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Justin Heavey, a junior environmental studies
major in Syracuse (and member of the Green Campus Initiative),
helped to launch this new aerated composting program in Syracuse
to reduce the amount of waste on campus. The intention is
for the system to serve as a pilot program, demonstration,
and research project.
The instructor of the class at SUNY Cobleskill, Dr. Robert
Rynk, was the primary author and editor of the book "On-Farm
Composting Handbook" published by NRAES in 1992. It was
this book that first introduced me to the idea of composting
farm wastes, which in turn lead to the development of the
aerated compost bin system and the O2Compost Training Program.
To apply for one of the three remaining O2Compost Grants,
a student group needs to do the following:
1. Visit the O2Compost web site and submit a “Contact
Us” form. The group’s representative will be
contacted and interviewed over the telephone.
2. The group members will then be asked to write a compelling
letter that explains why they want to compost and what they
hope to demonstrate by setting up an O2Compost Micro-Bin
System.
If selected, the group will be sent a complete training manual
with several sets of compost system designs. When construction
of the bin(s) is finished, O2Compost will require pictures
of the student group with the completed bin(s). It is at this
time that the aeration equipment package, ready to assemble
and install, will be sent.
During the start-up phase, O2Compost staff will provide
technical support and offer suggestions to optimize the composting
process. At the completion of their first successful batch,
the students will be asked to present a written report that
includes a summary of findings, a description of the feedstock
materials composted (i.e., their recipe), temperature data,
a diary of observations, and a discussion about how they plan
to use the finished product.
We welcome all inquiries and applications. Please help by
passing this article along to any student who you feel is
deserving of this grant opportunity.
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