Homeslice Compost
Students and community will be working together to understand the physical impact of waste and to explore the option of waste reduction created by composting. From compost to growing, to food. Full Circle.
Leader
MHS Homeslice Youth Program MHS Homeslice Youth Program
Location
3750 18th St. San Francisco, CA 94114
About the project
About 40% of the food in the US goes to landfills and to waste. Much of this is not processed into compost. A big part of the earth's soil is being polluted and eroded due to unsustainable agriculture practices. We want to create a small but powerful alternative and serve as an example that there are different ways. A team of youth will begin a composting and research program at school. From food waste to food again.
The Steps
1. Identify partners and places to get organic food matter
2. Map out those places
3. Contact people interested in participating and supporting
4. Get materials
5. Build composting station
6. Do a month trial and get a compost ready
7. Invite community for workshops
8. Grow food with that compost
9. Make a dish at our pop up market with the food that we grow and hand it out.
10. (Documentation throughout the whole process)
Why we‘re doing it
By composting, you can also help to reduce the amount of waste that is being directed into our landfills. This means a reduction of concentrated, toxic leachates and methane gas that is being released into the atmosphere, which equates to a decrease in overall pollution. Composting also cuts down on the usage of chemical fertilizers, which are harmful to our water supply.
We have a youth-led urban agriculture and food justice afterschool program where we learn about our food systems and all the ways in which it is oppressive to people and our environment. We do not have a full composting site or anything sustainable set up yet, this is an opportunity to build that and involve the community in the process. This project addresses environmental challenges and encourages community building.