Spring has Sprung! Flowers are blooming, trees are budding, and compost piles are getting steamy! This month and next, our Curbside Composting Outreach Team is partnering with New York Restoration Project’s Tree Giveaways to give away 1-lb compost bags and 1-gallon countertop kitchen scrap containers at five of their Queens events. If you want to take care of the tree you get at these giveaways, make sure you take one of our 1-lb compost bags home with you!
Check out when these giveaways are happening:
- Sunday, April 16, 2 pm - 4 pm at Discovery Community Garden. 108-56 Union Hall St., Jamaica, NY
- Sunday, April 16, 10 am - 12 pm at Travers Park, 76-9 34th Ave, Queens, NY
- Saturday, April 22, 2 pm - 4 pm at Queens Botanical Garden, 42-80 Crommelin St., Queens, NY
- Wednesday, April 29, 10 am - 12 pm by RISE and Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers at 58-03 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Queens, NY
- Sunday, May 7, 10 am - 12 pm at P256Q St. John’s Residence for Boys, 150 Beach 110th St., Queens, NY
The spring season is ever-transient due to climate change; by the time you’re reading this, you’re probably already sweating in the 80 degree heat, in April. If you want to reclaim spring and do more than just make compost not trash, consider also using some of that locally sourced compost on your favorite tree bed to help take care of the city’s street trees!
Applying compost to tree beds and rejuvenating their soil is an important way to fight climate change. Spongy, porous compost increases the volume of water that soil can retain. This reduces the runoff from flooding that is becoming more frequent due to the polarizing climate on the east coast. Additionally, healthy trees with the aid of nutrition from compost can provide clean air for New Yorkers. It’s also a better option than pesticides and liquid fertilizers packed with chemicals. Collecting your food scraps and yard waste and setting them out each week creates compost that can be used for community greening projects like these.
To check for larger 40-lb compost giveaways or ways to request compost, visit nyc.gov/getcompost.