Brian Minter: Science World has taken a unique approach to composting

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We are about to experience an early avalanche of dropping leaves, dead twigs and tired foliage in both our ornamental and food gardens as they finish their growing cycle. So, what are you going to do with all of this organic matter?

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City and municipal pick ups, although somewhat convenient, are really not the best way to go. Home composting is a far better option for this type of material, which we can use to improve our soils.

Surprisingly, Science World in downtown Vancouver has become a new leader in composting. I received a phone call from Larissa Dundon, the public relations manager, who is very proud of their response to the exacting protocols put in place around the False Creek area to control the spread of the invasive Japanese beetle. Everyone in this part of the city, including Science World and other businesses, have been under strict regulations for over a year due to the discovery of this beetle. The removal of soil or garden waste beyond the perimeter of this defined area is prohibited.

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Dundon pointed out that, through science and nature, Science World ignites wonder, inspires curiosity and empowers dreams. It also embodies education, sustainability and recycling. Doing something environmentally sound to motivate and educate others was very important.

To help manage this issue, a special site was opened during certain hours at one location in Vancouver for the safe disposal of any landscape materials from this area. This disposal service is very expensive due to the nature of the material and the possibility that it contains Japanese beetles in the various stages of their life cycle. To cope with this situation, the folks at Science World took an innovative approach.

Dana Turner, the Nature and Sustainability Program Manager at Science World, is in charge of overseeing their compost strategy. On their 35,000 square foot site, they have approximately 60 large tree specimens and about 75 to 100 additional plants, including fruit trees. They also have gardens full of edibles that they use for teaching purposes. They donate their produce to the Downtown East Side’s soup kitchens, like Potluck which provides free meals to many local residents.

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Science World has to deal with a fair amount of landscape waste.  Turner pointed out that they are a teaching facility, and they need to show leadership in waste disposal. Their solution was to create a three-box compost system and to use it as part of their teaching program.

The design they use was suggested by The Cultivated Gardeners, a company that is contracted to maintain their grounds. Essentially, three bins, each measuring about three feet by three feet by three feet, were created using leftover recycled wood from movie sets and Ikea shelving. They wrapped them with poultry wire, both to contain the materials and to allow good air flow. The bins were hinged together and topped with lids to control moisture levels.

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Lisa Atkins, along with her team from The Cultivated Gardeners, filled the bins with leaves, twigs, weeds, landscape trimmings and food garden waste collected from around Science World. She says the weekly flipping of this composting material was the secret to their success. According to Atkins, as long as the bins had some moisture, the excessive heat we experienced this summer was instrumental in quickly helping break down this organic matter.

Depending on the composting system and the items to be composted, it can take three to six months, or even longer, for organic items to be broken down. Turner said that during the intense heat, by adding moisture and flipping the material between the three bins, some material was broken down in just three to four weeks.

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During cooler times, this process will, of course, take longer, but Turner is adamant that their method is an excellent teaching opportunity. Science World is showing that both homeowners and small businesses can benefit and save money on waste disposal by creating their own landscape and home waste programs.

The property on which Science World was built has very poor soil. By adding this composted organic matter back into their soil, they are improving the quality of their land.

Science World has, since its inception, been an amazing learning resource. I love the fact that they have created garden beds and are now teaching young folks how to grow food. When Japanese beetles, an invasive species, created a serious quarantine situation, they stepped up and played a leadership role in dealing responsibly with this issue by confining any possibly infected soil or plant material to their site.