When you compost your watermelon rinds get to live with your flower; food scraps have never had it so good! Learn the proper way to compost, the health benefits to growing your own food, and how to garden safe by yourself

and with children. The Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Center of Excellence at the National Safety Council, the Campbell Institute, presents the following thoughts on gardening this spring, while keeping EHS in mind in our:

10 Minute Gardening EHS Talk

Table of Contents

The Benefits of Growing Your Own Food ….. 2-3

Environmental Benefits of Composting ……… 4

Composting Guide ………………………………….. 5-10

Gardening Health and Safety Tips …………. 10-12

Garden Safety with Kids ……………………….. 12-14

Works Cited …………………………………………….… 14

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The Benefits of Growing Your Own Food

Boost Your Health and Your Bottom Line

Consider these benefits of backyard gardening:

1. Improve your family's health. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables is one of the most

important things you and your family can do to stay healthy. When they’re growing in your

backyard, you won’t be able to resist them, and their vitamin content will be at their highest

levels as you bite into them straight from the garden. Parents, take note: A study published in

the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that preschool children who were almost

always served homegrown produce were more than twice as likely to eat five servings of fruits

and vegetables a day—and to like them more—than kids who rarely or never ate homegrown

produce.

2. Save money on groceries. Your grocery bill will shrink as you begin to stock your pantry with

fresh produce from your backyard. A packet of seeds can cost less than a dollar, and if you buy

heirloom, non-hybrid species, you can save the seeds from the best producers, dry them, and

use them next year. If you learn to dry, can, or otherwise preserve your summer or fall harvest,

you’ll be able to feed yourself even when the growing season is over.

3. Reduce your environmental impact. Backyard gardening helps the planet in many ways. If you

grow your food organically, without pesticides and herbicides, you’ll spare the earth the burden

of unnecessary air and water pollution, for example. You’ll also reduce the use of fossil fuels and

the resulting pollution that comes from the transport of fresh produce from all over the world

(in planes and refrigerated trucks) to your supermarket.

4. Get outdoor exercise. Planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting add purposeful physical

activity to your day. If you have kids, they can join in, too. Be sure to lift heavy objects properly,

and to stretch your tight muscles before and after strenuous activity. Gardening is also a way to

relax, de-stress, center your mind, and get fresh air and sunshine.

5. Enjoy better-tasting food. Fresh food is the best food! How long has the food on your

supermarket shelf been there? How long did it travel from the farm to your table? Comparing

the flavor of a homegrown tomato with the taste of a store-bought one is like comparing apples

to wallpaper paste. If it tastes better, you’ll be more likely to eat the healthy, fresh produce that

you know your body needs.

6. Build a sense of pride. Watching a seed blossom under your care to become food on your and

your family’s plates is gratifying. Growing your own food is one of the most purposeful and

important things a human can do—its work that directly helps you thrive, nourish your family,

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and maintain your health. Caring for your plants and waiting as they blossom and "fruit" before

your eyes is an amazing sense of accomplishment!

7. Stop worrying about food safety. With recalls on peanut butter, spinach, tomatoes and more,

many people are concerned about food safety in our global food marketplace. When you

responsibly grow your own food, you don't have to worry about contamination that may occur

at the farm, manufacturing plant, or transportation process. This means that when the whole

world is avoiding tomatoes, for example, you don't have to go without—you can trust that your

food is safe and healthy to eat.

8. Reduce food waste. Americans throw away about $600 worth of food each year! It's a lot easier

to toss a moldy orange that you paid $0.50 for than a perfect red pepper that you patiently

watched ripen over the course of several weeks. When it's "yours," you will be less likely to take

it for granted and more likely to eat it (or preserve it) before it goes to waste.

Even if you don't have big backyard—or any yard for that matter—you can still grow food. Consider

container gardening if you have a sunny balcony or patio or an indoor herb garden on a windowsill.

You’ll be amazed at how many tomatoes or peppers can grow out of one pot. Or find out if your city has

a community garden, where you can tend to your very own plot. Check out www.CommunityGarden.org

to locate a community garden near you.

