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Composting at Camp Onas has been an integral part of the Dining Hall culture for as long as I can remember. The first meal at camp is always filled with lots of information for the campers, and one thing that has never changed is the demonstration of the proper way to scrape.
Scraping and clearing are the two jobs done by campers and counselors at the end of every meal to ensure the responsibility of cleaning up is shared amongst table members. Scraping involves consolidating all the plates, cups, and utensils into their own spots, while the trash and compost are separated as well. The composting portion of the meal can get a bit confusing for people who are new to the idea of putting food scraps in a separate bin, but the usefulness of the compost is never downplayed.
An easy way to remember what can/cannot go into the Camp compost bin is to know that our compost is vegan. This means that any animal and/or animal products cannot be composted. If they were, it would result in a very smelly compost with a bit too many bugs.
How Do We Do It?
An important part of the compost cycle at camp is the transferring of the white compost bins outside of the dining hall to the garden. This is done by Outdoor CITs at the end of 2nd and 4th session. Throughout the year, the compost is turned every couple of months and then used as fertilizer in the garden for the summer.
The garden ministaff is tasked with planting new produce at the beginning of every summer. This summer they planted tomatoes, cucumber, and squash, and the food we grow is used later for meals, especially in the salad bar.
Bring Composting Home with You
Bring Composting Home with You
Composting can be an intimidating process to start if you don’t know how to do it, so here is a simplified explanation of the composting cycle:
The compostable materials are collected and then mixed together into a compost pile.
The pile should be kept damp to aid in the decomposition process, and turned regularly to mix up the materials and introduce more oxygen.
When the decomposition phase starts, microorganisms like bacteria and fungi break down the materials. This process generates heat, which aids in the further decomposition and kills off harmful pathogens.
After a few months, the compost pile will begin to heat and cool itself - this is called curing. Curing allows the compost to stabilize and mature.
When the compost is fully decomposed, it is dark, crumbly, and smells like fresh earth.
An easy way to bring a bit of Camp Onas home with you is to start composting on your own! Here are a few tips and tricks to easily start your own composting initiative:
Choose a shady, well-drained area in your yard* to put your compost pile/bin.
Collect compostable kitchen scraps such as: fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and tea bags (green materials). Your compost will also want leaves, grass clippings, and twigs as well (brown materials).
Smaller pieces break down faster.
Alternate layers of green and brown in your compost pile. (ex: kitchen scraps then yard scraps)
Turn the pile regularly and keep it moist.
The compost at the bottom of the pile will most likely be ready to use first.
*Don't have a yard/space, but want to help reduce waste and return food to the earth? Your community might have free and/or paid compost collection services, or maybe even a neighbor(s) who wants to share space... and compost-tending responsibilities!
Composting is a great way to recycle organic waste and create your own soil and fertilizer. If you try it out at home, feel free to send us a photo of your garden and compost pile. We would love to see it!
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