The Dirt Factory

Ok so check this out...The Lake House used to operate a fledgling composting co-op. We would go around the neighborhood once a week and pick up bins of compost from other houses in our community and dump it in the fairly large pile of decomposing organic material we had in our yard.  It was a beautiful mess. We ran the co-op for about a year and collected a little more than a half ton of compostable materials so that we could reinvest those nutrients into our communities soil. During that time we really struggled to have someone available each sunday afternoon to pick up from people and we had varying success with people using their bins. Eventually we stopped because of a lack of consistent pick up volunteers.

 

Today I saw how doable our vision was with just a few adaptations. We heard about and visited this place called The Dirt Factory in west Philly. As we drove to it I kept imagining a huge dump area with trucks and all the bells and whistles of a large operation. As we pulled up I was shocked to see a small city lot in the middle of an urban neighborhood will a few small compost demonstration 'backyard' set ups and then two huge composting containers. They found an overgrown and neglected lot in the city, contacted the owner and convinced him to allow them to do something for the community on it. Then the college had these two EARTH TUBS from a pilot project and gave them to The Dirt Factory at 'A very generous rate.'

Each unit can handle an input of about 100 lbs per day and can have as much as 3200 lbs of compost in it before full. Because of the size of these containers the internal temp of the actual compost reaches high enough temperatures to kill off seeds and other potentially unwanted life.(about 135+) They have a volunteer who simply turns the lid each day as the mixing auger spins and voila...Super fast compost production. They have teams that collect bags of 'brown' leaves and mulch to add to all the 'green' that their people bring in. They stockpile a large stack of bagged leaves to add as needed and then simply open their doors once a week for an hour and they have about a hundred households that are occasionally dropping off there compostables. We were there as they were open and just about everyone who showed up was either walking or biking so it seemed clear that they all lived within a very short distance from this neighborhood location. The drop off is free to anyone who wishes to use it and they are making small amounts of compost available for free to anyone starting a garden on there city stoops (there a not many yards in this city). Its beautiful!

Obviously there are people who would love this service and live too far to get their compost to the drop off location. Well another man with a truck has started a small business to augment this free service. For 15 dollars per month this man will drive to your place at an agreed upon time to pick up a nice 'composting bin' that your subscription gets you and deliver it for you to the drop off. Then each spring he also delivers about 30 gallons of compost to each household subscriber that wants it. Not bad huh?

Its very doable and I think I have some idea how to replicate that giant composter. It might be time to resurrect the composting co-op with a new model. As I reflected on the experience I think it would not have had as much of an impression on me if it was a huge operation that clearly had money backing it. That wasn't the case though. It was a small thing that seemed not to have much money involved at all and only a few people doing a small amount of work were keeping this thing going. I felt taunted and provoked by it!

Inside of an Earth Tub with fresh compost scraps.

Odors from the tubs are pushed through a bin of wood chips by a solar powered fan for filtering

Our new friend Rike sitting on a raised bed with a side bench

                                                     Finished compost, leaves in bags,Earth tub

The happy members bringing in their compost. 

                                                           The whole operation

                                                                Adding compost to the Earth tubs

                                                                        Operating Instructions

                                                                         Entrance

The One Thing

Click here to read this post at Ultimate Concern blog

What Not to Do?

This morning the Pope, during a mass at Domus Sanctae, talked about following Jesus as being much more than 'doing good' or 'a career.' I was really grateful for that word because as I take this sabbatical from full time ministry work, it gets confusing what exactly I should avoid doing. For example today I got a call from a new friend we made at The Simple Way and they had some extra romaine lettuce after their food distribution. They asked if we wanted it and you know I am not going to turn down food. We are actually getting by on very little and are grateful for any free supplies we can get our hands on. I drove over only to realize that they had an entire case of lettuce and a few other things as well. I immediately knew we couldn't use it all but we told them that we knew some folks that could and brought it home so that we can take it with us to the St. Francis Inn tomorow morning for the meals that they are making there. As I loaded it into the car I couldn't help but realize that this is the kind of thing I do everyday. So am I working? Am I in some way not keeping with the spirit of a season of Sabbath? You see when your in the privileged position of getting to do full time ministry these lines get really blurry. I know that food shouldn't be wasted or allowed to go bad and I know that there are people right around the corner who will rejoice for having received it. I remember Jesus healing on the Sabbath and correcting those who would rebuke him for 'working' as he did good. Today's homily from Pope Francis was really helpful as I reflected on this question. Following Jesus is not a career and you do not rest from following Him but sometimes when following Him he leads you into rest. This entire Sabbatical came out of a conviction and our efforts to faithfully follow Jesus. We are not here to stop being Christian or stop doing good for those things are not a career. I am, however, on a sabbatical from a ministry vocation so what is it that I am not doing? I am not formally teaching, I am not coordinating, coaching or leading others, I am not hunting down resources to further the work of The Well and I am not taking meetings or recruiting volunteers. I have taken a break from these tasks associated with the work and ministry of The Well and I have done this because I am trying to follow Jesus. So while we are here a lot of things I do may look like things I do at home...in fact they really should because I am still following Jesus. He still loves the poor here, still gives us opportunities to serve and give and listen and cry. Here I get to do it side by side with Natalia which is such a dream come true for me and I also get to do it freely and without any ministry goals or long term strategy. I just get to be, with my wife, with Jesus in Philly. Its pretty nice.

Combining Liturgy & Sociology for a Christian Ecology

Click here to view post at Ultimate Concerns

Community Farm day at Greensgrow Farms

Getting some great inspiration today from Greensgrow Farms

Mass and the Trinity

This morning we attended mass at the St. Francis Inn with it's ministry volunteers and leadership. It was intimate, simple, and powerful. Powerful because through a divine mystery we share communion with every person who has given their life to serve the poor across the world. Through the divine mystery of the Father, Son, and Spirit we are both led and comforted along the way.

Good Eatin'

So we were still waiting on recommendations from friends of places to eat in philly so we did a bit of research on our own. Turns out Guy Fieri did a D,D&D episode on a spot within walking distance from where we are staying so we hit up the Memphis Taproom.
It was a really cool spot with some delicious food. Reminded me a bit of Ella's in Tampa and also has a special weekend brunch menu which we just missed so you know we are gonna have to hit it up at least one more time while we are here.