Climate Solutions: What Is the Right Moisture Content for My Worm Bin?
Moisture content is very important when composting with worms. This is because your red wigglers breathe through their skin and need appropriate moisture to do so. Often times the materials you add will give your bin moisture, but you will likely still need to add water to obtain the appropriate amount (especially with warmer weather).…
Read MoreClimate Solutions: How to Manage Bee Swarms in Your Compost Bin
What Should You Do First? Many of us know that bees serve a vital role in the environment as pollinators, and that their populations have seen a concerning decline in recent years. However, it can still be alarming when a swarm of honeybees chooses to land around our home– including the inside of a compost…
Read MoreWaste to Wonder: Celebrating 40 Years of Solana Center
May 11, 2024 What a wonderful evening of connection, reunion, conviction, history and hope. Thank you one and all for attending Waste to Wonder the 40th Anniversary Celebration of Solana Center for Environmental Innovation at the Encinitas Community Center. photo credit: Brooke Raines Our celebration felt the absence of members of the Solana Center community…
Read MoreComposting Key to Regenerative Agriculture
There’s a lot of buzz about regenerative agriculture, particularly its ability to capture carbon in soil and in aboveground biomass, as well as its many benefits for farmers, consumers, and local environments. According to regenerative agriculture, the answer lies beneath our feet. Soil loss is a global problem and growing worse around the world, at…
Read MoreClimate Solutions: Can Weeds be Composted?
There is not a simple yes or no answer to this query. Weeds have many nutrients so they are a great addition to the compost pile, but you do not want compost filled with viable weed seeds. The best time to take care of weeds is when they are small and have not established deep…
Read MoreClimate Solutions: Can I convert a garbage can into a compost bin?
Yes, it is a great solution when a compost pile is just not feasible because of small yards or sensitive neighbors. Here’s a cheap and easy way to convert one of your garbage cans into a compost bin. Materials: – 30+ gallon plastic garbage can, with locking lid (optional: bungee cords to hold the lid…
Read More2024 San Diego Woman Who Inspires
Jessica Toth’s remarkable contributions to environmental sustainability and her tireless advocacy for meaningful change made her the winner of my 2024 San Diego Woman Who Inspires award! Jessica’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to making a tangible difference in her community is truly inspiring. In her current role as the Executive Director of the Solana…
Read MoreClimate Solutions: How Do I Add Compost to Container Plants?
Container gardening is an incredible solution to a variety of growing woes, especially when it comes to the creative and economical use of space. Gardeners lacking backyards or yards with full sun exposure, gardeners working with truly difficult soil, and new gardeners looking to gain confidence in the craft are common beneficiaries of the practice.…
Read MoreSustainable Food Storage Options
Have you ever gone shopping for fresh fruits and veggies to find you’re surprised by how much plastic packaging you see around them? It is not uncommon to see fruits sold in plastic clamshell containers or plastic bags offered to bag loose vegetables at most grocery stores. Depending on what you’re looking to buy sometimes packaging is unavoidable. But we’ve gathered a few…
Read MoreClimate Solutions: Is Ink Bad for Worms?
Question: May I add shredded mail and computer paper to my worm and garden compost bins? Are the inks toxic? Answer: That is a frequently asked question, thanks for bringing it to the blog! The inks used today in newspapers, boxes etc. are non-toxic and are readily broken down through composting. However, the see-through address…
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