Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
Volume 18, Issue 13
Animal blessing at MFC
A service for blessing animals was held at the Middlefield Federated Church recently. Cute pups (and one furtive horse!) enjoy the warm weather and all the attention. Photos taken by Madison Burt, submitted by Tim Burt
In other animal news...
Friday, July 8, 2011
‘A simple good for the community’ — composting units coming your way By Trish Dynia Special to the Town Times
and 25 Green Cones from Signature Marketing of Simsbury, CT.
In a joint effort to reduce the amount of main stream waste we haul each week to the local transfer station, the Durham Garden Club and Durham Middlefield Interlocal Agreement Advisory Board (DMIAAB) have recently purchased 25 each of two styles of composting units, which will soon be available for purchase by local residents at a substantially reduced price. Main stream waste (MSW), consists of non-recyclable items we generally place in the trash can. Because the transfer station receives cash for recyclables and must pay to dispose of MSW, any reduction in the amount of MSW results in a cost savings. After carefully researching the market for the past year, the garden club and DMIAAB have opted to purchase 25 Garden Gourmets
Since its American debut on Oprah Winfrey’s Earth Day 2008 show, The Garden Gourmet has gained national popularity, and statistics show that when used properly by a family of four, the unit would typically need to be emptied three to four times per year and removes approximately 20 percent from the household’s MSW. During a recent presentation for DMIAAB, Jonas Strimaitis of Signature Marketing stated, “Unlike many homemade composting systems, this unit is critterproof when installed properly, and it does not attract flies or emit fowl orders when appropriate layering and turning techniques are used.” The easy-to-assemble Garden Gourmet weighs less than 30 pounds and is designed to take kitchen scraps, such as fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds,
breads and egg shells, as well as garden refuse, including grass clippings, wood chips, leaves and the like. The unit uses sunlight to make the compost ‘gold,’ which can be distributed throughout your garden, thus eliminating the need to purchase chemical fertilizers to make your garden grow. Local residents can purchase this unit for $30.25. The Green Cone Food Waste Digester is a two-piece system that can reduce MSW by 30 percent when used properly by a family of four. The bottom half should be buried in well-drained soil or in a raised bed if there is clay soil or ledge. The cone fits over the top and is designed to take all kitchen waste, including fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, bones, dairy products, etc. Evelyn Golden, owner of Signature Marketing, explained, “The unit eats everything you See Compost, page 19
Perk on Main in Durham ‘raises the roof’ Left, Nancy Alberico, Marilyn Horn and Ashley Horn stand at the “Mexican Market that took place June 30 at Perk on Main to raise funds for repair work needed at the Centro de Esperanza in Oaxaca, Mexico. More photos page 17. Photo by Sara Kennedy
In this issue ... Photo by Michelle P. Carter
Look under your car before pulling out of your driveway! This snoozing snapping turtle, Alonso, found a comfy, shaded spot under a car at the residence of new Town Times’ office assistant Michelle P. Carter.
Calendar .............................4 Durham Briefs .................12 Middlefield Briefs ............13 Obituaries....................18-19 Sports ...........................20-23