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Composting
Queens Compost Project
“Composting where people, plants, and cultures meet.”
Composting is the process of creating the ideal conditions for the rapid decomposition of organic materials, such as leaves, vegetable, and fruit peels. Once organic materials are decomposed, compost, a dark crumbly material that looks and feels like soil, remains.
The Queens Botanical Garden’s Compost Project works to educate Queens and the rest of New York City on the many benefits of composting, which include bringing nutrients back to our city soils, reducing solid waste and sanitation costs, and creating a sustainable and healthy environment. The Compost Project teaches and promotes composting to adults, families, gardeners, and teachers through public workshops, teacher training, exhibitions, tabling at community events, answering helpline calls, sustaining a compost demonstration garden, and selling compost bins. We also work with landscapers and other professionals, such as ground maintainers at housing sites, hospitals, and universities.
In 1993, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) created the NYC Compost Project, which established compost programs at the City’s four botanical gardens. Today, DSNY’s Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling (BWPRR) funds and manages compost projects in all five boroughs and also maintains a comprehensive website on composting.
Established in 1994, the Queens Compost Project operates under QBG’s Education Department. Current information and services include the following:
Compost 101
Learn how to compost your leaves, kitchen scraps, garden clippings, and other select organic material by following these easy instructions. For an in-depth look, see the Art & Science of Composting.
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QBG director of education Patty Kleinberg explains how to care for your lawn, naturally. | Compost Demonstration Garden
See the latest commercially available composting systems in action, including the Earth Machine (available to NYC residents for $50), Garden Gourmet, Compost Tumbler, Toro Composter, and a compost bench. The Compost Demonstration Garden also features beautiful and manageable natural landscape options for Queens front and back yards. The landscapes include a tall fescue lawn, buffalo grass lawn, miniature wildflower lawn (Fleur de Lawn), backyard patio garden, and groundcover garden.
Teacher Training
Be the first in your school to have a worm bin in the classroom! NYC Teacher “Wormshop”: Worm Composting for the Classroom is open to New York City schoolteachers grades K to 12 and qualifies participants for three new teacher training credits.
NYC Compost Givebacks and Bin Sales
Check here for the latest information on where and when to get free unlimited amounts of compost and purchase bins for $50.
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Compost Dan leads a Build-a-Bench workshop. | Compost Workshops
Learn more by attending our hands-on and lecture-style workshops.
Master Composter Certificate Program
Become an expert! Learn how composting benefits backyards and gardens, as well as fits into New York City’s waste management plans. This comprehensive training program has a community service component.
Compost Resources
See our listing of worms suppliers, compost-related books, compost websites, and other resources.
Compost Helpline
Contact the Queens Compost Project staff by e-mail or phone 718.539.LAWN(5296) with your questions.
Earth knows no desolation.
She smells regeneration in the moist breath of decay.
~ George Meredith
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