Get Digging

To start, you’re going to need to dig a hole. But don’t go overboard—a tree does not need to be buried any deeper than its root ball (root ball = the clump of roots that accompany the tree in the nursery pot).

If you plant a tree too deep, the trunk can become susceptible to disease and rot with prolonged soil moisture contact. Soil can also compact onto the root ball if the hole is dug too deep.

However, to help the tree get established and promote proper outward and downward root growth, use your shovel to slope the walls around the hole. This helps water flow through the soil, which encourages the fine root hairs that pick up water and nutrients to follow suit.

What to Watch For

The root ball is important to consider, and something you can examine when you are at the nursery selecting your plants. Make sure the roots are not wrapped around themselves in the pot; if they are, the plant is root bound. Once roots are bound, they are nearly impossible to fix.

To check, lightly flick away some of the dirt at the top of the nursery pot. Check for the telltale sign of circular, wrapped roots near the surface or near the edge of the pot. Root bound plants have been a phenomenon of late thanks to the Great Recession because plant material often sits in the nursery for longer periods of time (things just don’t sell as fast as they used to). If these plants are not replanted into bigger pots, the roots just keep on growing inside the pot with nowhere to go but around and around.

Next: Step-by-Step Planting Guide

The sustainability desk at Marketplace, a radio show from American Public Media, started seven years ago. Today, the sustainability beat that Marketplace reporters cover includes the usual suspects—impacts of climate change, alternative energy development, the increasing pressure on natural resources—but from a uniquely economic perspective.

That economic perspective reaches the ears of the CEOs and company presidents who may be listening (along with the average consumer) to Marketplace.

The impact that companies can have on sustainability is vast—if Wal-Mart chooses to source its paper products from only sustainably harvested sources, consumers can end up purchasing more sustainable products. Thus, the impact on the natural world is reduced, as millions of consumers purchase more sustainable products.

If other companies start paying attention to sustainability, changing the world could be as simple as swiping a credit card.

Thus, as social and environmental issues—wrapped in the perspective of the economy—are discussed on Marketplace programming, audiences heed the news. Sometimes all it takes for people to care or understand about the problems facing the world is to know that the issues exist.

Marketplace recently added senior correspondent David Brancaccio to the mix, further raising the profile of sustainability issues as they relate to the economy. Brancaccio covers the “Economy 4.0” section on Marketplace, which is focused on moving towards a sustainable future—one that includes developing, in Brancaccio’s words, “an economy that doesn’t blow up” every decade or so.

Under Serious Heat

So on a hot, dry day in June, a team from Marketplace’s sustainability desk braved downtown Phoenix to discuss a topic on everybody’s mind thanks to recent high gas prices: energy.

Brancaccio, along with former Shell Oil president John Hofmeister, headlined a discussion concerning where we’re at and where we’re headed when it comes to a national energy policy.

Although now it would be dead on arrival, the Waxman-Markey bill of 2009 attempted to provide an energy path forward by instituting cap and trade.

SEE: Cheat Sheet on the Energy Bill

John Hofmeister suggests that the United States will be headed for an “energy abyss” if it continues to move forward without a comprehensive energy plan. Haphazardly promoting renewable energy sources while making it increasingly difficult to domestically drill for oil and other hydrocarbon fuels (such as coal and natural gas) won’t work, claims Hofmeister.

According to the former oil exec, without a national plan, energy “haves and have nots” will surface as heating houses and filling up gas tanks grows increasingly expensive due to rising demand and stagnant supply.

Problem established. What about a solution? Brancaccio elicited a response from the “energy insider” as Hofmeister has dubbed himself.

Hofmeister claims that we need a plan to provide a roadmap of the U.S.’s energy future. In that plan, Hofmeister says that specific action must be taken:

1. Develop more energy from all sources—This includes developing renewable energy while continuing to drill for oil, coal and natural gas.

2. Develop technology to achieve greater energy efficiency—“The most affordable energy is the energy we never use.”

3. Implement more environmental protection from the production of all energy sources—No form of energy is perfect: oil spills are tragic, but also very high profile. Solar farms can have massive impacts on wildlife habitat and wind farms can kill migratory birds. These impacts need to be mitigated.

4. Develop more infrastructure to move energy from where it is produced to where it is utilized.

Additionally, Hofmeister suggests the creation of a federal entity similar to the Fed, but for energy. A centralized, non-partisan, long-term board of experts (who don’t have to worry about the constant election cycle that lawmakers and presidents abide by) hailing from industry, academia and government, map out and make recommendations on U.S. energy policy. To maintain democratic processes, Hofmeister suggests this “Energy Fed” is created by an act of Congress.

Take Action and Find More Information

An interesting and thought-provoking dialogue, Brancaccio and Hofmeister ended with a discussion on Hofmeister’s not-for-profit whose mission is to get people to care about the future of energy in the U.S.

Called Citizens for Affordable Energy, Hofmeister’s goal for the nonprofit is to build a grassroots groundswell of ordinary citizens who can create change in energy policy. A movement that can pressure Congress and the President to act, and to surmount the partisan politics that often prohibit action from being taken when it comes to big topics like energy.

