Buzz, Body & Bites August 2023
ID
HNFE-1107NP
Composting at Home
Every gardener knows about the soil improvement benefits of either store-bought or compost that is produced at home. Even if you are not a gardener, you can save your plant-based trimmings and organic wastes from your kitchen, your houseplants, some pet bedding, and other indoor and outdoor sources to give to compostable recycling centers that are increasingly being offered in urban areas like Alexandria VA and Arlington County VA. Regularly adding compost to soil will benefit the soil= and us- in a number of ways. Composting helps to recycle plant material and return nutrients to the garden or landscape that might otherwise be sent to landfills. The soil’s structure will improve because compost contains substances that encourage aggregation. If you have sandy soil, compost will increase its water holding capacity. If you have clay soils, adding compost will help the soil drain better, and will make water and nutrients more easily available to plants. Compost increases nutrient- holding capability (i.e., cation exchange capacity) and the buffering capacity of the soil. This prevents rapid leaching of lime and nutrients and ameliorates the detrimental effects of over liming and overfertilizing. Compost can help make garden soil ready to use earlier in the season. By helping to make soil more porous, compost reduces soil erosion because it promotes water infiltration into soil and decreases the bulk density of the soil, making it easier for roots to penetrate the soil. Compost provides food and habitat for earthworms, soil insects, and microorganisms like mycorrhizal fungi that help make nutrients more available to plants. Compost contains decaying plant and animal refuse that provide trace elements as well as humic and other organic acids that provide needed nutrients to plant growth and can reduce plant drought stress. Compost promotes healthy plants that are less susceptible to diseases and insect pests, reducing the need for pesticides.
Contributed by: Kirsten Conrad, ANR Agent, VA Cooperative Extension, Arlington County
What can and cannot be composted
Can be composted:
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Fruits and vegetables
- Egg shells
- Tea bags with staples removed
- Yard trimmings, leaves, grass clippings
- Paper and cardboard
- Nutshells
Should not be composted:
- Fat, grease, oil, lard
- Dairy products
- Eggs
- Diseased plants
- Meats, fish, bones
- Pet waste, cat litter
- Plant trimmings with pesticides
Source: https://eri.iu.edu/tools-and-resources/fact-sheets/at-home-composting.html
Summer Peach Drink
Source: Home Cooking Adventure - homecookingadventure.com
Refreshing, fruity, and flavorful, this quick and easy recipe makes a refreshing summertime drink. Ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 4 peaches, peeled and cut into slices
- 2.5 cups of water
- 1 lemon
- 5 Tbsp sugar
- Peach slices
- Mint leaves
- Ice cubes
Directions:
- Place peach slices in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Add lemon juice, sugar, water and ice cubes.Puree until smooth.
- Add ice to serving glasses and fill each glass with peach juice. Garnish with peach slice and mint leaves.
Exercise Safety in the Heat
As we strive to achieve the recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity, it’s a great idea to get outside to incorporate new surroundings and fresh air. However, during the summer months, it can be very hot outside. Here are steps to keep you safe:
- Avoid the hottest parts of the day during. Try to workout before 10am and after 6pm, unless you’re going to a refreshing pool, of course.
- Always apply sunscreen, even on cloudy days. Re-apply every two hours or after sweating/swimming.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water before and after exercise. Take sips of water every 15 minutes during activity.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing to insure air circulation. Light-colored clothing can help by reflecting the sun’s rays to keep you cool. Sweat wicking clothes dry faster and allow your body to stay cool.
- Pay attention to how you feel! Check in with yourself often to assess if you’re dizzy, faint or nauseous. Find shade, sit down, and drink water until you feel better.
Resources
Environmental Protection Agency Composting at home. www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
Composting FAQs
mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Compost-FAQs.pdf
What and What Not to Compost
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstream/handle/10919/48088/HORT-49-PDF.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Safety tips for exercising outdoors
Editors: April Payne, MS; Carlin Rafie, PhD, RD
Peer reviewers: Jane Henderson, MEd; Susan Prillaman, MS; Aisha Salazar, MS, and Pegi Wright, MEd
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Virginia Cooperative Extension materials are available for public use, reprint, or citation without further permission, provided the use includes credit to the author and to Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University.
Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or any other basis protected by law.
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