Transformation

If you've somehow found yourself here at this blog, you may wonder what it's all about. It started out in 2013 as a personal blog documenting observations made while composting ("Sisterhood of the Traveling Worms") but then morphed into a visual history of Sunny Compost, a community composting site in Queens. From 2012 to 2020, a group of community members joined together to collect food scraps from neighbors and process it for use in the garden where the compost site is located or in neighborhood trees and other local spaces. 

The blog documented some of those efforts which included many community workshops about composting. We took photos and videos of our efforts. It's a real tribute to the people who helped out and made the compost happen. Prior to 2012, food scraps were being collected here as well and the site wouldn't have existed without those true compost heroes.

In 2020, the site transformed again in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read all about the new beginnings, name change and community advocacy taking place at https://www.woodsidesunnysidecomposting.org.  Learn about the Rusty Wheelbarrow Farm, find links to all social media sites, and of course, click on the volunteer link.

Can't wait to see what's next with WSC.

Composting in the age of Social Distancing

SunnyCompost is adjusting to the age of COVID-19. As the state went into lockdown mode, we closed. Because some people continued to drop off bags of food scraps, our volunteers processed them to prevent the attraction of pests. 

This week, with the news of NYC suspending its residential compost collection until June 2021, we decided to "reopen" officially but with precautions and strict guidelines.

• The gates of the community composting area are closed, but the bin is out to collect food scraps on Sundays between 2 and 5.  We ask that you leave no scraps at any other time.
• Wear gloves and a mask/scarf over your nose and mouth when you drop off your scraps. Protect yourself and others around you. People can carry Covid19 and not know about it!
• When opening the bin and emptying your container or bag,  take your empty container back with you, and if disposable, discard in your home's garbage receptacle. The gate will remain closed so you won’t be able to rinse out your containers in the garden.
• We put in place 4 tape markings on the sidewalk for people to respect the physical distancing 6 feet (or 2 meters). 

On Sunday April 26th, we received about 3 times our usual amount of drop-offs, which after processing totals approximately 50 gallons of food scraps that were diverted from the landfill and will not produce Methane, Nitrous Oxide (greenhouse gases more potent than CO2), less CO2, less to none H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide), and less volatile organic compound emissions.

We also sifted finished compost to produce 35 gallons of black gold!

We appreciate your support in helping us stay safe and continue to divert your food scraps to produce amazing compost. Together, we can do this.

Stay safe!

Sifting in the new year!

Our amazing volunteers recently repaired this roto-sifter, adding legs and firming up the handle and all parts. Check out the video of the refurbished sifter in action.  It's a great tricep workout for sure and quite efficient - we sifted nearly all of the contents of the black unit seen here in 30 minutes or less.

The Joy of Composting

Sunny Compost Compost Put to Good Use!

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This past weekend, Sunny Compost donated about 140 gallons of compost to Big Reuse 

for use with a street tree care project in Sunnyside with PermiasNYC, the Indonesian Student Association.

We are so happy to work with our compost friends in our community.

Fall/Winter Hours Begin 11/3/19

Beginning on Sunday, November 3, 2019 drop-off hours for SunnyCompost are from 

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Photos from Open House June 2019

Thanks to everyone who joined us and especially to
all of our sifters! We sifted an entire bin full of finished compost!