Ensuring he didn’t “surrender his journalistic integrity at the door,” Brancaccio asked Hofmeister: “Who funds [your nonprofit]?”

“Companies that produce energy cannot donate” to Citizens for Affordable Energy. They’ve tried. Hofmeister said thanks, but no thanks.

Talking the talk isn’t good enough. Claiming to be a leader in sustainability because you offer specific degree programs in the subject area is one thing—acting along the very lines you promote is another.

“People started asking, ‘Well, what about all the food waste being generated at Arizona State University?’” said Aaron Redman, course facilitator of SOS 484, housed in the School of Sustainability at ASU.

“So that created the opportunity for us, as [facilitators in this] workshop course, to take the first step in addressing, OK, what is the food waste issue here, and what are some potential ways to deal with it?”

The workshop course Redman refers to is part of a new initiative across colleges, schools and departments at ASU to develop a plan of action on how ASU can meet its zero waste goal by addressing food waste on campus.

Food, Composting and the Like

ASU’s zero waste commitment combines recycling efforts, composting, reuse programs and ditch the dumpster campaigns in an effort to reach zero waste. For SOS 484, the focus was on composting, and what to do with all the food waste generated on ASU’s four campuses.

The green waste composting system at ASU’s Tempe campus is a nice, tidy closed loop. But the food waste situation is not as easy.

For one, food waste composting brings with it a whole suite of issues that green waste composting does not—at least in the case of ASU.

Because the green waste is transported off-site and then returned when it is ready-to-go soil, ASU does not have to worry about the overall composting operation. A local farmer and his crew take care of that.

Additionally, with food waste there is the issue of relying on thousands of people, not just the trained professionals of the ASU grounds maintenance team, to properly sort waste before composting can even begin. This reliance on people placing their food waste in proper categories such as meat waste, vegetable waste, recyclable waste and non-compostable waste can be difficult, though not impossible with proper education.

Students in SOS 484 found that with food waste composting, vectors, rodents, pests and smell can be a prominent issue, as well as having the space to deal with massive amounts of food waste generated from all the various campus activities.

READ: Reduce Your Food Waste in 10 Minutes

The Composting Audit

To assess what they were dealing with, the students performed a trash audit of a dining hall on campus. What they found was that different technologies suited different campuses, depending on their specific situations.

“We looked at the different case studies, and all the universities had different ways that they processed their organic waste. If they can do it, why can’t ASU? So then the question really became, how can ASU do this?” explained Emily Freeman, a graduate student who assisted in the course.

The next challenge came when the students realized that ASU’s Tempe campus was already at its capacity in terms of utilizing the rich compost from its green waste closed-loop system.

Student Tyler Morton explained that through the research for the class, “We realized that we were already meeting our capacity for [utilizing compost] through our existing partnership. Ideally, we want to compost the food waste first, but if we don’t have a way to use it, then it would still just go to waste. So then we decided a potential next step would be energy generation produced from the food waste.”

The Law and Composting

In their investigation of implementing a food waste composting system at ASU, students found several barriers. One of the biggest barriers was the legalese involved with composting in the state of Arizona.

There is ambiguity in the law because organic waste is not defined separately from regular solid waste, which includes everything that cannot be recycled. So, any composting operation is subject to the same regulations as a landfill, for example.

With help from staff at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), students waded through the solid waste regulations to find out what it would take to start a food waste composting system.

SEE: Guide to Composting in the Summer

According to the Maricopa County Environmental Services, “No person shall operate an establishment for the purpose of composting, processing or reclaiming refuse without a valid permit.” Permits can be obtained through the ADEQ.

Additionally, students highlighted regulations that solid waste facilities must not operate in a manner that harms nearby water systems or air quality, public health and safety, or emit odors and attract pests. These are obviously good things—but because composting facilities are not defined separately from landfill facilities, the regulations are a hindrance to a quick and easy composting solution to the food waste generated on ASU’s campuses.

How ASU Will Make It Work

After a semester of research on the current amount of waste being generated, the potential technologies to use, and the laws and regulations relating to composting in Arizona, the students came up with three main recommendations for transforming ASU’s food waste system:

1. Use an in-vessel composting system to avoid certain hazards and costs, eliminate dust and reduce the probability of odors and vector breeding.

2. Contract an outside vendor on an off-site location to minimize liability issues and purchase liability insurance.

3. Maintain a small, on-site, student-run composting system to maximize student involvement and awareness.

With projects as large as the one SOS 484 sought to tackle, keeping the momentum going is always a challenge. The next step for Arizona State University will be to take the research and plan of action the students developed and move forward with complying with the legal regulations so that composting operations of food waste can begin, even on a small scale.

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The Next Wave in Composting

The perfect seedling starter kit could already be in your pantry. (Stock Photo)

With the bulk of the short and cold days behind us, it’s time to devote some extra effort to those empty flowerbeds and frostbitten potted plants. Whether you dabble with indoor plants or have a full-fledged outdoor garden and landscape, here are seven (re)uses for everyday items to give your garden a much-needed boost.

