World 042821

Public Invited to Join Free Online
Composting Summit May 3-7
Next month, the Composting Association
of Vermont and the Agency of Natural Resources
will be hosting the Vermont Organics
Recycling Summit (VORS). This event
will bring together leaders and learners from
across the state to discuss creative ways to
keep organics out of the trash and transform
organics into valuable products. The free online
Summit is a great opportunity for anyone
interested in how Vermont communities and
organizations manage their food scraps successfully
and overcome challenges. It is also
a great way to learn more about compost, anaerobic
digestion, and building healthy soil.
The event runs from May 3-7 during International
Compost Awareness Week.
“The Summit aims to help Vermonters and
regional partners meet the state’s organics diversion,
food rescue, and food scrap recycling
goals,” said Natasha Duarte, the Director of
the Composting Association of Vermont. “We
have more than 15 events scheduled, including
virtual tours of organics management sites
around the state, that celebrate the value of
compost and the many ways it supports the
health of the environment, the people, and the
economy. We’re especially excited to hear Dr.
David Montgomery’s keynote presentation
Bringing Our Soil Back to Life.”
“When communities keep organics out of
the trash, they support green businesses and
jobs, reduce dependence on landfilling waste,
cut greenhouse gas emissions, and produce
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compost, which has restorative soil properties,”
said Josh Kelly, the Materials Management
Section Manager in the Agency of
Natural Resources. “Efforts to keep food out
of the garbage can also put more food on the
tables of Vermonters. For example, many
grocery stores now partner with the Vermont
Foodbank to send excess quality food to people,
instead of throwing it away.”
Learn more about VORS or register online
at www.compostingvermont.org/vors-2021
or contact Natasha Duarte at info@compostingvermont.org
or 802-373-6499.
The Composting Association of Vermont
(CAV) is a nonprofit organization. It
promotes organics recycling that protects
and benefits the environment. The Vermont
Agency of Natural Resources, Department
of Environmental Conservation (ANR/DEC)
works to protect Vermont’s people and places
by caring for the state’s land, air, and water.
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By Suzanne Freitas
Extension Master Gardener, University of
Vermont
Warm days may tempt you to work in the
garden and remove winter mulch, but wait a
bit longer. We still could have snow and some
very cold nights. Plants still need protection.
The freeze and thaw cycles of early spring
can damage plants that have survived a cold
winter. While waiting for warmer weather,
this is an excellent time to clean your gardening
implements and make sure your tools are
in good working order.
First, inspect your pots and growing containers
and clean them. It’s important to disinfect
plant containers that were used in the
previous gardening season. Disease-harboring
debris can build-up inside containers.
To disinfect pots, soak them in a solution of
one part bleach to nine parts water for ten
minutes. Use a scrub brush to clear away
stubborn debris. Finish by rinsing pots with
clear water. Your pots are now ready.
Second, get out your weeders, cultivators
and other gardening tools and inspect them.
If you discover some rust, here’s what to do
to get them back in working order:
• Soak in a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water
overnight.
• Then scrub in a circular motion with steel
wool.
• Rinse in soapy water and then plain water.
• Let dry thoroughly, then rub lightly with
linseed or mineral oil.
Make sure tools are dried thoroughly
before storing. Treating tools with linseed or
mineral oil on a regular basis is the best way
to keep them from getting rusty.
Third, inspect your pruners, loppers or
shears. Pruners should be taken apart and
deep cleaned at least once each season.
• Unscrew the nut that holds them together,
and wash all parts separately in soapy water.
• Soak in vinegar and water, and scrub with
steel wool to remove any rust.
• Rinse and dry.
• Then soak in bleach and water to sanitize,
then rinse and dry.
• Rub with boiled linseed oil and reassemble.
In addition, check the sharpness of your
tools. Cutting or pruning with dull blades
often results in damaged branches, so it’s
important always to keep your tools sharp.
Branches that have been ripped or torn
apart are more susceptible to disease. Keep
your pruners and other cutting tools sharp
with a specialized pruner-sharpening tool or a
sharpening stone. Other tools such as hoes,
It’s Tool Time!
shovels and knives can be kept sharp with
quick touch-ups from a sharpening file, followed
by a sharpening stone.
Lastly, do not forget to take care of the
handles of your tools. Minor cracks can be
reinforced with heavy-duty duct tape. Or you
just might decide that now is the time to
replace that old tool.
A highly effective tool is a spear-headed
spade. The narrow, pointed head lets you dig
in beds without disturbing nearby plants.
Another handy tool is a drain spade. This is
a sturdy shovel, which can slice through compacted
soil, roots and sod because it has sharp
teeth that provide extra cutting power.
A regular maintenance routine will keep
your garden tools in good working order and
will help them last longer. Tools need to be
sharp but also clean and sterile.
Tools that are exposed to plants or soil with
bacterial, fungal or insect infestations can
spread problems throughout the garden. It
only takes a few minutes after each gardening
session to take care of your tools and protect
your garden the next time they are used.
Suzanne Freitas is a UVM Extension
Master Gardener from Jericho.
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