Whatever your motivation for breaking ground on your own backyard garden, chances are good that

you’ll take pleasure in this new healthy hobby, and that your wallet, the environment, your body, and

your taste buds will thank you!

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Environmental Benefits of Composting

Compost is the single most important supplement you can give your garden soil.

Compost enriches soils

Compost has the ability to help regenerate poor soils. The composting process encourages the

production of beneficial micro-organisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) which in turn break down organic

matter to create humus. Humus—a rich nutrient-filled material—increases the nutrient content in soils

and helps soils retain moisture. Compost has also been shown to suppress plant diseases and pests,

reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, and promote higher yields of agricultural crops.

Compost helps cleanup (remediate) contaminated soil

The composting process has been shown to absorb odors and treat semivolatile and volatile organic

compounds (VOCs), including heating fuels, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and explosives. It has

also been shown to bind heavy metals and prevent them from migrating to water resources or being

absorbed by plants. The compost process degrades and, in some cases, completely eliminates wood

preservatives, pesticides, and both chlorinated and non-chlorinated hydrocarbons in contaminated soils.

Compost helps prevent pollution

Composting organic materials that have been diverted from landfills ultimately avoids the production of

methane and leachate formulation in the landfills. Compost has the ability to prevent pollutants in

storm water runoff from reaching surface water resources. Compost has also been shown to prevent

erosion and silting on embankments parallel to creeks, lakes, and rivers, and prevents erosion and turf

loss on roadsides, hillsides, playing fields, and golf courses.

Using compost offers economic benefits

Using compost can reduce the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides. It serves as a marketable

commodity and is a low-cost alternative to standard landfill cover and artificial soil amendments.

Composting also extends municipal landfill life by diverting organic materials from landfills and provides

a less costly alternative to conventional methods of remediating (cleaning) contaminated soil.

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Composting Guide

Let’s take a look at what to compost, how to compost, and tips for successful composting.

What to Compost

Material Carbon/Nitrogen Info

table scraps Nitrogen add with dry carbon items

fruit & vegetable scraps Nitrogen add with dry carbon items

eggshells neutral best when crushed

leaves Carbon leaves break down faster when shredded

grass clippings Nitrogen add in thin layers so they don't mat into clumps

garden plants -- use disease-free plants only

lawn & garden weeds Nitrogen only use weeds which have not gone to seed

shrub prunings Carbon woody prunings are slow to break down

straw or hay Carbon straw is best; hay (with seeds) is less ideal

green comfrey leaves Nitrogen excellent compost 'activator'

pine needles Carbon acidic; use in moderate amounts

flowers, cuttings Nitrogen chop up any long woody stems

wood ash Carbon only use ash from clean materials; sprinkle lightly

chicken manure Nitrogen excellent compost 'activator'

coffee grounds Nitrogen filters may also be included

tea leaves Nitrogen loose or in bags

newspaper Carbon avoid using glossy paper and colored inks

shredded paper Carbon avoid using glossy paper and colored inks

cardboard Carbon shred material to avoid matting

corn cobs, stalks Carbon slow to decompose; best if chopped up

dryer lint Carbon best if from natural fibers

sawdust pellets Carbon high carbon levels; add in layers to avoid clumping

wood chips / pellets Carbon high carbon levels; use sparingly

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You can also add garden soil to your compost. A layer of soil will help to mask any odors, and micro-

organisms in the soil will accelerate the composting process.

Do not compost meat, bones or fish scraps (they will attract pests), perennial weeds (they can be spread

with the compost) or diseased plants. Do not include pet manures in compost that will be used on food

crops. Banana peels, peach peels and orange rinds may contain pesticide residue, and should be kept

out of the compost. Black walnut leaves should not be composted. Sawdust may be added to the

compost, but should be mixed or scattered thinly to avoid clumping. Be sure sawdust is clean, with no

machine oil or chain oil residues from cutting equipment.

For kitchen wastes, keep a container with a lid and a handle under the sink. Consider using a stainless

steel compost pail with air filter, or the ceramic model. If you don't mind occasional smells, use an old

ice-cream pail. Chop up any large chunks before you toss them in. When the container is full, take it out

to your composter, or, use an indoor composter such as the NatureMill.