1. Create a (good) greenhouse effect

The plastic bag surrounding the lemonade container creates a greenhouse effect that helps retain moisture and warmth to germinate seeds more quickly.

Plastic lemonade containers are recyclable, but why not reuse them first? Create a mini-greenhouse to promote germination of seedlings so you can be ready to transfer them outside when the weather is right.

You will need a cleaned out powdered lemonade container and a plastic bag.

How to do it:

1. Widen out the container by cutting off any narrow portions at the top.

2. Poke a few holes in the bottom of the container for drainage. Place soil in the container and water lightly.

3. Place your finger in the soil to create a small divot where you will plant the seeds. Make the divots an inch apart. Plant one seed in each of the divots.

4. Wrap the container with a plastic bag and use rubber bands to create a seal. Do not cover the bottom with the plastic bag. Place the mini-greenhouse by a window so light can infiltrate and warm the soil.

5. Check soil moisture every few days and water accordingly. Reseal plastic bag after watering. To watch the progress of your seedlings, use a transparent plastic bag like those used for bread.

More Reused Garden-Boosters

By implementing passive rainwater harvesting techniques such as swales and berms, these native plants could be accessing supplemental rainwater that would cut back on the plants’ potable water use. Photo: Haley Paul, Earth911

With much of the U.S. digging itself out from piles of snow, those toasty July days seem an eternity away. But the warm, dry months will come, and there is no time like the present to start planning a rainwater harvesting system to help offset your skyrocketing water bill once the hot summer months arrive.

Where to use harvested rainwater

Because the bulk of residential water use comes from outdoor uses such as irrigating landscapes, the simplest and most cost-effective way to use captured rainwater is for outdoor purposes.

In her publication Harvesting Rainwater for Landscape Use, author Patricia Waterfall explains, “Harvesting rainwater can reduce the use of drinking water for landscape irrigation” and “when coupled with the use of native […] plants, […] is an effective water conservation tool.”

Do you qualify?

If you pay for water to irrigate any portion of your outdoor landscape, including vegetable gardens, rainwater harvesting is for you. Since most yards require some supplemental watering to look good, offsetting a portion of that water with free rainfall saves on two fronts: water and money.

To choose a system that works for you, it is important to consider existing infrastructure (the roof and the yard) and regional climate (how much rain falls in your area). An ideal rainwater harvesting system does not capture more water than a landscape can use because water surpluses can become a nuisance if water is not utilized within three to four months (think stagnant water).

Choosing a method

There are two main methods of rainwater harvesting: active and passive.

According to the Tucson Botanical Gardens, active systems integrate a storage container into the system to catch rainwater runoff for later use on the property.

Passive systems, on the other hand, “use earthworks to control surface water flow and use the soil as the storage container. The passive system requires planning and observation of the natural water movement on the land but requires no gutters or storage containers.”

Keep in mind that using one form of collection does not negate the other; passive and active methods of rainwater harvesting are often used in tandem to utilize the most rainwater possible.

How to harvest (when you’re on a budget)

There are numerous ways to divert rainfall from its journey to the storm drain and instead put it to use on your property.  By starting with the basic and inexpensive options, you can get a better feel for what your yard needs, making it easier to advance your rainwater harvesting system in the future (should you want to).

Simple active harvesting option

Barrels collect rainwater from the gutters of the house. A hose is connected to the barrels, which waters nearby landscape plants. Photo: Patricia Waterfall, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.

If you have a roof and gutters, you’ve already accomplished a major step towards rainwater harvesting. Houses with gutters generally divert the rainwater falling on the roof to one main location. Place a large barrel or a 55-gallon drum underneath the main downspout to capture and store rainwater.

Make sure the container you choose has an external pipe and a valve so you can connect a hose to water your plants as well as shut off the water coming from the barrel. Also, remember to keep your gutters free of twigs and leaves so the gutters can continue to direct the flow of water to the downspout.

Lastly, make the system even more efficient by placing the rainwater collection container on a raised platform so as to receive the added benefit of gravity. By elevating the barrel, gravity helps maintain the pressure in the hose so you can irrigate plants further from the collection and storage point.

Simple passive harvesting option

In this illustration, rainwater is harvested from the roof and directed into a furrow that flows to a holding area where water percolates into the soil, watering the plants. Photo: Patricia Waterfall, University of Arizona Cooperative

To implement a simple passive harvesting system, get ready to bust out the shovel. In a simple system, rainwater is put to immediate use and consists of a catchment area (the roof) and a means of distribution (gravity).

Rainwater flows from the roof but instead of collecting in barrels via gutters, rainwater falls from the roof into a dug swale. The swale then channels the rainwater towards a holding area where the landscape plants or the vegetable garden utilize the diverted water.

An added benefit of passive systems is erosion control. By keeping more water on-site, less water and soil flush out into the street during storm events.

Things to keep in mind

If using an active rainwater harvesting system that includes large barrels or other storage containers, size limits and location restrictions may apply. Check with your local city ordinances to see if there are any restrictions on the books for rainwater harvesting.

