Hometown Hero

Submitted by Jenny Bloom, Davidson County

“I probably haven’t changed the world, but I’ve been composting for years. Nothing elaborate. I’m in a subdivision of modest homes. Years ago I bought the prepackaged, foldable, wire, garden border fence for very little cost/about 2 1/2 ft tall. I created 2 divisions in it, one smaller than the other to allow for resting.

I started with my coffee grounds, what few appropriate kitchen scraps I had, and would toss any earthworms I encountered in there. In time, a wild grape vine took up residence and I’ve trained that around the fence for aesthetics. I also planted some ornamental grass in front of it, as it is visible from the street.

Over the years, I’ve either draped landscaping cloth stapled to small wood pieces over it, or even a large black garbage bag with holes punched it to help heat it up and keep critters out. I’ve planted catnip nearby to attract the occasional wandering neighborhood cats , in case there were any mice, etc. attracted to it.
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I occasionally stopped by Starbucks to pick up grounds, or the Ag Center for a small basket of the mounds they set  out when they clean the horse stalls. My neighbor gives me their bagged leaves every fall. I have no idea the quantity of yard and kitchen scraps or the compost yielded in 15 years. I’ve probably introduced some weeds into my garden with it.
My point is, you don’t have to have a large, fussy operation to successfully compost living in a subdivision , and I know I’ve given back to the earth, cut my contribution of methane gas at the landfill, and created a little microclimate here with my compost and garden.”