Compost Manufacturing Alliance LLC’s Post

Fall is here! If you're wondering how to compost your leaf litter, check out this course from the Institute of Local Self Reliance!

What do Georgians Think About Composting? Are Georgians interested in composting more at home, or participating in municipal or private composting programs? New research conducted by the @University of Georgia seeks to understand current attitudes toward composting and how we can inspire more Georgia families to give it a try in their own backyards. #composting #blog Read the latest #blog from Drawdown Georgia to learn more about the results. https://lnkd.in/eBNfiDpD

Interested in learning more about home composting? Here are some tips to get started. https://lnkd.in/e__PqGpG

30% of food is wasted in the USA. It has taken decades to create composting infrastructure to keep organic yard wastes out of landfills. Now, community composters are the critical drivers in also getting food scraps out of the landfills. Building compost infrastructure isn’t a ‘sexy’ endeavor for politicians to advocate for. So, it’s important that we support it. Today, I tag Cleveland’s Mayor, Justin M. Bibb to express thanks for collaborating with Rust Belt Riders on expanding composting services here in Cleveland. We’ve seen a promising pilot program with the West Side Market! Now, please assist them in finally finding and launching a composting site. Compost facilities are a must-have in modern urban infrastructure. Tag your local politicians or send this post in a DM to them as a reminder that composting infrastructure needs to be on their agenda. #30C #makecompostmainstream

Cooperative living might look idyllic on paper, but intentional communities aren’t easy to sustain. It takes a hardy soul to weather all the monetary struggles, power imbalances, compromises with neighbors, and other complications that come with choosing this lifestyle. According to Diana Leafe Christian’s book, Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities, 90 percent of all ecovillages and off-grid communes are destined for early collapse. So how has Red Earth Farms, a 76-acre collective in the rolling hills of northeast Missouri, been going strong since 2005? Part of the answer comes down to elbow room. https://lnkd.in/g4BSxr3q

🌳 Yesterday I helped plant 150 native fruit trees and 50 pines for windbreaks. Here's what I learned: 🐣 We are fortunate enough to be part of a community project with others who share our vision for improved food sovereignty and equity. Getting the trees to where they needed to be - and getting them in the ground - was an undertaking that really started this time last year ... we had been gifted 120 or so trees and had no idea what to do, how to do it, or what the results could look like. Things were radically different this year, starting from a careful choice of species and a transport approach including cars, a Greyhound, and a cross-city ride to get the trees to the land 🏋♀️ Then, as a team of committed volunteers and community members spent the day together on our land in McHenry County IL , we were able to find ways to solve problems as a team. You're not exactly racing the clock - the seedlings will last some days if carefully looked after - but we knew we'd only have a few hours on the day itself. In the end, the only trees that weren't planted have planned locations and will be in the ground very soon. 🤗 As Seq Solutions continues to grow, with buyer and supplier LOIs now in hand, we're building scale for not just 200 trees but many hundreds of thousands - millions, before too long. It's worth remembering, as we do this work, the toil that underlays it. Addressing #climatechange is community work, and understanding that can sometimes take getting your hands dirty - and working a meaningful relationship with the land itself. #wonderlandcommunityproject (PS ... the trees are on the back of the bike in the picture!)

When we talk about CLTs, many people automatically think of affordable housing projects - but in reality 42% of CLTs also own and manage other types of community assets, including workspaces, pubs, shops, event spaces and energy schemes. Today though, we are proud to launch this research report that we commissioned from Shared Assets that spotlights CLTs that steward land for farming and nature- like Middle Marches Community Land Trust, Ore Community Land Trust and Wyre Community Land Trust. This report looks at the groups that are using the CLT model, as well as why some groups aren't using it, and where the gaps and opportunities are to share resources and rally together for policy change. Read the report, authored by Graciela Romero-Vasquez on behalf of Shared Assets here: https://lnkd.in/d9VANhjg Read our CEO, Tom Chance's commentary and context about this report here: https://lnkd.in/dZ9n69WZ This builds on our recently released manifesto, which includes policy recommendations that would support CLTs stewarding land Policy 9: Reviewing funding and policies for nature restoration projects to support community ownership. Policy 10: Setting up Land Commissions for England and Wales Read the manifesto here: https://lnkd.in/dKpJYEiN

To succeed, make a start. Make a good start. And remember that empire building is to be avoided by CLTs just as it is by any other model. The intrinsic value of land for nature owned by a CLT is the local community link. People care about what they know and love so it needs to be theirs and feel like theirs. Community Land Trusts spring up precisely because people want to direct their own destiny. Respect that at all times. Respect the local community. Find a source of expertise in rewilding and conservation to help you take care of your land. Lots of help around. Avoid advice that sounds like you need a PhD to follow it. Your local The Wildlife Trusts has brilliant accessible advice. Find innovative allies like Mossy Earth Rewilding Britain for inspiration and support. I declare an interest but I also recommend a presentation from James Hitchcock on our purchase of Pentwyn THE RADNORSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED Even if you choose a different incorporation at first, consider charitable status too - tends to be more access to conservation funding through charitable status and being a charity gives donors and members more peace of mind. Got a loan? Honour it. Sounds obvious but... Set aside and agreed amount in a separate account each month or year. Get goodwill loan arrangements in writing and your repayment promises in writing too - future Board members will thank you. Find a good land agent to value and negotiate any land purchase - if you can get one on your Board you will be very grateful. Make sure any decision to try and purchase land has unanimous or very large majority support of your Board. One CLT forgot to tell a third of the Board it had called a public meeting and sent out an email to supporters about buying land.... until after the arrangements were made. No. No one was happy. Working with another group to raise the purchase price? Make sure they know the details of the transaction arrangements at the outset - saves confusion and makes the accounting simple. Use good simple accounting software. Protect personal financial details like gold. Start as your donors and the public would expect you to behave - aim for integrity and transparency at all times in all matters. Makes everything easier. Lots of free guidance from the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the FCA, Companies House, etc. And even more from NCVO and the Information Commissioner's Office for GDPR (it's very easy to sort out). Being voluntary doesn't mean being amateur so how CLT Boards operate is key to long term success too. "No one will know" isn't good governance... however often anyone say it. Top Tip for Boards? Never make a decision you wouldn't be prepared to share with your shareholders, members, or the press. If the thought of sharing your decision making publicly makes you uncomfortable then you are making the wrong decision in the wrong way. Craig Bennett Julia Davies

More great progress in composting! Check out the metrics available from Compost Now and the impact from one project! Well done GHD!

Did you know that your lawn could be a secret goldmine for water savings? 💧🌿 Recently, I learned about water utilities offering rebates for replacing traditional lawns with zero scapes. It can be like turning your yard into an eco-friendly savings account! This whole idea struck me as a fascinating blend of conservation and incentive. While it's not a one-size-fits-all solution, it's a shining example of how local initiatives can make a big difference. The water market, unlike the vast energy sector, is a mosaic of local districts, each with its own set of rules and rewards. But here's the ray of hope: many utilities are keen to partner with you on water conservation efforts. They offer not just rebates but a sense of community involvement in preserving our most precious resource. I'm curious, have you ever considered tapping into these local programs? Will they changed the way you think about every drop you use? Let's discuss and share our experiences. And if you're diving deep into water conservation like I am, don't forget to subscribe for more insights and tips. 🌊📢