Try Trenching

This is a big one – one of the main things folks REALLY WANT to see in action when they visit our produce garden. It is scaleable, flexible, fast and effective.

You won’t see a COMPOST HEAP or worm farm at our place, and that can be a shock to some. Read here to find out why we DON’T DO COMPOSTING.
Try trenching instead…

Trenching is so easy it feels like a scam. It is about getting the good stuff straight into the ground. At its simplest, it’s just a hole in the ground, with scraps tossed in, covered in soil that came out of the hole, and #tadaa – instant buffet for the microbiome. It is part of our zero-waste regime that has followed us from a tiny house and smidgey backyard to acreage, but still serves so well.

You can do basic trenching in all sorts of places:

Jump to
LEVEL 0

>> SMALL
Think 2 litres of green scraps in a hole between plants in a small yard or a balcony pot.
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THIS SCALE IS TO REDUCE YOUR WASTE
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This is the size we will look at today.

small trenching bucket — Level 1:
Stainless bucket of kitchen scraps

small spaces between plants — Food waste use in small spaces

try trenching in a medium family size garden

LEVEL 1
Medium

>>MEDIUM
Think 20 litres of scraps at a time in home veggie beds
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THIS SCALE IS GREAT FOR MAKING SOIL
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This is the closest to what we do here. Let’s explore this another day.

medium family trenching bin — Level 2:
use kitchen scraps + more

medium space in raised beds — Home garden bed ongoing maintenance

try trenching in a large community garden space

LEVEL 2
Go Large

>> LARGE
Think 200-2000 litres of scraps in long trenches on acreage or at a community garden
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THIS SCALE IS SUITED TO SITE REJUVENATION
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This is a cool project we can do in Spring.

large scale community trenching via food waste recycling programs — Level 3:
use kitchen scraps + much more

large scale site rejuvenation — Large scale, long term soil and site improvement

There is a LOT to learn and apply of course, to get the most out of your waste, but we have made a start.
SEE HERE FOR TRENCHING BASICS, LEVEL 1

🌿 UPDATE: Folks who use the Bokashi system has asked if this can be trenched – YES ABSOLUTELY. Bokashi is perfect for trenching, especially if you don’t have the space for larger composting. Get that Bokashi goodness into the ground, STAT!