What began as a hobby of composting soon caught the attention of two woman from UTA who, on behalf of John, applied for a “Solid Waste Disposal Grant,” through the North Central Texas Council of Government (NCTCOG). The $130,000 award was used to purchase new water lines, a Bobcat (that John affectionally calls his “office”) and a large container. The new additions were enough for John to be able to take his hobby to the next level and begin to work with and for UTA composting for the benefit of the campus green space.
John’s work in composting has led to some interesting observations and concerns for the world that he sums up as his “two big thoughts.” What are they?
1. Food waste
2. Soil erosion
John says that over 1/3 of every food item that Americans purchase ends up in a landfill. Japan and the US are even worse at almost 40% food waste. When you factor in the added waste associated with planting, watering, fertilizing, and transporting food, the waste is even greater.
What can be done to reduce food waste? Well, in order of importance, the focus should be on...
source reduction
feeding hungry people
feeding animals
industrial uses (e.g., methane gas conversion into energy)
composting
landfill/incineration
While composting is the second to the last item on the list, it is something we all, industry and individuals alike, can participate in.
To quote the Dirt Doctor, Howard Garrett, “The only wrong way to compost is to send your stuff to the landfill.”
Next on John’s mind is the very dangerous problem of soil erosion, believed by many scientist to be the second biggest problem the world now faces. What’s number one? Over population. In the US we are losing soil 10 times faster than nature can replace it, and China and India are even worse losing top soil about 30 times faster than it is replaced.
What are the main culprits? Deforestation, over exploitation for fuelwood (mostly in developing countries), overgrazing, agricultural activities and industrialization.
What is the solution? There are no easy and fast answers--only awareness of what we can each do. The data is so overwhelmingly negative that thinking about it too much could make one discouraged about the future. Composting is certainly one of the answers to food waste and soil erosion. A simple solution, yes, but one in which we all can participate. These are just two of the "big thoughts" that occupy John Darling, a man alone in his Bobcat doing his part to help nature along, divert waste, create living soil and educate those that will listen.
Websites:
Cornell compost - http://compost.css.cornell.edu/
City farmer - http://www.cityfarmer.org/
Master composter - mastercomposter.com
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