Visiting the Brooklyn College Community Garden this fall was a wonderful experience. The space was alive with color and life, from marigolds in bloom to clusters of ripening tomatoes and small eggplants swaying gently in the breeze. After a night of rain, the scent of damp soil and green leaves filled the air, giving the garden a feeling of calm and renewal. Walking through the paths, I was reminded of how much time, dedication, and love go into maintaining a space like this.
I met with the Big Reuse composting team and Yarnelle, the Brooklyn College Community Garden coordinator, whose energy and love for the space was immediately clear. Since stepping into her role in 2023, she has focused on bringing new life to the garden, which had been closed for a time before the pandemic. “When I started, the weeds were taller than I was,” she said with a laugh. “We really had to rebuild, reintroduce the garden to the community, and remind people that it’s here for everyone.” Now the garden is buzzing again with student gatherings, workshops, and neighborhood visits. Yarnelle’s face lit up when she spoke about the newest addition — the compost bins installed by Big Reuse. “This is like Christmas,” she said, watching the team finish their work. “Our old wooden bins were falling apart, and we haven’t been able to compost properly for almost a year. These new ones are going to change everything.”
The bins, made of aluminum, are designed for durability and long-term use. Their structure helps prevent pests while allowing air to circulate through the compost. Beneath each one, gravel and pavers create a sturdy base that supports the system through every season. This simple yet thoughtful design makes composting cleaner, more efficient, and easier to maintain. As I took photos of the installation, I could see the teamwork and care behind every step. The Big Reuse team carefully leveled the ground, arranged the pavers, and positioned the frames so the bins would sit evenly. Each movement showed how much intention goes into creating something that not only functions well but also brings people together.
Nathalie Huang, part of the Big Reuse compost team who helped with the installation, reflected on the deeper meaning behind composting. “Composting was the missing component of my life,” she said. “It’s a natural way of turning something that was once alive into something that can sustain life again.” As an alum of Brooklyn College, she expressed pride in seeing her school prioritize environmental action. “I never imagined sustainability on campus could grow to this level, but it’s amazing to see it happening.”
Joshua Seow, Big Reuse Project Coordinator, said his favorite part of the job is “seeing how excited garden members get when they realize what these systems can do.” The new bins, he explained, are designed to make composting more accessible and welcoming for everyone on campus.
Colin Burns, another member of the Big Reuse composting team, shared how the design encourages learning. “Each system can hold up to 800 pounds of food scraps,” he said. “It’s not just about the compost itself, it’s about the process. Students can actually open sections and see how the layers change as it breaks down. It’s hands-on education.” Colin added that composting fosters connection. “You meet people, you talk, you share stories while you work. It’s a way to care for the environment and for each other.”
The compost system at Brooklyn College, made possible through NYC City Council’s funding for community composting in FY26 and installed by Big Reuse, will serve as a living classroom for students across disciplines, from biology to environmental studies. Its thoughtful design allows students to observe, measure, and understand how food scraps transform into nutrient-rich soil that supports the next season’s growth. Through projects like this, Big Reuse continues to show how composting can go beyond waste reduction, turning learning spaces into opportunities for connection, sustainability, and care. The new bins do more than make composting possible again; they make it visible, interactive, and inspiring.
Blog Post written by NYSERDA Fellow Tatiana Guerra