The hustle and bustle of the season is upon us. Lights are being hung on the shrubs outside homes, trees are being decorated with treasured ornaments collected over the years, and shoppers are out and about seeking the perfect gift. While Amazon, Macy’s and other retail stores are common sources of many holiday gifts, I recommend giving the gift of gold – black gold that is! For those new to gardening, you should know that compost is often called black gold because of its value in improving garden soil.
As Vice President of the Mid Atlantic Hardy Plant Society, I’m responsible for the grant program. Each year the Hardy Plant Society gives $500 grants to deserving organizations that are doing something to make our world a little more green. Submitted projects could be a schoolyard butterfly garden, the removal of invasive plants in public areas, planting trees in parks, internship projects at arboreta or any greening effort in the field of horticulture. This year one of the grant recipients was Jamison Elementary School who received funding to purchase composting bins to recycle waste generated at the school.
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| Unpacking the Compost Bin |
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| Loving the compost bin from the bottom to the top! |
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| Excited to get started with composting. |
The pictures speak volumes. Have you ever seen a child more excited by any other gift? Could a doll or a toy car cause a grin that wide? What could be more exciting than playing with a composting bin? Not to mention the joy of knowing you are learning to recycle, to protect your environment and to assist plants in growing healthy and strong.
I can’t think of a better gift this holiday season than one that is garden-oriented. As you are shopping this year, why not consider adding a compost bin to your holiday list. After all, it’s a gift that keeps on giving!
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