This past Sunday's meeting focused on our semester plans.
Karie and the LANDscape club are working on a proposal to submit for a New York Native Plants garden for the front of the EcoHouse property. The garden would function as a showcase of native plants, an educational tool, and an opportunity to implement native plant elements into a challenging landscape design. Ideally, this garden will focus on native plants with high wildlife value, medicinal properties, are edible, and/or are locally threatened. A list of desired plants will be coming soon!
The Ecohouse will also be building a low budget, super efficient composting system for the house and community. With access to two 55-gallon drums we will be able to build a rotating compost tumbler that can manage a significant amount of waste rather quickly. The bins will have a few holes to allow for drainage and gas exchange. Creating a system where the bins can be rotated allows for easy mixing that speeds decomposition time. Plus, the enclosed plastic bins will prevent field mice and raccoons from dragging kitchen scraps around the yard. Also planned is a personal size composter made of a kitty litter container on a smaller but very similar rotating set up! The tumbleweed composter is of similar design plan to our future cmoposters but is available for purchase.
Next meeting, March 7, we will discuss materials and measurements for the composter and make a materials list, probably chat a bit more about the native plants garden, and reveal the plans for this seasons vegetable garden.
While you're waiting you can prepare yourself for spring by checking out the beautiful indoor flower arrangements and decorations at We Like It Wild.
Until then, be well,
Elizabeth
