Composting Program/compost bucket do's & don'ts

Thank you to all who helped plant our parish garden on May 27! Led by Mary Clare Barker, the team worked hard to make the garden beautiful, with veggies and herbs planted.

The produce grown from our garden will be shared with both Care for Real and the St. Thomas of Canterbury soup kitchen!  

 What is compost?
Composting is the cultivation of organic waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. This is a natural process of decomposition that breaks down food waste into a fertile substance ideal for gardening. “Compost” can refer to the material at any stage of the process, either freshly deposited or ready to put in the garden. 

Why is compost good for the environment?
50% of typical municipal garbage is in the form of food waste and decomposing food waste in landfills produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas.  Our Resurrection Compost repurposes and recycles the waste for the benefit of others. Compost, as it processes, actually sequesters CO2. Not only does it lower our carbon footprint, but it also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and encourages contact with the Earth. 

By keeping the lid on your compost, depositing weekly, and rinsing your empty bucket, there should be no noticeable smell or interested critters. 

Why compost at St. Gertrude?
From the beginning, God made us as stewards of creation. By caring for creation through practices like composting, we honor that responsibility with gratitude for nature’s wonder and abundance.  Moreover, Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Sí – On Care for Our Common Home urges Catholics to reject consumerism and waste and work together to develop sustainable practices for the sake of our planet and our sisters and brothers. Resurrection Compost is St. Gertrude’s effort to answer these biblical and Church-wide appeals. 

All are welcome to be a part of our parish composting program! Those who join our program are welcome to use the parish’s compost tumbler, a user-friendly options that will produce compost at a quicker pace.  

Those interested can watch a short video how to use the composter above or here: https://youtu.be/qDptFmSOixE.    

Additionally, we will need people to weed, plant, and water over the growing season.