Pick up, combined with education and public awareness. Automated Trash Pickup is currently under review with the city. Talks of holding a Town Hall meeting on this topic may begin in the Fall. Many communities are now converting to automated trash pick up—statistics show that it at least doubles recycling due to increased curbside pickup. In Bay, the curbside pick up could be expanded to include compostable yard waste, mixed paper, and cardboard.

Bob Shield’s gave an update on the Bay Community Garden beginning with the community’s interest and participation being way beyond all expectation for its first year. There are 82 plots, with 73 rented. The others are to churches and scouts for use in growing food to donate and for education. There is also a pumpkin patch for kids, sun flower garden along the north end of the fence, and butterfly garden at the corner of Wolf & Forestview. Currently the Community Garden Sub Committee is focused on maintaining the garden—watering the vegetable gardens and newly planted flowers, weeding, harvesting, cutting grass, filling barrels. We expect increased enrollment next year based on the interest that is being expressed.

Other discussion items that rounded out the meeting included: The Mayor being asked to consider a Zero Waste BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for the city. Across Northeast Ohio, companies and organizations have signed up with a Zero Waste goal. Bay Village could be the first municipality to declare a zero waste goal and how cool would that be!!! Other topics discussed were: A budget to plan more trees; E4S Sustainability Implementation Training; Solar & Wind power; and Emerald Ash Bore infecting a number of trees in our city.

Remember, anyone is welcome to join us at our monthly meetings. Make a difference, get involved and come to our next BVGT September 14^th meeting, 6:30 at City Hall.

If anyone is interested in receiving the official meeting minutes send an email request to bayvillagegreenteam@gmail.com with 8/10/10 Minutes copy request in subject line.

Compost Seminar - July 20

Learn how easy it is to COMPOST at this FREE seminar. Composting is highly beneficial--recycles rich, organic nutrients back into your soil. And, it preserves the environment for future generations by reducing the waste that goes to the land fill. According to the EPA, nearly 25% of all waste in land fills can be composted.

Join us on Tuesday, July 20 at 6:30 PM at the Bay Community House, 303 Cahoon Road to learn the do's and don'ts of successful back yard composting with Kathleen Rocco, Education Specialist, Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District. The seminar is FREE and two (2) different types of Composting Bins will be available for purchase at a discounted price of $50 each (Checks or cash accepted if you wish to purchase a compost bin—no credit cards, please)

This event is being arranged in partnership with the Bay Village Green Team. Advance registration is appreciated.

For more information contact: Warren Remein at 440-724-1578 or email Wlremein@yahoo.com.

Bring the entire family for an evening of education & start composting this summer!