COMPOSTING IS NATURE’S WAY OF RECYCLING

-BY SHANNON RINOW, MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM COORDINATOR

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (May 16, 2023)

-- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Master Gardeners are celebrating — “National Learn About Composting Day”, on May 29th!

It is important to determine the right type of bin or compost system for your household. Steve goes on to explain that [the] “…scale of the composting method chosen by an individual will be first tied to their property size and location. City dwellers or those in suburban or rural areas will select a method best suited to their locale…”

To learn more about composting on a small scale please visit https:// chautauqua.cce.cornell. edu/gardening/compostresources

With a total of $1,600 in prize money, Youth and Adults have their own categories in the Audubon Community Nature Center 2023 Nature Photography Contest. Pictured is the 2022 Youth Fauna (animals) winner, “Spring Peeper” by Benjamin Genter of Columbus, Indiana. It can also be seen in two places on the 2023 contest website, GoGoPhotoContest.com/ACNCPhotoContest2023.

Jamestown, N.Y. – Youth ages 8 to 18 can win the same prize money as adults who enter the Audubon Community Nature Center 2023 Nature Photography Contest. In fact, since more adults usually enter, odds may be even better for youth.

A panel of judges will choose the Youth and Adult winners in the categories of Animals, Plants and Landscapes. All winners receive a $200 cash prize and will have their photographs printed and exhibited in the Nature Center. Three honorable mentions will also be named in each category.

Two additional $200 cash prizes are awarded for the Adult and Youth photos receiving the most Community Choice votes online. A photo could receive both the Community Choice and a judged award.

All winning and honorable mention photographs will be displayed on the contest website and announced in a widely distributed news release.

Full details of the 2023 competition are at GoGoPhotoContest.com/ ACNCPhotoContest2023, where you can enter photos and see all the 2022 contest winners and honorable mentions.

The sooner photographs are submitted, the longer the public can vote for them for the

Community Choice awards. Photographers are reminded to encourage friends and family to vote for their entries, using the social media buttons on the contest website.

Deadline for submissions is Sunday, July 2, 2023.

Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature by providing positive outdoor experiences, opportunities to learn about and understand the natural world, and knowledge to act in environmentally responsible ways. To learn more, visit AudubonCNC.org.

Recycling plastics is almost automatic for people (hopefully!), but what about the recycling of organic materials? There are SO many good reasons to compost! By making compost, you can save money by making rich, organic soil fertilizer, reduce erosion, conserve, and replenish groundwater, plus much more! Organic material otherwise sent to a landfill creates methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to the negative impacts of our environment.

Master Gardener, Steve Rees shares in his recent article; “The Joy of Composting” https:// chautauqua.cce.cornell. edu/gardening/compostresources “…Returning organic matter to the soil is increasingly important as the earth’s population grows and generates more and more wastes of all types, much of which can be reused to the benefit of all species. For one example, the need for landfill space to accommodate waste stream materials could be reduced by as much as one-third if organic matter is diverted and recycled (composted)…”

Vermicomposting is another method for composting, using red wiggler worms (E. foetida) to decompose plant waste into castings.

The ingredients for compost are simple and FREE! There must be a proper balance, of 2-3 part “Browns” and 1 part “Green” materials.

-Carbon-rich materials (“browns”) Can include dry leaves, cardboard, and twigs. The carbon-rich materials provide food for the microorganisms to consume and digest.

-Nitrogen-rich materials (“greens”) Can include grass clippings and food scraps. The nitrogen-rich materials heat up the pile to create ideal conditions for the material to breakdown.

-Water (moisture).

-Air (oxygen).

Steve Rees continues “…The decomposition process relies on the microbiological activity of numerous organisms. Imagine a complex food web or pyramid consisting of organic matter such as leaves, grass clippings, and kitchen waste…”

The Master Gardener Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under a form of organization and administration approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. Each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is an independent employer that is governed by an elected Board of Directors with general oversight from Cornell. All associations work to meet the needs of the counties in which they are located as well as state and national goals. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/ chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Friends of the AndersonLee Library to hold annual bake sale

The Friends of Anderson-Lee Library in Silver Creek are pleased to announce that their annual bake sale will be held on Friday, June 2nd There will be 2 locations. Stop at the Library on Main Street in Silver Creek or at Add Lumber True Value in Irving. The sale will be held from 9:30 am until sold out. All proceeds from the sale are used to enhance library materials. For more information about the Friends group or the bake sale, please call the library at 934-3468.

Forestville Community Yard Sales

Forestville Community Yard Sales will be held on June 10th from 9am – 3pm. Residents may sign up to have a sale at Cave’s

care, You have so much to consider for the future! Come to our FREE Elder Care Workshop

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Pentecost Sunday Healing Mass; St Dominic Church, 15 Union Street, Westfield, NY. May 28th 3:00P.M. Rev. David Tourville – Celebrant. Everyone Welcome. For More Information Call Church Office at 716-326-2816 • Healing Mass Holy Trinity Church; 1032 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY. May 31st, Wednesday 7:00 P.M. Rev. Richard DiGiulio –Celebrant. Everyone Welcome. For more information call Church Office at 716-366-2306 Call: 716-938-9133 for reservations

June 2023 Computer Classes at the Dunkirk Public Library