We're here to get Alexandria Composting. Interested in composting food waste? Our City has outstanding Resource Recovery Stations at 4 Farmer's Markets
Compost Alex!!! The unofficial community rally for Alexandria to better handle food waste. Don't burn it, compost it. Every compost participant is diverting their bit of food waste from the incinerator process to a compost soil production initiative. Together we are recovering the natural energy stored in food and using that resource to grow more food, trees, gardens, parks, and plants. Visit one
Compost Alex!!! The unofficial community rally for Alexandria to better handle food waste. Don't burn it, compost it. Every compost participant is diverting their bit of food waste from the incinerator process to a compost soil production initiative. Together we are recovering the natural energy stored in food and using that resource to grow more food, trees, gardens, parks, and plants. Visit one
Operating as usual
Share: How to Keep the Environment in Mind While You Stay Home
Spending our days stripped of normal routines can offer us a moment to rethink how we find meaning, and whether it's time for a reset. ...
Oh, have you heard, from our local The Zebra Press - GOOD News in Alexandria, VA!
After many months, Alexandria is collecting food waste for composting at Farmers' Marketsthat begins August 1.. Wear a mask!
Hey Composters!
From our T&ES friends who run Alexandria's composting program, read on...
We've seen a few questions out there about food compost drop off with the farmers' markets starting to open. TES is not yet ready for food compost drop off at the markets -- we appreciate your patience.
Two weeks ago in the midst of Food Recovery Week, The Council of the District of Columbia (DC's own City Council) introduced a pretty cool #composting bill. Here's a brief 3 minute story about it and other sustainability efforts the District is taking.
DC Food Recovery Working Group, Sierra Club DC Chapter, any comments about this?
#NoWastedFoodDC
Happy #Eating. Happy Composting.
https://wamu.org/story/19/10/23/new-d-c-bill-would-require-businesses-to-compost-food-scraps/
D.C. is a leader on many environmental issues, but lags behind other cities on recycling.
Following up on your pumpkins, when they get #composted, you are also diverting gallons of water from the going to the trash stream. A Compost Alex member brought that to our attention when they shared this CityLab pumpkin smashing story with us:
https://www.citylab.com/life/2019/11/halloween-pumpkin-compost-community-donations-food-waste/601372/
Just about an hour left to get your #pumpkin composted this weekend in Alexandria. Head over to Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market or West End Farmers Market and get it done!
Have a great composting weekend!
The environmental case for smashing pumpkins.
'Tis the season to find pumpkins, carve them up, and display them along with other garden gourds! If they're edible, we say eat them...#RoastedPumpkinSeeds are delicious and can be made at home, not just bought to go with your workday salad.
When the pumpkin is done, or rather when the squirrels are done with your pumpkins, be sure to #compost the scraps!
Happy #Eating. Happy #Composting.
The City's farmers market compost program turns 6 this weekend 😁 That's a lot of time and a lot of #foodscraps being #composted. It's a good thing to celebrate!
Do you remember what you did when you turned 6? Maybe you were like this little guy squealing out the car window with excitement on the way to a #farmersmarket.
Enjoy the four markets this weekend.
Old Town Farmers' Market, Alexandria, VA, Del Ray Farmers' Market, West End Farmers Market, and Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market with Transportation & Environmental Services, City of Alexandria, Virginia
Our #TechnicalTuesday - Food Policy Style!
Thanks to a partnership with The Food Law and Policy Clinic of Harvard Law School and the DC Food Recovery Working Group, the DC food recovery legal guide has been updated and expanded in time for Food Recovery Week:
https://dcfoodrecovery.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/food-recovery_d.c._2019.pdf
#Policymakers, businesses, emergency food service providers, #farmers, and community members interested in a detailed look at the laws, policies, and incentives that are continuing to evolve to reduce food waste will find this informative guide helpful.
First published in 2017, this 2019 guide reflects changes to law in the District of Columbia since the expansive D.C. Save Good Food Amendment Act was passed last year.
The guide provides answers to key questions on who is covered by the law, tax incentives for food donations, liability protections for donations, date labels, food safety, and food recovery in K-12 schools.
The new guide also includes a high-level overview of major laws and policies in neighboring Maryland and Virginia.
#FoodWaste, better yet #ReduceFoodWaste and #NoWastedFoodDC!
In a few hours, Compost Alex will be at Patagonia Store Washington, DC for the DC Food Recovery Working Group Expo! Excited to see you there!
