Just a quick note. I’m a member of the Ontario Environment Network e-mail list and just received some interesting news. I don’t think they’ll mind me posting it here:
Aside from these developments state side, the parent company of The Weather Network has submitted an application for a new TV channel, The Environment Network. This channel will broadcast environmentally related content exclusively, 24 hours a day.
In order to help push this application through, letters of support need to
be sent to the CRTC by November 15, 07.
Details regarding the letter can be found at
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/index.php?product=environmentnetwork&pagecontent=index#draftletter
Thanks
Jed Goldberg
President
Earth Day Canada
Sounds like a GREAT idea to me! Hopefully this comes to fruition
Technorati Tags: weather network, environment, environment network, ontario, canada
Written by Bentley on November 7th, 2007 with 2 comments.
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Well, the kooky, cold-weather composter is officially back in action – and ready to take on Old Man Winter in round 2 of the ‘Winter Composting Extravaganza’! The cold winds have really started blowing and even a little snow has fallen – signs that it is definitely time to really soup up my composter for the cold months ahead.
Luckily I took advantage of some free time (something that is in incredibly short supply these days) and some decent weather last weekend to get things rolling – just in time it seems! Ever since then the weather has been much colder. Given the fact that I’ve been prepping the bin by essentially starving it (don’t worry – all my wiggly friends are doing just fine!), leaving it exposed in this weather may have had resulted in some serious consequences (since temps in the bin were essentially ambient before my weekend work).
I’ve started by adding multiple layers of cardboard all around the inside wall of the bin (last year I only had one or two layers thick), along with a nice thick layer of organic materials to kickstart some microbial heating. As mentioned in another post, I like to bag my lawn clippings (normally mulched) at the end of the year so I can add them to my composter. Well this year I lucked out and ended up with a very nice mixture of clippings and leaves (I hadn’t raked yet) from my last cutting – perfect fodder for the bin. I also mixed in the remains of two jack-o-lantern pumkins (and associated ‘guts’) along with a bunch of left-over garden tomatoes – gathered during my recent garden clean-up. I decided not to add any water to the mix (it was quite dry), so that I could take advantage of a more ‘slow-release’ heating. As you may recall, last year I ran into over-heating issues by optimizing conditions too much (and too early)!
The system has responded beautifully!
Despite frigid air temperatures, internal temps in the composting mass are between 20 and 30 degrees C (68-86 F) in multiple zones – and this all with considerable room to spare at the top, relatively little material in general, and no tarp over top. I tested temperatures in my other outdoor bin (a more traditional plastic composter) and found no indication of heating at all! I suspect the contents of that bin will end up as winter fuel for my main system (along with the big heap of garden waste I’ve accumulated). I can’t wait to see how the system performs once it is totally ready for action!
Speaking of which, later this week my dad will be coming over to help me prepare the bin for serious cold weather. Unlike last year’s sad insulation efforts, I’ll be going ‘all-out’ this time around. My dad happens to have a large quantity of old insulation collecting dust in his basement, so we are going to build an outer wall for the bin and simply stuff the space in between with the insulation.
I’m actually going to be making a powerpoint movie (ie still shots with me narrating) of the event and will definitely let everyone know once it is ready. One other thing to mention – main coverage of this year’s ‘extravaganza’ will actually occur on Red Worm Composting and another secret location (not yet ready for launch). Rest assured I will still post updates here at EcoSherpa, and you can also be sure that this site is going to continue on its merry way (and will actually be much more active in general soon!).
In case you missed our winter composting series last year, here is a list of my posts:
Winter Composting Extravaganza
Composter’s Log – Stardate 60352.8
Composter’s Log: Stardate 60376.9 – RED ALERT!!
Composter’s Log: Stardate 60393.6 – Winter Has Arrived
Composter’s Log: Stardate 60429.3 – Unusual Life Forms
Composter’s Log: Stardate 60492.2 – ‘Oh Winter, Where Art Thou?’
Composter’s Log – The Iceman Cameth
Composter’s Log – Dontchu Know I’m Loco?!
Composter’s Log: Letting Sleeping Mice Lie
Composters Log – Back In Business!
Technorati Tags: worm bin, worm composting, composting, winter composting, compost bin, vermicomposting, red wigglers, red worms, worm compost, composter
Written by Bentley on November 7th, 2007 with no comments.
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