To learn about more rainwater harvesting, including more advanced options, check out the website for Brad Lancaster, author of multiple rainwater harvesting books or the Online Rainwater Harvesting Community.

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Arizona State University School of Sustainability in Tempe, Ariz. Photo: Arizona State University

As for the new minor, “A key characteristic […] is that it is a university-wide offering,” says Christopher Boone, associate dean for Education as well as professor in the School of Sustainability. “Rather than being embedded within a major or a single department or college, students from nearly any major from all four campuses can enroll in the sustainability minor.”

Boone elaborates on the offerings of the minor, “For those majors or programs that have few electives in their programs, we have helped them develop specialized concentrations in sustainability. Two examples are the concentrations in sustainability for Business and for Engineering.”

In all of the degree programs—graduate, undergraduate and the minor—students with different academic interests are signing up for a piece of the sustainability pie.

Students’ enthusiasm and diverse interests are well-suited to take on the myriad issues facing humanity and the planet: social equity, alternative energy, climate change and legislation, environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, raw materials extraction, solid waste disposal and storage, water availability and quality – the list goes on.

Meet the Students

"Sustainability interests me because it is a field that impacts everyone. It recognizes each person can make a difference, and collectively many people can witness true positive impact," says Alyssa Bisanz, Political Science major and Sustainability minor at Arizona State University.

Given the broad scope of sustainability, it’s fitting that the range of subjects studied by students reflects these plethora of issues. Five sustainability students share their plans for their post-grad lives.

The U.N. Ambassador
Ask Natalie Goldfarb, Global Studies major, why she chose the minor in Sustainability, and she’ll tell you she hopes to focus on international development for her career. “I want to improve people’s quality of life.” To do that, “I feel that creating sustainable communities around the world is just common sense.”

The Human Rights Advocate
“My main interests in Sustainability [are] the social [and] political aspects, […] mainly dealing with human rights and inequalities,” says Drake Hoffman, Sustainability major at ASU. “I have focused a lot of my studies on food and resource inequality for the impoverished (i.e., the inaccessibility of healthy foods and sufficient nutrition for [those] in poverty, and its negative impacts on their health). However, I would like to focus more on gender and racial inequality in the very near future.”

The Policymaker
“I would like to pursue a career in the public service field,” says Political Science major Alyssa Bisanz, who is also minoring in Sustainability at ASU. Bisanz says studying sustainability along with political science prepares her for “more than [just] conservation—instead, [sustainability encompasses] a solution-oriented framework where government, education and the public, private and business sectors collaborate to use resources in an efficient manner.”

Asked why he chose to major in Sustainability at ASU, and Drake Hoffman replies, "Call me a Hippie, but I have always been extremely passionate about the well-being of our planet, and all of those who inhabit it. That was my immediate draw towards Sustainability."

The Grassroots Organizer
Jesse Davenport, who started college as a Landscape Architecture major, felt limited in her course options due to rigorous lab and studio requirements. “I made [the] decision [to switch to Sustainability] after getting involved with Puente Movement, a grassroots migrant organization based out of Phoenix. I realized I was interested in a lot of fields outside of just Landscape Architecture. I ended up choosing Sustainability over a major in Justice Studies or Non-Profit Leadership and Management because I would be able to learn about all kinds of issues while also focusing specifically on the area of social justice.”

The Corporate Executive
As a sophomore majoring in Supply Chain Management in the W.P. Carey School of Business, J.T. Albright sees the minor in sustainability supporting his major by better understanding how to “get products from one destination to another without unnecessarily using resources that could be preserved for future jobs or generations.” Concerning his future, Albright’s main goal (or hope, as he states) is to pack a business/sustainability wallop by changing how businesses are run from the inside, “so that they have more forethought [rather than only thinking how to] make a quick buck.”

Are They Taking a Huge Risk?

Given that the major and minor are still in the nascent stages, and that other schools have yet to develop sustainability as a degree program in the same capacity as Arizona State, some wonder if the risk (a degree in sustainability) is worth the reward (a job).

Asked if the sustainability minor offers an edge in a competitive job market, Natalie Goldfarb, the Global Studies major, doesn’t even flinch. “Absolutely. The whole world is going to be focused on being greener in the near future. A minor will give me the slight edge since I have information on this important new way of living. [The value of] my degree will only increase as more people and companies realize the importance of sustainability.”

"Sustainability is being considered more every day so I'm confident that by the time I graduate it will be more understood and accepted. For the types of careers I'm considering in social justice or non-profit work, I think a degree in Sustainability will help me a lot in the job market," says Jesse Davenport.

Fellow undergraduate J.T. Albright agrees. “Minoring in sustainability gives me an edge compared to others in my [Supply Chain Management] major because it makes me stand out from the crowd and the cookie cutter candidates. I can provide certain assets and different perspectives to my future employer that other people could not because of my minor in sustainability.”

Their hope and optimism is contagious. And it’s not just wishful thinking.