We can't wait to see you all TONIGHT at DC's First Food Recovery Expo! Come mingle with the orgs in DC working to keep good food from going to waste! 7 pm @patagonia Georgetown. Recovered snacks & drinks too! #NoWastedFoodDC
In two nights, join Compost Alex at Patagonia Store Washington, DC for DC Food Recovery Working Group Expo! We're bringing 12 food and composting related organizations together & showcasing how #food is #NotBeingWasted in our region. Come check out DC Food Project, Food Rescue US - Washington D.C., Together We Bake, Food Recovery Network, ANXO Cidery & Pintxos Bar, SuperFd, Eatortoss and more. This is for sure a #NoWastedFoodDC happy hour fun time. See you Thursday, 7 PM 😘
Thanks DC Food Recovery Working Group for having such a wonderful Food Recovery Week!
Happening this week Wednesday! Part of Food Recovery Week with over 10 regional events spread throughout DC and Montgomery County.
- DC Food Recovery Working Group events:
- Manna Food Center (Montgomery County) events: https://mocofoodrescueweek.org/
Happy #Eating, happy #Composting! And happy #NoWastedFoodDC!
A class to help you evaluate food you're not so sure about
Don't be scared, the #marketsareon! for Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market and West End Farmers Market. Over at Four Mile, the market is inside and cozy. And their donation #YogaClass just finished. Have a good end to your weekend and get your compost dropped off!
😉 Less food waste and more food saving for eating! Check it out at Fairlington Farmers Market
Food Waste Reduction Tips and Activities at the Fairlington Farmers Market
Location: Fairlington Farmers Market, 3308 S Stafford St, Arlington, VA 22206
Date: Sunday, October 20
Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Visit the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Food Volunteers table to learn ways to reduce food waste and encourage cooking at home by providing cooking and food storage tips, recipes, and nutrition activities for kids. Bring your food scraps as they collect food scraps every Sunday at their market! Or swing by the market tent to learn more!
After today, only 3 more Sundays until the West End Farmers Market closes. With that, you'll have to drop off your #foodscraps at one of the other three farmers markets: Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market, Del Ray Farmers' Market, and Old Town Farmers' Market, Alexandria, VA.
Remember, only #vegetarian food scraps & egg shells get collected by Transportation & Environmental Services, City of Alexandria, Virginia.
Happy #Eating. Happy #Composting
It's been hot hot hot! If you accidently leave your food scrap container outside, have you ever see these guys things around? They're called black soldier flies. They do not bite or sting humans, but they are really good for composting. They love and help the compost process. The other day, the Four Mile Run Conservatory, the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market manager, and some compost Alex members took a few pictures and looked up what they do in the ecosystem. Here's info that inaturslist knows about black soldier flies: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/82177-Hermetia-illucens?locale=en-US
#ICYMI
Happy composting. Stay cool, and keep your #conpost cool too.
Hey wonderful Alexandrian friends! Right now RCPA is "Calling All Photographers" for their annual photo contest. In general, you can submit some really great activity photos taken while in an Alexandria Park, and then on November 1, the photo voting beings. Hope to see some photos with people sending their #foodwaste to #composting. The real details are here
https://www.alexandriava.gov/recreation/info/default.aspx?id=111298
Happy October!
We all like to enjoy our tea. Traditional tea bags, their string, and their staple are all fine to go with your food scraps in Transportation & Environmental Services, City of Alexandria, Virginia compost collection program at the farmers markets.
But recently there's been a concerning study about the nylon style tea bags, as the article from USA Today shares.
Anyway nylon and plastic tea bags aren't good for composting because nylon doesn't break down in the #compost process. So if you use the nylon bags, it's better to throw them in the trash rather than contaminate all the good food scraps that become nutrients in garden and farm soils. #Whoknew that what we buy for food could impact future soil nutrients availability?
Happy Eating. Happy Composting.
USA TODAY: Some tea bags release billions of tiny plastic particles when steeping, study says.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2019/09/28/microplastics-some-tea-bags-release-plastic-particles-study-says/3804859002/
The tea bags studied, often used for premium teas, were found to release microscopic plastic particles at high levels.
Today is the last day of the season to talk with Virginia Cooperative Extension - Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia at Old Town Farmers' Market, Alexandria, VA. Come see them before they're gone!
Happy composting. Happy planting!
