Why Compost?

In terms of the soil ecosystem, intensive cultivation practices used to produce mass quantities of food and fiber have (in many cases) left soils depleted of organic matter and vital nutrients, thus making them less naturally productive and more vulnerable to erosion. After humans consume the commodities, by-products of their decomposition often are not returned to the soil. Instead, they become part of the voluminous wastestreams which modern societies are having difficulty handling.

The composting of organic materials can help remedy this situation by capturing the energy and matter released in the decomposition process. Composting transforms organic "waste" products into a nutrient-rich soil amendment capable of improving depleted or disturbed soil environments. By the intentional act of composting, humans participate in what has been called nature’s "Law of Return" because a vital link is established for the return of organic matter to soil systems. By including composting in human-devised waste management systems, they become more reflective of natural patterns, and more sustainable in the long run. The organic matter resource is conserved, and problematic wastes are converted into a beneficial product that can be sold to help finance the composting operations.