“A friend of mine who graduated in May 2010 [with the major] was offered a job almost immediately for a company in Seattle that had just created a ‘Sustainability Director’ position,” says Drake Hoffman.

And Hoffman is confident the path he is taking will reap the benefits when he starts to look for a job. “I do believe that my major will stand out in the job market. The current trend in business has been towards sustainability and many companies are creating positions to pursue this trend. I think my fresh, different perspective will be advantageous.”

As for the School of Sustainability, it highlights some of the potential career paths graduates will be equipped to pursue. “Admission into strong graduate and professional schools, […] positions in higher education, industry, consultancy, utilities, regulatory agencies, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations, or local, state or federal government. Recent interest in sustainability within business and government has created new employment opportunities in the field.”

As with any endeavor, hard work, perseverance and a belief in what you do all have an impact on finding a career. The five students interviewed for this story all exude the confidence that their knowledge and skills are only going to grow in value as time goes on and the need for sustainability experts increases.

Perhaps we can all rest a little easier knowing these sustainability minors and majors are getting prepared to take on the pressing social, economic and environmental issues of the age.

Sustainability Definition Side Note

Still looking for that perfect definition of sustainability to explain to your friends and family? The Board of Trustees for Sustainability at ASU has a succinct one you may want to use: “Promoting human prosperity and well-being for all, while protecting and enhancing the earth’s life support systems.” Maybe it will help wipe away the blank stares you sometimes get when you try and tell Aunt Mary what you are interested in these days.

But don’t throw in the shovel just because a white blanket of snow or a hardened sheet of ice now sits atop your compost pile. To help you get through the winter and ready to go once spring returns, learn some of the ins-and-outs of winter composting.

Because composting often relies on high heat to break down organisms, the winter season can slow down the process. Photo: Flickr/nearerdark

Listen to the experts

According to the University of Illinois Extension, “Composting [is] a biological process that decomposes organic material under aerobic ([meaning] oxygen [is] required) conditions. [...] Composting speeds up the natural process of decomposition, providing optimum conditions so that organic matter can break down more quickly.”

In other words, a compost pile is an intentional strategy to speed up the decomposition process that nature, left alone, would take years to accomplish. To decompose at the rapid pace described above, the U of I Extension asserts that a main goal when composting is to promote the existence and propagation of aerobic bacteria.

Luckily for you, these compost dwellers are not picky eaters. And when they eat, they can turn up the heat – literally. According to the U of I Extension, aerobic bacteria heat up a compost pile when they eat, through the chemical process called oxidation. They especially love the carbon-rich (often called brown) materials, which give them energy. Another essential ingredient for your pile, nitrogen-rich (often called green) materials, help the bacteria grow big and strong and reproduce.

But why all the talk about the nutrient needs and chemical processes of bacteria? These factors can help us better understand why in the winter, at least if you live in a cold spot, composting is a different beast than it was in those warmer months.

The winter slow down

It happens to humans, so why can’t it happen to bacteria? The gray dreariness that often makes us want to go into hibernation mode (if only work, life, etc. would let us) also affects aerobic bacteria, in a manner of speaking.

The University of Illinois Extension says “warmer outside temperatures in late spring, summer and early fall stimulate bacteria and speed up decomposition. Low winter temperatures will slow or temporarily stop the composting process.” But fear not: “As air temperatures warm up in the spring, microbial activity will resume.”

Because ambient air temperature affects the speed of decomposition, when the temps cool down, so too does the aforementioned oxidation process. Instead of the voracious eaters they were in the summer and early fall, aerobic bacteria revert to a calmer state.

Yet even when the temperature drops, microbes responsible for the breakdown of organic matter can remain active in the compost pile, according the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. The center of the pile can be warm and actively composting because of heat generated by bacteria, but the outer layers of your pile are at the mercy of the daily highs and lows.

Furthermore, a compost pile needs the right amount of air and water (in addition to carbon and nitrogen) to be successful. So, when that winter snow and spring rain keeps on coming, your pile can get drenched. While water in the summer may be a necessary amendment, too much winter water will force air out of pore spaces in your compost pile, suffocating our dear aerobic bacteria friends.

Strategies for success, despite the cold

Here, a cinder block structure surrounds a compost heap. A block structure is one way to maintain internal pile heat longer into the winter. Photo: University of Illinois Extension

There are measures you can take to protect your pile from the elements and keep it viable further into the winter months. Here are some suggestions:

1. Build a roof. You have one over your head, why can’t your pile? Control external environmental factors by protecting your compost pile from unwanted precipitation.

2. Block it in. You may have noticed that the car in the garage or in the carport tends to be less frost-ridden in the morning than the car parked in the street. Without the protection of the house or other built structure, the car in the street is exposed to a bigger swing in nighttime temperatures.

Same principle applies to your compost pile. If you compost with heaps, build a protective barrier around your pile. If you already compost in some type of holding unit, you (and your compost pile) are covered.

3. Lay down a tarp. Putting a tarp over your compost pile not only whisks away unwanted precipitation, but it also helps contain the internal heat from the pile where you want it – in the pile.

