3. Compost While the idea of composting might have you wrinkling your nose as you imagine piles of rotting garbage, composting is a highly rewarding process because it keeps extra waste out of landfills and gives you all-natural soil for your yard. And it’s really not that smelly. Although you can purchase larger, heavy-duty composters on Amazon, at-home composting can be as simple as a plastic storage bin you keep under your patio. If you choose this version, make sure to drill a few tiny air holes into the sides but secure the lid on tight to keep rodents out. Regardless of which kind of bin you choose, fill your bin with three or four parts carbon-rich material, like dead leaves, corn husks, paper with non-toxic ink, eggshells and sawdust to every one part nitrogen-rich material like lawn clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps and coffee grounds. Don’t compost any meat, dairy or pet waste. Keep your compost bin in a shaded area so it stays cool and turn it every few days to aerate it. Soon, you’ll have healthy soil to give back to the earth. Compost is naturally rich in nutrients, so you can skip the expensive store-bought soils and spread this in your garden and lawn instead. For the beginner composter, great online resources include Compost Guide and Gardening Know-How. Or, if you live in Melbourne Beach and don’t want to do the composting yourself, you can take part in Scott Parker’s free Green Earth Composting program.
4. Become a mangrove farmer Mangroves are essential to life as we know it in Florida. Their roots protect our shorelines from erosion and shelter young fish and other Florida wildlife. As buildings overtake our coasts, mangroves need our help now more than ever. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a farm, this is your chance, in a way. The Marine Resources Council will provide you with mangrove seeds, called propagules, to nurture in your own backyard. Once the mangroves have grown enough, MRC will take them off your hands and plant them along the shorelines that need them the most.
NOVEMBE R 2019: 121