Now that the summer gardening season is in full swing you might be thinking about composting. Quinte Waste Solutions (QWS) has resources to help with this task. These are the things that you can put into your composter: fruit and vegetable scraps, peels and cores, leaves, plants, weeds (without ripe seeds), cut flowers, coffee grounds, tea bags, grass clippings, wood shavings if they haven’t been treated, egg shells (crush them first), and shredded paper.

Kitchen scraps and grass clippings contain nitrogen. Leaves and wood shavings contain carbon. Composters work the best with a mixture of these – about 50/50. Composting is done by tiny microbes that break down the material. These microbes need air and water so you should mix your kitchen and yard scraps regularly using a pitchfork or broom handle. This will allow air to get into your compost. Keep your compost about as moist as a wrung-out sponge.

There are several ways to get a composter. They are available to purchase from several stores and garden centres. QWS  also sells them. You can also build your own.

QWS suggests that the best way to make composting a daily routine is to place the unit directly on the ground, somewhere convenient, and it should be in a sunny place so the temperature stays up. You can even compost during the winter because in spring it will thaw and keep working. The QWS website outlines some troubleshooting tips. Check it out at www.quinterecycling.org.

Milford Seniors Luncheon Social

Come on out and enjoy lunch with old and new friends on Wednesday, June 20 at noon. The menu features,homemade soup, chopped beef with onion gravy, potatoes, coleslaw, vegetables, blueberry pie, bread and butter, coffee and tea, all catered by Bill Grieve, the chef with Wheel House and Occasions Catering. $10 per person. Guest speaker: Susan McDonald, chair of Milford Friends of the Library, will give an overview of library services. Reserve by the Tuesday prior at noon, 613-476-7493. Take out and delivery available. This event is sponsored by Community Care for Seniors and held in Milford Town Hall.

Friendly visiting

Prince Edward Community Care for Seniors is currently looking for volunteers to visit seniors. To volunteer, call 613-476-7493.

-Debbie MacDonald Moynes