I must say that I welcome the news of Obama’s success yesterday.  During his campaign his policies suggested that he is taking environmental sustainability seriously.  And it is needed!  The USA has the highest level of CO2 emissions in the world and has not signed up to the Kyoto agreement.

His targets point towards him looking in the right direction:

·         10% of power from renewable energy by 2012 and a quarter by 2025

·         No more new drilling in US waters

·         No more coal-fired plants

·         Increased fuel efficiency standards on cars

And best of all he aims to stimulate the sector in order to create 5 million new jobs, striving for the American people to see the environmental push as an opportunity and not a cost.

His work as an environmental activist back in his university days suggests he means what he says, and lets face it he cannot be any worse than George Bush!  But as with all things the proof will be in the eating.

1. Get a bin!! Many local authorities provide compost bins for free or for a nominal sum.  Look out the environment or waste department and give them a call.

2. Think about the site for your compost bin.  Clear an area in the garden to the bare/loose soil.  Ensure the site is easy to get to top it up (a compost bin is no use for the environment if it is an empty one!).  It is also important to site it in an area that gets the sun and lets that solar energy get to work!

3. Start collecting ingredients – have a small ice cream tub or similar under your sink for all the vegetable peelings , tea bags and egg shells.  You can also compost cereal packets and similar (toilet rolls are often forgotten about).  Do not compost meat, fish or cooked food.

4. Collect outside ingredients – collect grass cuttings, weeds, wood chips, dead leaves.

5. Starting the process – a good way to start is by layering the contents in your bin – start with brown ingredients, then green and so on.  You many need to add water if the mix seems a little dry.

6. The green and brown mix – a careful balance must be maintained between green ingredients (such as kitchen scraps and grass cuttings, etc) and brown ingredients (leaves, cardboard, etc).  A good rule to start with is to have 2 parts brown: 1 part green.

7.  The waiting game – composting is no overnight experience.  You will have to wait for a good few months before the compost is useable.  Nature takes time to work!  To help it along on its way it is a good idea to turn the turn regularly to circulate oxygen in the mix.

8. Keeping topping up!

9. Check it! One the compost turns into a product that is dark, thick, moist and crumbly (time taken depends on the season and climate) it is ready to use.

10. Use it! Compost makes an excellent quality fertiliser for all garden requirements.