4. Make a bigger heap. Extend the longevity of your pile by prepping early. According to the University of Illinois Extension, “During [the] fall months, making a good sized heap will help the composting process work longer into the winter season.”

Holding units are an alternative to heap piles, and can help protect the compost from winter elements that tend to slow the decomposition process. Photo: University of Illinois Extension.

Because volume is a factor in retaining compost pile heat, the U of I Extension suggests that for those in the Midwest, piles should be at least one cubic yard. The Midwest gets pretty cold, so it’s likely safe to say that this measurement suggestion can apply elsewhere in the U.S.

5. Shred it. According to the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, “Shredding the material in the pile to particles less than two inches in size will allow [the pile] to heat more uniformly and will insulate it from outside temperature extremes.”

6. Dig a hole and bury it. Another tip from the Texas AgriLife Extension Service suggests digging a trench in the garden or flowerbed and adding organic wastes like kitchen scraps (hold the meat, grease or animal fat, please!) little by little, making sure to bury the waste after each addition.

Similarly, “compost-holing,” or digging a one-foot deep hole anywhere in the yard and covering with a board or bricks until full of organic wastes, is another strategy to beat the winter cold and keep on composting.

Right method for the right place

In the end, it is always important to consider what type of system works best for you. The area available for composting, seasonal climate, along with the time commitment you are willing to give to your pile, all impact the type of composting system that would work best. Always do your research when looking to start, continue, or try a new type of composting system.

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A hardscape element can include artwork in the landscape. Here, an art piece is the focal point of the yard. Photo: Haley Paul, Earth911.com

In the past, the typical – almost expected – look of the American front yard was a large swath of grass. And that grass needed constant mowing, watering and a lot of maintenance.

Well, no more. Landscapes today come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and styles, with different levels of maintenance requirements. There are countless alternatives to turf grass, depending on where you live.

Hardscapes in the landscape

A common thread for these alternative landscapes is the incorporation of hardscape. These designs can brighten a dead, barren landscape in the winter, as well as lend a helping growing hand in the spring.

According to Judy Mielke, landscape architect at Logan Simpson Design in Tempe, Ariz., “Hardscape refers to any element in the landscape that is not living. Things such as walkways, walls, shade structures and water features are all considered hardscape elements.”

Hardscapes add aesthetic value, as well as day-to-day functionality to a landscape.

“Landscape architects often use hardscape to provide structure to a landscape. Quite often a hardscape element, such as a gazebo, serves as a focal point. Additionally, hardscapes provide a sense of permanence, helping to anchor the plantings, which are ever-changing,” says Mielke.

Because they do not change with the season as most plants do, hardscapes can give your landscape a crisp, bright look year round.

Hardscape elements help add variety to a landscape as well. For example, a dark blue wall can be painted over when winter sets in. To fight off the drab and cloudy weather outside, refresh and repaint the walls with a bright color to achieve an immediate makeover.

Using containers allows for easy replanting if a plant dies in the winter. Containers also add style and texture to a landscape. Here, containers are placed in front of a hardscape element—the wall—to achieve a layered look. Photo: Haley Paul, Earth911.com

Container gardening

For those willing to put in a little extra work, container gardening provides a stylish, easy-to-replant way of preventing a yard from a case of the blahs. The unlikeliest of materials can be turned into a planter, reducing the need to go out and buy brand new pots. For instance, a cinder block turned on its side and placed on the ground can be filled with soil and planted with flowers and herbs.

Given the various hardscape elements that one can employ in a landscape, the potential for incorporating recycled materials into hardscape construction is both plentiful and diverse.

As a landscape designer and architect, Mielke sees recycled concrete (from old sidewalks and driveways) showing up in landscapes reinvented as walkways, seatwalls, retaining walls and raised planters. As Mielke says, “This material is abundant, free and relatively easy to use in construction because of its uniform thickness.”

She also says the incorporation of colored bottles into walls, as well as rusty metal from a variety of sources, have been crafted into art pieces and incorporated into landscapes.

In addition, “Crushed, tumbled glass from recycled bottles can be used as a top dressing for plantings.” The reflection from the sun off of the glass can provide a shimmer to the nearby plants.

And as if glass did not have enough innovative uses in landscapes, Mielke says recycled glass is being incorporated into a porous paving material made of fine-textured, tumbled glass particles bonded together with glue. Such porous materials are important in landscapes because they allow for rainfall to infiltrate the soil, acting as a passive way to harvest valuable rainwater.

Got extra brick lying around in the garage? Smash the bricks in half and place atop the soil for a stylized look in lieu of topsoil or mulch. Photo: Haley Paul, Earth911.com

No-fuss native vegetation

Adding variety to traditional turf with some hardscape elements and native vegetation can also benefit wildlife, Mielke says.

“[Although] sculptures and fountains are considered types of hardscape, and are primarily ornamental, they can also benefit wildlife. Greg Corman, a landscape designer in Tucson, Ariz. creates unique sculptures of found materials such as wood and metal that also serve as native bee habitats.”

For more information on landscapes that mesh with the native flora and fauna, rather than trying to differentiate from it, see Corman’s website.

