As a community, we all can do our bit to waste less food, which means savings on groceries. 

Many of you are also redirecting food scraps and other organics - peelings, lawn clippings, plant prunings, tea bags and coffee grounds, vacuum dust, shredded paper, eggshells and cut flowers - into your gardens, pots and veggie beds through composting, worm farming and having backyard chickens.

Using compost not only helps improve soil quality and moisture, meaning you have to water less, but reduces disease and pests and is good for the environment.

If you don’t yet compost, there’s never been a better time to start than International Compost Awareness Week!

Watch the video or follow these steps to learn how easy it is.

• You’ll need a compost bin in a partially sunny spot, garden soil, brown-rich carbon waste such as leaves, dolomite lime, a compost turner, food scraps and water.
• Layer the bottom of the bin with 10-15cm of carbon-rich brown waste, add 2 shovels of soil, food scraps, water and mix with a compost turner
• Each time you add food scraps, add the same amount of brown waste, add water between layers and mix regularly. Top off with more soil and a final water. To retain moisture, cover with a hessian sack and close the lid.
• Give your compost a teaspoon of dolomite lime each week to balance acidity.
• Your compost is ready when it’s a brown crumbly mix and you can no longer see your food waste; a nutrient-rich compost for your garden.
• Alternatively make a compost tunnel by drilling holes into a plumbing pipe. Dig a hole and insert your compost tunnel into your garden.
• Add veggie, a handful of soil each time, mix and cover with a lid.
• Worms will naturally spread the nutrient-rich compost throughout your garden

It’s easier than you think and your garden - and the planet - will thank you.

To learn more about reducing food waste, visit our website or book your spot at the next composting workshop with Kimbriki on Saturday 28 June where residents who have not previously received a free compost bin, worm farm or voucher from Council will get a $90 voucher for a new compost bin.