'Compost Day' Will Lead Into First Farmer's Market
• Guest Speakers, Gardeners Turn Dirt Into Black Gold
Jun 2, 2010 – Compost Day will be held Saturday June 5th from 10am to 2pm in Municipal Parking Lot #8, located on William Street on the east side of Franklin Avenue. Compost Day is a joint venture between the Public Affairs and Public Works Departments. Mayor Joanne Cocchiola and Commissioner Joseph Scarpelli have both been promoting educational and other eco-friendly events that reduce the amount of solid waste that gets in the garbage, while encouraging increased recycling.
Guest speakers will be on hand throughout the course of the event and will be discussing the advantages of composting. Also, there will be a demonstration on how composting worms can turn leaves, grass and kitchen waste into earth friendly compost. There will be free compost available, as well as composting bins at a reduced price.
"Gardeners call it black gold," Mayor Cocchiola said of the compost. "It increases water-holding capacity, improves soil structure, reduces compaction, allows for better root penetration, increases heat absorption and reduces erosion."
Composting can use up to a quarter of all the trash you would normally take to the curb, which lowers garbage collection costs and reduces the pollution produced by the county incinerator.
Residents who take away the compost are asked to bring their own containers and shovels, and be prepared to load their own materials.
"The compost being given away is the final product from the leaves that were placed out on the curb in the fall," said Commissioner Scarpelli. "The Mayor and I encourage everyone to discover different ways to reduce the amount of material thrown out in the trash."
Coupons for a Neuton battery powered mulching lawn mower will be available as well as one given away to a lucky Nutley resident. The mower cuts the grass into small particles making it unnecessary to bag the grass. The grass clippings decompose quickly returning valuable nutrients back into the soil. This is another method of reducing the amount of material put out in the garbage.
"Grasscycling is the natural recycling of grass by leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing," said Scarpelli. "Grass clippings are a significant part of our solid waste stream. Nutley residents are already helping to avoid air pollution and wasted resources by recycling. You can do more by reduc¬ing waste at the source. Leave the grass clippings on your lawn when you mow, and let nature do the recycling."
Part of the Township of Nutley's Greenutley Initiative, Compost Day kicks off the weekend that will also feature Nutley's first ever Farmer's Market program on Sunday, June 6th from 8 am to 2 pm in Municipal Parking Lot #1, located on William Street on the east side of Franklin Avenue. The program which will continue throughout the season on the following Sundays: June 6, June 20, July 4, July 18, August 1, August 15, August 29, September 12, September 26, October 10, October 17 and October 31.
The Market will feature locally grown fruits and vegetables, artisan breads, honey, cheese and fish to name just a few items. Confirmed farmers include Asprocolas Farms, Havenwood Farms, Hoboken Farm Stand, Matarazzo Farms, Nutley Park ShopRite and Paul's Gourmet Pickles.
"Bringing a Farmer's Market to Nutley has been a long-term goal of ours. Many residents in our community have also expressed interest, which is why we feel it is going to be a successful program," concluded Mayor Cocchiola.
