We are thrilled to share some exciting news about the success of our compost program at The Ahwatukee Community Garden! Thanks to the incredible efforts of our community, we have made significant strides in sustainability and plant nourishment.

Over 2000 Pounds of Food Scraps Saved

We are proud to report that our compost program has successfully diverted over 2000 pounds of food scraps from the landfill. This remarkable achievement underscores our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable gardening practices.

Rich Compost for Our Garden

This past weekend, our dedicated volunteers sifted out another 12 five-gallon buckets full of rich, nutrient-dense compost. This batch of compost, processed entirely onsite at The Ahwatukee Community Garden, is providing essential nourishment for our plants, enhancing their growth and health.

Continuous Contributions from Worm Bins

In addition to our compost efforts, we maintain several worm bins that are continuously fed with food scraps provided by our community. The vermicompost produced by these bins is another vital component contributing to the flourishing state of our garden.

A Flourishing Garden

Thanks to the combined efforts of our compost program and worm bins, our garden is thriving like never before. The rich compost and vermicompost are boosting plant health and productivity, making our garden a vibrant, green oasis for all to enjoy.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed food scraps, volunteered their time, and supported our compost program. Together, we are making a significant positive impact on our environment and our community garden.

Thank you for being a part of this green initiative!
Community Harvest Community Gardens

🌱✨ Grant Update: Transforming Waste into Impact! 🌍♻️

We are thrilled to share the progress of our Compost Program, made possible through the generous support of our grant and in partnership with Community Harvest Community Gardens, The Orchard Learning Center and Ahwatukee Community Garden. Here's a snapshot of the positive impact we've achieved together:

🍽️ 102 Meals Made
🌱 242 lbs of Food Scraps Saved from Landfills
♻️ 80 lbs of Compost Created
🥦 64 lbs of Produce Grown
🌬️ 629 lbs of Carbon Dioxide Avoided

These incredible results highlight the tangible difference we are making in our community and the environment. The collaboration with Community Harvest Community Gardens, The Orchard Learning Center and Ahwatukee Community Garden has allowed us to not only divert food waste from landfills but also create a cycle of sustainability that benefits us all.

Thank you for believing in our vision and contributing to the success of this initiative. We look forward to continuing this journey together and expanding our positive impact even further.

What an incredible Sunday we had at the garden! 😄🌿 Over 50 guests roamed through our lush oasis, exploring the orchard, the main garden, engaging in workshops, and delighting in the children's garden. It was truly a fantastic day, filled with greenery, learning, and camaraderie! 🌱🌞

A massive shoutout to Harrison, our new volunteer who dove right in by turning those food scraps into gold in our compost pile. 🌾♻️ We're bringing a wheelbarrow of grass and wood chips next week to enrich the mix – our compost program is officially up and running, and we're well on our way to having our own black gold factory! 🏭💰

Our collaboration with The Orchard Learning Center and Let's Go Compost is turning our future into a river of black gold. Speaking of Let's Go Compost, kudos to Lauren Click for her amazing workshop that got people excited about composting and reducing landfill waste! We've already distributed over 20 buckets, and there are more to come. Don't forget to ask your local bakeries for their food-grade buckets to keep our program thriving! ♻️🌎

If you haven't already, check out our buzzing day on Instagram @ahwcomgarden

Our compost project has reached a significant milestone as we recently sifted out the first 10 wheelbarrows full of nutrient-rich "black gold" from our compost pit. This remarkable achievement marks a pivotal step in our mission to promote sustainability and reduce food waste in our community.

In our ongoing efforts, we've started distributing food-grade buckets to local residents, encouraging them to collect their veganic food scraps for our compost pit. Anything we can't process on-site is now being transported to The Orchard Learning Center Compost for further processing, and in return, they are providing us with fresh compost to nourish our garden spaces. This collaborative partnership exemplifies a win-win situation, both in terms of environmental education and providing the organic materials needed for our gardens to thrive.

This weekend, we are taking our commitment to community education a step further by organizing a workshop in collaboration with Let's Go Compost, a nonprofit organization dedicated to composting education. During this event, we'll distribute more food-grade buckets to empower even more individuals to contribute to our composting initiative.

Moreover, the people who received buckets last week are actively participating in our project by returning their full buckets and swapping them out for new ones, ensuring a continuous cycle of composting success. This grassroots effort demonstrates our dedication to creating a more sustainable and environmentally conscious community, one bucket of food scraps at a time.

The compost pile is starting to cook! The team turned the compost and combined two piles into one. The open-air system with a drip irrigation line to keep it moist is working well in this dry heat.

Action Plan:

Timeline:

The project will kick-off with our first planning team meeting held on Sunday, July 23, 2023. Subsequently, weekly team meetings will take place every Sunday, starting from Sunday, July 30. 

Phase One: Involving compost pile building, will commence immediately after the first meeting. Phase Two: will begin with a workshop for the community to learn about "Composting 101" and pick up their starter kits on September 17.

Budget: The seed funding will be allocated as follows:

• 
  Phase One:
  
  
  • Materials for compost pile building 
  
  
  
  


• 
  Phase Two:
  
  
  
  • Starter kits for food scrap collection in homes
  
  
  • Workshop expenses for "Composting 101"
  
  
  • Transportation and logistics for compost processing partnership with The Orchard Learning Center
  
  
  
  

Impact: The community will benefit from this project in several ways. The Ahwatukee Community Garden will experience improved soil fertility and increased plant growth due to the enriched compost generated. With the involvement of kid leaders from Youth by Youth, the project aims to foster a sense of environmental responsibility among young individuals. Moreover, the community will witness a significant reduction in food waste, leading to a positive environmental impact. The measurable goal is to involve at least 100 households in food scrap recycling, resulting in a 50% decrease in overall food waste within six months. Additionally, the project aims to spread knowledge about sustainable practices and promote interest in composting and recycling within the community, further reinforced by the play "SeedFolks" performed by Youth by Youth at the community garden setting.

Location: The project will take place at the Ahwatukee Community Garden, located at 4700 E Warner Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044. The necessary permissions and permits have been secured for conducting the activities within the garden premises.

Involvement of Kid Leaders:

Kid leaders from Youth by Youth are actively participating in the project:

• They are part of the planning team, contributing their ideas and insights to the project's development.


• As part of Youth by Youth's predictions, they will also be performing the play "SeedFolks" at the community garden, raising awareness about sustainable practices and the importance of community involvement.


• They will assist in conducting workshops and educational sessions, including "Composting 101" for the community.

Involvement of Kids in the Project:

Kids will be actively involved throughout the project's execution:

• During phase one, kids will participate in building the compost piles at the community garden under proper supervision and guidance.


• In phase two, kids will play a key role in distributing the starter kits to households during the "Composting 101" workshop.


• They will also be actively engaged in promoting composting and recycling practices during the play "SeedFolks" performed by Youth by Youth.

Overall, the project aims to empower kids to become environmental stewards and actively contribute to making their community a more sustainable and eco-friendly place.