My Garbage is Now Compost

by Jonnie G
(Indiana County, Pennsylvania)

My Compost Pile

When I lost my job, it was time to make some lifestyle changes, so I gave up my apartment in town and rented a small house out in the country.

It was a good move for me, since I would be retiring from any full time work within the next five years and it was time to slow down and smell the roses ... literally!

What I didn't realize was that I would also be giving up a lot of "conveniences" to which I had become accustomed, such as regular trash pick up.

In my new country abode, there was no regular trash pick up. I found that most of my new neighbors burned their trash or hauled it to a recycling center about ten miles away. This was one of those things I didn't consider when I moved, but I figured I would find a way to deal with it.

I joined a gardening group and found out that many of my neighbors were taking their organic garbage and throwing it into a compost pile.

Well, I didn't know anything about compost piles, but I soon learned. And I'm really glad I did. I throw all my vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, leaves that I suck up with my vacuum/blower, egg shells .... whatever will decompose and be turned into mulch. My compost is now shoveled into my garden, producing a rich soil, that is wonderful for growing my vegetables.

Who would know that my garbage is now called "compost" and I am feeling very virtuous about it!