News Release Archive
YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS--COMPOSTERS TAKING OVER! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Four young people in Queens County are doing their part to help the environment by building and giving away wooden composters. Members of the North Queens Evergreens Environmental Society have created summer jobs for themselves by doing something they love --- composting. Back to Earth II is the second phase of a project that began two years ago in partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of the Environment's Youth Environmental Challenge Program. This year the students are not just telling people about composting, they are actually helping them do it. At the beginning of June, Heather Jorissen-Small, Jonathan Sheppard, Jennifer Eaton, and Neil Conway established a base camp in Caledonia. Since then, these enthusiastic environmentalists have been busy sawing, hammering, and putting the finishing touches on 50 wooden composters. "The crates are the ideal system for backyard composting in our community. They are large enough to benefit families who do a lot of gardening and easy enough for inexperienced composters to use," said Jonathan about the style of the boxes. The students spent most of July delivering boxes to local families interested in learning about composting. During August the team is re-visiting the composters and their host families to check that things are running smoothly. The group is also planning a litter clean-up of the marshland around Mary Lake, near their headquarters. According to Heather, "the area surrounding Mary Lake is a prominent site in Caledonia and is essential as a wildlife habitat. Over the years it has fallen victim to careless littering and we are trying to do something about that." The group has had an overwhelming response from families wanting composters. All of the 50 boxes have been given away but anyone who would like instructions for building their own box or information on composting can drop by the centre or phone 902-682-2734. The project is partly funded by the Nova Scotia Youth Conservation Corps through the Youth Environmental Challenge program, Action 21, Municipality of Queens County, Environment Canada, Shell Environmental Fund, Bowater Mersey, Nova Scotia Power Inc., and the North Queens High School Canteen. -30- Contact: Amanda Lavers 902-424-8207 trp August 13, 1996 - 9:45 a.m.