DIY eco culture
Mar. 22nd, 2013 10:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
halifaxearthtechA few days ago I had the fortune to be invited to an exciting project, a secret compost pile in the Halifax rail cut. It seems neigbourhood residents who can't or don't want to compost at home bring their organics here, as well as several landscaping companies who would rather not pay to haul lawn trimmings. Perhaps some of these people live in apartment buildings, which when they are over a certain number of residents are not legally obligated to provide composting services.
A friend who shall remain anonymous checks on the compost at an undisclosed location.
The finished goods, ready to go back to the trees of the railcut.
Neigbourhood regional composting stations provide a necessary service to people who can't compost at home and who want to reap the benefit of nutritious finished soil for their gardens. They also save the gasoline that would be converted to greenhouse gasses shipping organics to city facilities. In an ideal world these could be out in the open, occupying a corner of city land such as in a public park, in attractive well build and rodent resistent boxes. It's a tough call to say whether these piles should be more vermin proof or not. Doubtless if someone built a couple of nice boxes in the railcut the clandestine nature of the pile would be removed and all manner of fits would be thrown to have them removed. I hope more discussion on central community composting can be started.
On my way home I also saw my first evidence of urban maple tapping. Maybe two years ago, buckets and spiles showed up beneath maples on Allan street. The CBC tried to find out who was tapping but never got answers. If you know who the tappers were, I'll ask you to keep mum about it here as well because it remains illegal to do any urban food production in the city, including tapping the city's trees.
I'm not sure I would use a paint-thinner can though. I hope they washed it very thoroughly.
A friend who shall remain anonymous checks on the compost at an undisclosed location.
The finished goods, ready to go back to the trees of the railcut.
Neigbourhood regional composting stations provide a necessary service to people who can't compost at home and who want to reap the benefit of nutritious finished soil for their gardens. They also save the gasoline that would be converted to greenhouse gasses shipping organics to city facilities. In an ideal world these could be out in the open, occupying a corner of city land such as in a public park, in attractive well build and rodent resistent boxes. It's a tough call to say whether these piles should be more vermin proof or not. Doubtless if someone built a couple of nice boxes in the railcut the clandestine nature of the pile would be removed and all manner of fits would be thrown to have them removed. I hope more discussion on central community composting can be started.
On my way home I also saw my first evidence of urban maple tapping. Maybe two years ago, buckets and spiles showed up beneath maples on Allan street. The CBC tried to find out who was tapping but never got answers. If you know who the tappers were, I'll ask you to keep mum about it here as well because it remains illegal to do any urban food production in the city, including tapping the city's trees.
I'm not sure I would use a paint-thinner can though. I hope they washed it very thoroughly.
no subject
Date: 2013-03-23 06:14 am (UTC)Who said it's illegal to tap trees in the city?
Date: 2013-04-08 02:21 pm (UTC)Re: Who said it's illegal to tap trees in the city?
Date: 2013-04-09 09:56 pm (UTC)Urban agriculture bylaws are vaguely worded in Halifax and are very much up to interpretation. It is legal to have gardens.
The problem areas are related to keeping certain animals
and zoning for agricultural land and selling produce. I'll have to track down the bylaw numbers.
I heard that it was illegal to tap trees from the EAC as it's an agricultural activity.
That said, if you are tapping your own trees, you will likely get away with it (trees that are planted between the sidewalk and the road belong to the city). bylaw enforcement is complaints-driven and the city is unlikely to enforce a bylaw unless a neigbour complains to them about the violation. Lesson learned, keepy your neigbours happy until we revise these outdated and senseless bylaws! Account for controling vermin, keep aesthetics in mind and donate the odd egg and zucchini!
Incidentally, bylaw 16.1 a,b, and c says it's not allowed to take items off the curb unless it's a specified curbside pickup day. No dumpstering or can collecting!
It seems to not be legal to compost on your own land vis. S600.10.k Collectible waste shall not be stored on eligible premises for a period of more than fourteen (14) days.". This is counterindicated by the RRFB pamphlet instructing residents on home composting, and I believe black plastic composters are being subsidized as well. I contacted my councilor about this one but haven't heard back.