With yard and garden wastes, different composting materials will decompose at different rates but they

will all break down eventually. If you want to speed up the composting process, chop the larger material

into smaller pieces. Leaves and grass clippings are also excellent for compost, but should be sprinkled

into the bin with other materials, or put on in thin layers. Otherwise they will mat together and take

longer to compost.

How to Compost

Start your compost pile on bare earth. This allows worms and other beneficial organisms to

aerate the compost and be transported to your garden beds.

Lay twigs or straw first, a few inches deep. This aids drainage and helps aerate the pile.

Add compost materials in layers, alternating moist and dry. Moist ingredients are food scraps,

tea bags, seaweed, etc. Dry materials are straw, leaves, sawdust pellets and wood ashes. If you

have wood ashes, sprinkle in thin layers, or they will clump together and be slow to break down.

Add manure, green manure (clover, buckwheat, and wheatgrass) or any nitrogen source. This

activates the compost pile and speeds the process along.

Keep compost moist. Water occasionally, or let rain do the job.

Cover with anything you have - wood, plastic sheeting, carpet scraps. Covering helps retain

moisture and heat, two essentials for compost. Covering also prevents the compost from being

over-watered by rain. The compost should be moist, but not soaked and sodden.

Turn. Every few weeks give the pile a quick turn with a pitchfork or shovel. This aerates the pile.

Oxygen is required for the process to work, and turning "adds" oxygen. You can skip this step if

you have a ready supply of coarse material, like straw.

Note: If this all seems like too much work, you may consider a buying a rotating compost tumbler to

save time and effort.

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Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio

All compostable materials are either carbon or nitrogen-based. The secret to a healthy compost pile is

simple: maintain a working balance between these two elements.

Carbon - carbon-rich matter (like branches, stems, dried leaves, peels, bits of wood, bark dust or

sawdust pellets, shredded brown paper bags, coffee filters, conifer needles, egg shells, hay, peat moss,

wood ash) gives compost its light, fluffy body.

Nitrogen - nitrogen or protein-rich matter (manures, food scraps, leafy materials like lawn clippings and

green leaves) provides raw materials for making enzymes.

A healthy compost pile should have much more carbon than nitrogen. A simple rule of thumb is to use

one-third green and two-thirds brown materials. This allows oxygen to penetrate and nourish the

organisms that reside there. Too much nitrogen makes for a heavy, smelly, slowly decomposing mass.

Good composting hygiene means covering fresh nitrogen-rich material, which can release odors if

exposed to open air, with carbon-rich material, which often exudes a fresh, wonderful smell. If in doubt,

add more carbon!

Simplest Composting Methods

"No-turn" composting

The biggest chore with composting is turning the pile from time to time. However, with 'no-turn

composting', your compost can be aerated without turning.

The secret is to thoroughly mix in enough coarse material, like straw, when building the pile. The

compost will develop as fast as if it were turned regularly, and studies show that the nitrogen level may

be even higher than with turned compost.

With 'no-turn' composting, add new materials to the top of the pile, and harvest fresh compost from the

bottom of the bin. This can be easily done in an Aero-bin Composter, or a WIBO compost bin.

Composting leaves

If you have too many leaves to incorporate into the compost bin, you can simply compost the pile of

leaves by itself. Locate the pile where drainage is adequate; a shaded area will help keep the pile from

drying out.

The leaf pile should be at least 4' in diameter and 3' in height. Include a layer of dirt between each foot

of leaves. The pile should be damp enough that when a sample taken from the interior is squeezed by

hand, a few drops of moisture will appear. The pile should not be packed too tightly.

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The pile will compost in 4 - 6 months, with the material being dark and crumbly. Leaf compost is best

used as an organic soil amendment and conditioner; it is not normally used as a fertilizer because it is

low in nutrients.