The most important thing when selecting alternatives to turf grass is to choose plants that are suited for the climate and region in which you live. Plant a bed of Magnolias in the arid climate and salty soils of the desert southwest and those plants are not long for this world.

If you live in a humid, cooler climate, your native vegetation will be quite different. For example, in the northeast, think berries and evergreens, like the popular winterberry or evergreen holly.

When selecting plants to add to your yard, make sure to consult your state or local University Cooperative Extension office, a nearby botanical garden or your local library for books on the native plants in your area in order to select the right plant for the right region.

Reusing, recycling and promoting biodiversity… who would have thought so much could be done in your own front (and back) yard?

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This year, instead of buying that cheap polyester cape or slathering on store-bought blood, make like a true greenie and create those memorable pieces yourself. You’ll save money, resources and score some serious eco-props at your Halloween shindig.

Instructables user shmelfhelp shows you how to make a creative mermaid costume from plastic bags. Photo: Instructables

The Little Mermaid

This pop culture (animated) icon still makes little girls want to get up on rocks and sing their hearts out. So, how to be Ariel with some old junk from around the house? Clean out your cabinet for those leftover plastic bags!

Suggested materials:

• 5 different colored plastic bags
• 5 white bags
• Tissue paper/baking paper (not waxed)
• Iron
• Scissors
• Needle, thread and pins

Clothing: Old bra or bikini top, leggings or other stretch material

How to make it:
Using this great idea from Instructables as your inspiration, gather plastic bags of all colors, from blues to yellows to greens.

For the mermaid tail, cut the plastic bags into scale-like shapes. Fuse the plastic bag scales onto your tail with tissue paper and low heat from an iron. Paired with a bikini top, a red wig and some green leggings, you’ve got a little mermaid costume with a unique twist and some “I did-it-myself” flare!

Twilight Vampire Crew

Twilight and True Blood have made the vampire a new pop culture symbol. Fangs and fake blood are a must for these characters. The recipe for your staples are easy, and clothes from your own closet will add the finishing touch (afterall, vampires just want to blend in with the public, right?).

Suggested materials: Fangs

• White, empty, plastic dishwashing bottle
• Pencil
• Paper or cloth tape measure
• Emery board
• Scissors

How to make it:
Using these directions as a guide, completely wash out an empty white dishwashing soap bottle. Using a measurement of your own teeth, be prepared to draw your desired fang shape onto the plastic bottle, cut it out and file it down.

Suggested materials: Blood

• Water
• Corn syrup
• Red food coloring
• Flour (optional)

How to make it:
To make the blood, use the recipe found here. There are several different types of blood you can make, depending on the consistency desired. (We think the chocolate blood sounds delicious!)

This creative costume uses an umbrella to create a Batman (or Batwoman) style costume. Photo: Flickr/L. Marie

Batman

There’s nothing worse than inverted umbrella thanks to a hurricane-strength gust of wind. But now you can just brush it off because there’s a great Halloween costume to be made from that washed up umbrella. Did someone call for a superhero?

Suggested materials:

• Black umbrella
• Needle and thread, pins,
• Pliers, scissors

Clothing: Black leggings, black T-shirt

How to make it:
The website Evil Mad Scientistlays out step-by-step how to make bat wings and bat ears using an old black umbrella.

See the pictures and instructions for specific details, but basically, you will split the umbrella in half (make sure you have some strong scissors/wire cutters on hand) and fashion the umbrella halves under your arms.

Jacques Cousteau

Be the underwater explorer, researcher and adventurer with a do-it-yourself scuba diver costume. Even though this pattern is suggested for kids, it is an easy upgrade to an adult size.

Suggested materials:

• Two empty 2-liter soda bottles,
• Duct tape
• Clear plastic tubing
• Crafts foam, wired with crafts-foam coral and fish (optional)

Clothing: Tight-fitting shirt, swimming trucks

How to make it:
Use the Parents.com guide for a detailed explanation of crafting this costume. You can make some modifications to make it uber-sleek. We suggest a full-on wet suit look using tight-fitting, black spandex pants and long-sleeved shirt.

Use duct tape to tie the two plastic bottles together as your oxygen tanks. Insert the plastic tubing in one of the bottles to look like your oxygen breathing tube. Attach the bottles to the clothing on your back by using tape, or find a way to make the two liter bottles slip on like a backpack.

It would be a long night if you tried to walk around in actual swimming flippers. Instead, take the advice of Parents.com and fashion some fake slippers out of crafts foam.

Lady Gaga

What pop culture list would be complete without a little Gaga?

Perhaps one of the biggest stars of 2010, Lady Gaga is sure to be one of this year’s most popular costume. But don’t go to the party sporting the same lobster claw mask as your friend from work.

The best thing about Gaga is unexpected uniqueness, and what better way to show that off that adding a personal touch of your own.

In the land of Gaga, anything goes! So throw on a blonde wig and get creative. Photo: Flickr/Michael_Spencer

Take a survey of what you’ve already got and some up with something…well…Gaga.

