Most people know that composting is a great ecological way to deal with your kitchen scraps and other organic waste. However, we don't always have the physical space to destine to composting and this can make us end up throwing literal wealth into the trash.
One day, walking through the streets of Maringá and naively believing that I would manage to get a job there to begin a new life, I was entertaining the thought of renting a small place and what that would mean.
Different issues came to mind, among them how could I work with plants and soil if I had little space to do so. I believe that if we are to see a more abundant and healthier planet, the basic minimum responsibility we all have is to compost our kitchen scraps.
I imagined myself putting the kitchen scraps in a blender with plenty of water. Then I envisioned using the liquid part of the blend to water some vase with poor soil which would be enriched with all those nutriens, while composting the crushed scraps in a bag or a plastic 6 lt jar.
None of this was necessary as I never got any job. You know the story, I needed to vaccinate against COVID to be allowed into the system, which I refused, so here I am. Please tell me in the comments of the countries you can be fully a part of without having to play the COVID game.
Anyway, I had forgotten about the idea until now that the place where I'm staying doesn't have an active compost system and it has little room. It just doesn't sit right with me to throw what can become great soil into the trash.
I don't know if a blender has been used for this purpose before, but reducing the size of organic matter is a common practice among gardeners, as the little bits are much easier to compost by the microorganisms. The smaller the particle, the quicker it gets broken down.
Once you see no more big chunks you're good to go.
In this place there is a small garden organized mainly in fruit trees and these tires filled up with soil. Since the host was traveling for a few years recently, it has been a bit neglegected so the soil has become dry and compacted. It is a perfect chance to use this idea as it will hydrate and add organic matter that will restore the microbiology of this soil.
Just look at that colorful juice pooring in there, a feast for all those invisible creatures that keep life going.
One of the reasons people don't compost directly where they plant is because concentrations of organic matter lead to concentrations of bacteria, altering acidity and possibly causing disease to the plants. So in this case, assuming we don't have the room for composting, we can just spread out the solid material. Worms and other critters will make short work of those tiny pieces.
We also get to loosen up the soil in a way that is bringing in new life.
Just look at that difference. It's insane how much it changed instantly.
Adding a layer of mulch will help keep that moisture in the soil, promoting a quicker decomposition of the stuff you throw inside.
Now you have an alternative to composting if you live somewhere with reduced space! Enjoy being part of regenerative agriculture no matter where you are 😉