Leaf-mold tea

You can also use leaves to make a nutritious "tea" for your plants. Simply wrap a small pile of leaves in

burlap and immerse in a garbage can or large bucket of water. Leave for three days, then remove the

"tea bag" and dump contents into the compost. Scoop out the enriched water with a smaller bucket and

use to water your plants and shrubs.

Enclosed Compost Bins

For small-scale outdoor composting, enclosed bins are the most practical. The least expensive method is

to build one yourself from a heavy-duty garbage can. Simply drill 1.5-cm aeration holes in rows at

roughly 15-cm intervals around the can. Fill the can with a mixture of high-carbon and high-nitrogen

materials. Stir the contents occasionally to avoid anaerobic pockets and to speed up the composting

process. If the lid is secure, the bin can be laid on its side and rolled; a length of 2" cedar (use a 2x2 or a

2x4) can be bolted to the inside, running top to bottom, to help flip the material. Without this, the

contents tend to stay in place while the bin is rolled.

Another option is a compost bin, sometimes called a 'compost digester'. Compost bins are enclosed on

the sides and top, and open on the bottom so they sit directly on the ground. These are common

composting units for homes in residential areas where bins tend to be smaller, yet enclosed enough to

discourage pests. These bins are inexpensive, but it is difficult to turn the compost, so it can take several

months to produce compost. These bins are thin-walled plastic, and may chip along the edges, especially

during a freeze.

Compost Tumbler

The most efficient enclosed bin method is the compost tumbler. It's possible to maintain relatively high

temperatures in drum/tumbler systems, both because the container acts as insulation and because the

turning keeps the microbes aerated and active. An interior "paddle" aids aeration and prevents

clumping of the composting materials. This greatly speeds up the composting process.

An enclosed 'tumbler' system offers the following benefits:

Speeds up the composting process

Can compost year-round, due to higher internal temperature

Cannot be accessed by rodents, raccoons, dogs or other critters

Keeps compost neatly enclosed and odor-free, well-suited for residential areas

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Tips for successful composting

Activate your compost

'Activators' can be added to your compost to help kick-start the process and speed up composting.

Common compost activator materials are: comfrey leaves, grass clippings, young weeds, and well-rotted

chicken manure.

Flying insects attracted to your compost?

Small fruit flies, especially, are naturally attracted to the compost pile. They can be discouraged by

simply covering any exposed fruit or vegetable matter. Keep a small pile of grass clippings next to your

compost bin, and when you add new kitchen waste to the pile, cover it with one or two inches of

clippings. Adding lime or calcium will also discourage flies.

Unpleasant odors from your compost pile?

This can be a concern in urban and suburban areas with small lots and neighbors living close by. Odors

can be reduced, or eliminated, by following two practices: first, remember to not put bones or meat

scraps into the compost; second, cover new additions to the compost pile with dry grass clippings or

similar mulch. Adding lime or calcium will also neutralize odors. If the compost smells like ammonia, add

carbon-rich elements such as straw, peat moss or dried leaves.

Is your compost pile steaming?

No problem. A hot, steamy pile means that you have a large community of microscopic critters working

away at making compost.

Is your compost pile soggy?

This is a common problem especially in winter when carbon-based materials are in short supply. You can

restore your compost to a healthy nitrogen-carbon balance.

Matted leaves, grass clippings clumping together?

This is a common problem with materials thrown into the composter. The wet materials stick together

and slow the aeration process. There are two simple solutions: either set these materials to the side of

the composter and add them gradually with other ingredients, or break them apart with a pitchfork.

Grass clippings and leaves should be mixed with rest of the composting materials for best results.

Problems with raccoons?

If there's a population of raccoons in your area, they will be naturally attracted to your compost pile.

The best solution to this problem is to bar their entry to the compost. (Traps and poisons are more

trouble than they're worth.) A wood or metal lid can be easily hinged to the bin described above on this

page, or you can buy a commercially-made compost bin with secure fitted lids which are pest-proof,

such as the Aero-bin, UCT-9 or Jora JK270.

