The article “Quick and Not So Dirty: No-Sweat Composters” by Gwendolyn Bounds in today’s Wall Street Journal offers a number of interesting options for composting.  The articles author describes and ‘test drives’ a few of the various of indoor and outside composters currently available.  The market place is catching up to public interest and creating models that appeal to a variety of needs.  Ms. Bounds has a great video that accompanies the article (worth watching!) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107204574471330808326984.html?mod=djemLifeStyleh

This growing interest in composting definitely applies to senior living communities.  I have talked with the residents of a various senior communities who are taking up the charge and developing compost programs.  Heron Point, a continue care retirement community in Chestertown, MD, has implemented a compost program and it is resident led.  Compost bins have been set up in the independent living residential courts, so they are accessible and convenient.  All of the compost that is created is used in the community vegetable garden.  One of the other goals of the residents is to reduce the amount of compostable food waste collected from the dining service kitchen.  So, the vegetable food scraps will be collected and added to a general compost bin for use in the community garden, also.

Gardens at Heron Point CCRC, Chestertown, MD