Suggested materials:

• Aluminum cans
• Bubble wrap
• Polystyrene blocks, foam, peanuts
• Cardboard boxes
• Bobby pins
• Duct tape

Costume ideas:
All those aluminum cans you recycle are about to come in handy. With Gaga’s “Telephone” music video as your guide, do some shameless product placement of your own by wrapping your hair in aluminum cans of your choosing. Try using bobby pins and hairspray to make them stay put.

Outfit-wise, anything outrageous will do. A leftover 1980s-inspried dress from a retro dance party now gathering dust in the closet is a prime candidate. How about some tough-to-recycle Styrofoam blocks sitting in the garage? The blocks could be made into some quirky moon shoes that Gaga would surely wear.

And then there’s a dress made of bubble wrap. Wear some nude colored clothing underneath and wrap the bubble wrap around your body, fashioning it together with clear packing tape. Combined with the cans in your hair, you’re sure to be identified as the provocative pop star quickly. Let’s just try and avoid the meat dress.

Amanda Wills contributed to this article.

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For Reid Schilperoort, co-founder of a startup company called Ecowell, school was exactly the place where his studies and entrepreneurial spirit merged, putting his degree in business from Washington State University to the immediate test.

At Ecowell, reusable water bottles are what help drive business. Refilling into a reusable bottle helps reduce the waste typically associated with water and flavored drinks dispensed from a plastic water bottle. Photo: Ecowell via Facebook

Thanks to a class purposely designed to fuse the ideas of business and engineering students, an innovative, green company was born.

Along with fellow student co-founders Brian Boler and Andy Whitaker, the team pitched their new spin on vending machines to their class, then presented their idea to audiences across the state of Washington, winning a few business competitions along the way.

The idea? A vending kiosk that dispenses hot, cold or carbonated water with your choice of ten 100-percent fruit juice flavors, two sweeteners and four different vitamin supplements.

To help you reduce the calories (if you want) the fruit juice – free of high fructose corn syrup – can be dispensed with your choice of just a hint of flavor, a medium amount of flavor or full flavor.

The kicker? It is all dispensed into your reusable water bottle.

When reusable bottles are inconvenient

Ecowell’s goal is to provide not only cold, filtered water to those who religiously lug their reusable bottle around, but to also break from the mold of the current vending machine models by providing a green alternative to the pre-packaged, already-decided-for-you beverage distributed in a plastic bottle.

Most of us have dealt with the trade-off at some point – bringing your reusable water bottle with you wherever you venture, but dreading having to refill it from the lukewarm water fountain down the hall. You may envy your less eco-conscious co-workers, with no care in the world when they buy that cold $2.50 water bottle from the vending machine.

An Ecowell kiosk dispenses a customizable drink order into a reusable water bottle. Photo: Reid Schilperoort, Ecowell via Facebook

But you stay true. And you may even bring your biggest reusable bottle, filled to the brim with ice in hopes that it will last all day.

Schilperoort and his co-founders want to put a stop to this sacrifice in hydration. Instead, they envision people refilling their bottles from kiosks with filtered water and options for flavoring at an affordable price, all while helping to reduce the amount of plastic water bottle waste.

“When you buy a plastic water bottle, the main thing you are paying for is the plastic packaging, not the water itself,” Schilperoor says. By bringing your own container to the kiosk, the beverage you buy comes at a lower cost.

And to Schilperoort, a degree in business need not conflict with one’s green ideals. In fact, as he highlights, they mesh quite well together.

“It is important to commercialize environmentally friendly products. If we really want to make a change and start cleaning up the environment, [a green product or service] has to be financially feasible,” says Schilperoort. “It is just the way that business and society and the economy work.”

“If a [green product] doesn’t make money and people don’t want to use it, then it is really hard to make large scale change,” he adds.

Moneymaking change

Let’s face it: Sometimes, fighting the good green fight can be daunting. So many problems to choose from, so little time. But for Schilperoort, Ecowell’s impact – even in its nascent stage – is producing tangible results in the reduction of single-use plastic bottle consumption.

“We can say, OK, at our nine kiosks today, we sold 150 drinks. That’s 150 plastic containers that weren’t thrown away.” Schilperoort elaborates. “We are actually making progress in this fight. At the end of the week, we are up to around a 1,000 containers that were not used and thrown away.”

At their very first site, a middle school in Pullman, Wash., Schilperoort estimates saving roughly 10,000 plastic bottles annually.

“Our company is unique in that we provide people with something they like, that is convenient and fun to use, with the added benefit of helping to solve this gigantic problem we have with all of the disposable containers we use in this country,” Schilperoort says.

And thanks to partnerships with a local Pullman, Wash. entrepreneur, as well as a business woman in Lake Tahoe, Nev., Ecowell is planning its expansion in schools, gyms and business parks throughout the United States.

Asked his favorite flavor combination from one of his kiosks and Schilperoort answers like a pro: “Carbonated water with a flavor hint of 40 percent pomegranate blueberry and 60 percent grape.”

Ecowell-Bank of America Building Spokane, WA. from Drink Ecowell on Vimeo.

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