So I’ve been reluctant to throw out my old cell phones, and I’ve just been giving them to my 2-year old to play with. I have this box of them. But this is a really cool thing to do.

Read this!

Here’s a bit of advice from a green dolphin, and I know I recognize a few of the mistakes I made. Like I keep on adding to the compost bin every day, when I’m really supposed to wait for one cycle to be done. Man, this whole composting thing is not easy, I guess I’m just not educated enough on it. I’m going to watch some of those videos.

“I haven’t started composting yet, so everything I know is theoretical!  So take everything I’m about to say with a grain of salt.  From what I gather, which type of composting system you pick is somewhat dependent on your personality.For example, my neighbor just has a pile of stuff in his backyard, and he turns it every now and then with a pitchfork.  His wife is not too keen on the smell or the flies, but she is a tolerant newlywed There are tumbling compost bins that are supposed to keep the smell in, keep the pests out and make the turning easier.  However, once you put a load of compostables in, you’re not supposed to keep adding to it.  You need to turn it every few days and in a couple of months, voila – load of compost.  Then you start again to make another load.

By comparison, there are bins which use trays.  Here you start a load at the top, and as it approaches compost nirvana, it gets dumped to a lower tray and you can start another load at the now-empty top tray.  This way, you get a more continuous supply of compost.  I think they usually come with 3-4 trays.  But I also think they are not odor or pest-free.  I’m also not sure how you turn these.  Perhaps the act of dumping to the lower level is enough? Then there are worm systems.  If you just have a pile like my neighbor, the worms will come. However, my understanding is if you use red wigglers, they are more efficient.  Believe it or not, worm systems are also the recommended choice if you live in an apartment and still want to compost.  They are not supposed to smell.  Bins are usually a dark color, like black, in order to raise the temps inside.  If your compost pile is not “hot”, it won’t turn into compost.  Therefore, it is also better to keep the bin somewhere where the sun will reach it. Better bins also have a way to drain out the compost tea, a highly nutritive liquid byproduct of the composting process that is often used both as a fertilizer and fungicide.

Once you have a bin, then you have to read up on the proper mixture of green, brown and moisture, what’s readily compostable, turning frequency, and, if applicable, worm care and/or compost starters.”

So, whoever is reading this, what do you think? Are you ready? I am, really I am. I bought a round one that makes the tea and has a handle and at first it had a lot of flies! But I changed the ratio of wet to dry, and stopped adding to it, and I think I just may have a batch of compost. My question is, what do I do with my daily output of food waste in the meantime? I think I need one of those layered ones. On the plus side, my compost does not smell at all! I think if you are putting the right stuff in there, it’s not supposed to smell. That’s another thing that’s mind boggling to me, what I can and can’t put in there. Like bread, no bread. I have so much bread  waste! And of course no dairy products. I wish I could put eveything in there, and voila! Nice rich soil would come out the very next day. Wishful thinking, huh?

I’d love to know who’s reading this. Feel free to chime in!

After Claudine posted an article about a zero waste family in Mill Valley, California, I began to wonder, is this actually doable? I think so! I’m really giving it a go, how about you?

Here’s a cool link to a green 4th of July party…

June 18

9.30-2pm

11827 Allaseba Drive (between Stoner and Inglewood)

There will be lots of good stuff. Books, toys, clothes, jewellery, homewares…

See you there.

We’ve come up with 10 green actions (5forPlanetEntry Form) for you to take during the 3 week 5 for the Planet session. But we’d love to hear from you about any green actions you take that we haven’t included. You can leave a comment here on the blog and we’ll collect them for next year. Help us make 5 for the Planet even more fun…

It’s that time of year again – after a successful Five for the Planet program last year we are doing it again!

Click on the link below and you’ll find your entry form and the list of 10 green actions. Do 5 (or more!) over three weeks and get your parents to sign off on the form to earn your Green Dolphin medal.

Good luck Mar Vista!

CLICK HERE : 5 for the Planet ENTRY FORM (Right click on the form to save the pdf)

We are doing it again! Last year’s gently used toy and book sale was such a great success we’ve decided to run it again right before the holidays. It’s a great opportunity to clean out the closets and bookshelves and get a bit of early holiday shopping done…and raise money for the school.

When: Saturday, December 4^th 11:30am-2pm

Where: Mar Vista School (It is Open Saturday at the school)

How: Reserve your spot today!  Clean out your toy boxes and bookshelves! Bring your gently used toys and books to this Green Dolphins Sale, and you can finally get rid of them!  Stay and shop from other parents and take home a ‘new’ item for your child.

Bring your own large blanket for setting up your own toys/books.  You will be working your own ‘station’.  This will be like a mini swap meet.

Cost to participate – $5 / station.    All proceeds go to the Green Dolphins programs that make MV school a better place!

You price your own toys/books for sale, but maximum sale price is $10 .

All proceeds are yours – voluntary donations to the Green Dolphins will be accepted.

You take home your leftovers!

- Age limit range for toys and books – up to age 12.

Toys should be clean and in working condition.  No broken parts please.

Battery-required toys should be turned on and working.

Reserve your spot with Annette  – acos68@yahoo.com or Cerentha – cerentha@mac.com

And thank you to Maggie Storm for taking these photographs of the posters.