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A moveable feast

The soil beneath a compost bin becomes enriched as nutrients filter down with successive watering. You

can place your bin on a plot of earth which you plan to use for a future vegetable or flower bed, or fruit

tree. Each year, you can move the bin to a different area; you'll get a double benefit - the compost from

the bin, and a bed of nutrient-rich soil ready for new plantings.

Additive only

Compost should be used as a soil additive, and not exclusively as the growing medium. Compost is a

source of rich organic matter which provides nutrients for growing plants, but should be thought of as

one component of a healthy garden bed.

Gardening Health and Safety Tips

Gardening can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get physical activity, beautify the community, and

grow nutritious fruits and vegetables. Whether you are a beginner or expert gardener, health and safety

are always important.

Below are some tips to help keep you safe and healthy so that you can enjoy the beauty and bounty

gardening can bring.

Dress to protect

Gear up to protect yourself from lawn and garden pests, harmful chemicals, sharp or motorized

equipment, insects, and harmful rays of too much sun.

Wear safety goggles, sturdy shoes, and long pants when using lawn mowers and other

machinery.

Protect your hearing when using machinery. If you have to raise your voice to talk to someone

who is an arm's length away, the noise can be potentially harmful to your hearing.

Wear gloves to lower the risk for skin irritations, cuts, and certain contaminants.

Protect yourself from diseases caused by mosquitoes and ticks. Use insect repellent containing

DEET. Wear long-sleeved shirts, and pants tucked in your socks. You may also want to wear high

rubber boots since ticks are usually located close to the ground.

Lower your risk for sunburn and skin cancer. Wear long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, sun

shades, and sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher.

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Put safety first

Powered and unpowered tools and equipment can cause serious injury. Limit distractions, use

chemicals and equipment properly, and be aware of hazards to lower your risk for injury.

Follow instructions and warning labels on chemicals and lawn and garden equipment.

Make sure equipment is working properly.

Sharpen tools carefully.

Keep harmful chemicals, tools, and equipment out of children's reach.

Know your limits in the heat

Even being out for short periods of time in high temperatures can cause serious health problems.

Monitor your activities and time in the sun to lower your risk for heat-related illness.

If you’re outside in hot weather for most of the day you’ll need to make an effort to drink more

fluids.

Avoid drinking liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar, especially in the heat.

These actually cause you to lose more body fluid.

Take breaks often. Try to rest in shaded areas so that your body's thermostat will have a chance

to recover. Stop working if you experience breathlessness or muscle soreness.

Pay attention to signs of heat-related illness, including extremely high body temperature,

headache, rapid pulse, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or unconsciousness.

Watch people who are at higher risk for heat-related illness, including infants and children up to

four years of age; people 65 years of age or older; people who are overweight; people who push

themselves too hard during work or exercise; and people who are physically ill or who take

certain medications (i.e. for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation).

Eat healthy foods to help keep you energized.

Persons with disabilities and physical activity

Talk to your health care provider if you have physical, mental, or environmental concerns that may

impair your ability to work in the garden safely.

If you have arthritis, use tools that are easy to grasp and that fit your ability. Research shows

that 2½ hours per week of moderate physical activity can give you more energy and can help

relieve arthritis pain and stiffness.

If you are taking medications that may make you drowsy or impair your judgment or reaction

time, don’t operate machinery, climb ladders, or do activities that may increase your risk for

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injury.

Listen to your body. Monitor your heart rate, level of fatigue, and physical discomfort.

Call 911 if you get injured, experience chest and arm pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, or heat-

related illness.

Enjoy the benefits of physical activity

Gardening is an excellent way to get physical activity. Active people are less likely than inactive people

to be obese or have high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke,

depression, colon cancer, and premature death.

Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart

rates and that strengthen your muscles. You can burn 150 calories by gardening (standing) for

approximately 30-45 minutes. Help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day.

If you have been inactive, start out with just a few minutes of physical activity each day.

Gradually build up time and intensity.

Vary your gardening activities to keep your interest and to broaden the range of benefits.

Get vaccinated

Vaccinations can prevent many diseases and save lives. All adults should get a tetanus vaccination

every 10 years. Tetanus lives in the soil and enters the body through breaks in the skin. Because

gardeners use sharp tools, dig in the dirt, and handle plants with sharp points, they are particularly

prone to tetanus infections.