About this time next Friday, Compost Alex will be joining others at the DC Food Recovery Working Group meeting. This coming meeting's agenda will be about our regions Food Recovery Week line of events. Starts at 3PM on Friday, Sept. 4th.
And what is #foodrecovery? Simply it's getting edible food to the people that will eat it, as opposed to that food going straight to trash. And if the food won't be eaten, then why not #compost it? That's the topic of food recovery. So come join the meeting if you're available. Conference call-in is welcomed too.
https://dcfoodrecovery.wordpress.com/dc-food-recovery-week-2/
October 19-26, 2019 #NoWastedFoodDC We are excited to announce an awesome schedule of events for the 4th annual DC Food Recovery Week! Each fall, the DC Food Recovery Working Group organizes events…
Hey #composting friends. Tomorrow's starts another compost weekend in Alexandria! Plan for the 17th Annual Alexandria King Street Art Festival though, because even though the Old Town Farmers' Market, Alexandria, VA is on as normal, there will be a lot of tourist around. Take note, King street in front of City hall will be closed to car traffic, only walkers, runners, and bikers on that street for the weekend.
If you can't make it to the Old Town Market, consider heading Del Ray Farmers' Market, West End Farmers Market, or the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market to drop off your food scraps and get them composted through your buddies at Transportation & Environmental Services, City of Alexandria, Virginia
Happy Weekend. Happy Composting.😘
Webinar announcement about #sequestrating #carbon: does applied garden ready compost do that? (And what does #compost “sequestering carbon” even mean? Compost Alex thinks it means that garden ready compost naturally takes carbon from the air and locks it in the ground as a bio-ready fuel source for plants.) Well, lets hear what soil scientist Dr. Sally Brown of the University of Washington has to say. This Tuesday’s webinar is at 2 PM. If you’re into the #soil and #science side of composting, listen in and ask questions! And thanks Institute for Local Self-Reliance for hosting the webinar.
https://ilsr.org/webinar-ecosystem-benefits-september-2019/?fbclid=IwAR1-KgOd1kxCoUhoXPRIHt4brFG7IUHb3FTxbaUGh9kaAx7z9VTT_FC16Fc
Join us to hear Dr. Sally Brown of the University of Washington discuss how compost avoids methane emissions and sequesters carbon in soil. … Read More
Mangoes are good and delicious during these hot summer days! Yet we tend not to eat the mango skins, so they're #foodscraps.
Only a half hour left to get your post 4th of July food scraps composted with Transportation & Environmental Services, City of Alexandria, Virginias Resource Recovery Stations. Head on over to Old Town Farmers' Market, Alexandria, VA or Del Ray Farmers' Market now. If you miss them, rest assured that you can #compost food scraps tomorrow at Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market and West End Farmers Market.
Happy composting. Happy 4th of July weekend in wonderful Alexandria 😘
If you're just getting started this morning, know that Transportation & Environmental Services, City of Alexandria, Virginia composting service at Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market is unmanned. The green compost carts are still there like the picture shows, and spatula's too to help empty out your kitchen compost bucket, yet no staff is on hand to discuss composting and other City recycling things. Over at the West End Farmers Market though, the City does have a staff person able to discuss #composting and #recycling in Alexandria. Go get what you need #done!
Happy Sunday-ing. Happy Composting. 😘
Hey keep the compost news in mind, Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market compost area won't have staff. If you're seeking to talk directly with someone about the Transportation & Environmental Services, City of Alexandria, Virginia #composting services, head over to West End Farmers Market!
Happy Composting this Sunday!
How into the food world are you? One part of it is called Food Recovery, and that deals with good, uneaten food that can be provided to another person. We’ll dive into more details another time, but for now, we want to share that the DC Food Recovery Working Group is having an open meeting this Friday, 3 - 5 PM. People that attend come from all sectors of society, be it private, public/government, non-profit, and even household and neighborhood individuals. How we handle food in our society ties into many people’s work life, possibly yours too, and that’s why so many people can be involved with #foodrecovery. If you’re free on Friday and in DC, consider attending.
Address: DPR Central Office in the 2nd floor main conference room - 1250 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009 (across from Ben's Chili bowl near U-Street Metro).
Happy #Eating. See you around with Food Recovery and #Composting.
Market Square, 301 King St
Alexandria, VA
22314
| Saturday | 8am - 12pm |
| Sunday | 9am - 1pm |
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