Before you start gardening this season, make sure your tetanus/diphtheria (Td) vaccination is up

to date.

Ask your health care provider if you need any other vaccinations.

Garden Safety with Kids

Gardening is a great way to introduce kids to the world around them. But remember, things that you think

are perfectly safe can be very dangerous for a child. Look at the world from your child's point of view for

potential hazards.

Before letting kids garden, review these helpful safety tips:

Don't Let Kids Wander

Never leave a toddler or young child outdoors unattended.

Make sure there is no access to the street or driveway from the children’s play area.

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Fences are a good way to help keep a wandering young one in bounds. These are especially

important on stairs or decks to prevent falls. Also, keep deck furniture away from all railings of

raised decks or balconies, since children can climb onto the furniture and over the rails.

Watch for Poisonous or Harmful Plants

Teach kids never to eat any plant unless an adult is supervising. While eating fruits and

vegetables you’ve grown yourself is part of the joy of gardening, many common ornamental

plants can make you sick if you eat them, and some are very poisonous. A free list of common

poisonous plants is available from your county Extension office, or check out the

SolutionsForYourLife.com poisonous plants page.

Make sure that poison ivy is not allowed to grow in your landscape. Watch for this vine with

three-part leaves and immediately eliminate any you find.

Check for plants with spiny leaves or thorns, such as cacti, roses, yucca, or hollies. Do not plant

spiny plants next to raised porches, decks, or steps where children might fall into them.

Point out any potential hazards to children and fence off areas or plants that should be avoided.

Remove dangerous plants, if necessary - especially if they are close to a play area.

Limit Use of Tools around Kids

Be careful with sharp tools and discuss with your children which tools are safe for them to use and

which are not.

When you lay down tools between use, place forks, rakes, and other pointed tools tines-down. If

kids are around, keep your eye on the tools you put down when you are not using them - or put

them away promptly when they're no longer needed.

Don’t use a power lawn mower when children are in the yard, even if they are well away from

you. Mowers can throw objects considerable distances with great force.

Use stakes taller than your toddlers for plants that need support. Short stakes can cause eye

injuries to kids.

It’s a good idea to purchase tools specially made for children and properly sized for them to use.

This gives them a chance to identify more closely with gardening, since they have their own tools.

Use Caution with Chemicals or Toxins

Store pesticides in locked cabinets, in their original containers. This includes organic pesticides,

some of which are quite toxic.

Never use empty food or drink containers for storing pesticides, cleaning supplies, or fertilizers!

Don't leave pesticide containers out while using them. Put them up promptly in a safe location

after you have mixed the material.

Children should never be around while pesticides are being mixed or applied.

Do not allow children to eat soil from the garden. Some soils may contain relatively high amounts

of lead or other toxic substances and should not be consumed.

Store the gas tanks for propane grills where children can't reach the knobs.

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Water Is Dangerous!

Be especially watchful of young children around ponds, pools, large puddles, buckets and large containers of

any sort. Small children can drown in even small amounts of water.

Fence off ponds or other aquatic features if necessary.

Keep an Eye Out for Pests

Most insects in the garden are harmless. Even insects that can sting, such as bees and wasps, generally will

not be a problem if they are left alone.

Control any fire ant hills in the area where children are likely to play or garden.

Be familiar with the stinging caterpillars that occur in your state.

Wash Your Hands!

Remember, after you and your kids finish in the garden, to always wash everyone's hands and to use

antiseptics on cuts or scrapes.

Works Cited

Barnes, Lisa, and Nicole Nichols. "The Benefits of Growing Your Own Food." SparkPeople.

N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2013.

"Composting." Eartheasy.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2013.

"Environmental Benefits | Composting." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 13 May 2013.

Web. 21 May 2013.

"Garden Safety with Kids." - University of Florida Environmental Horticulture Department.

N.p., 16 July 2008. Web. 21 May 2013.

"Gardening Health and Safety Tips." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, 3 Apr. 2013. Web. 21 May 2013.