Earth Day is just two weeks away (April 22nd), which always gets us thinking about ways to conserve our precious natural resources and limit our human footprint on the environment.
A great way to keep food scraps out of the solid waste stream – and create your own natural plant fertilizer – is to use a backyard composter. And a rain barrel allows you to capture the rainfall from your roof, which normally gets concentrated by your downspouts causing wet spots in your yard and can damage your foundation. Rain water contains less chemicals than treated water, making it better for plant irrigation. And best of all, it’s free!

A few years ago, Peekskill Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) member Courtney Williams purchased a composter from the Greenburgh Nature Center. That experience gave her the idea to have Peekskill team up with Greenburgh, so she reached out to the Nature Center’s Lindsay Cohen, who agreed to make Peekskill a composter and rain barrel pickup location for Northern Westchester.
By purchasing in bulk, the Nature Center is able to offer the units at 50% to 65% less than retail. And because they’re delivered en masse to Peekskill, you avoid shipping costs, while lowering the delivery carbon footprint compared to ordering them individually.
Deadline for ordering your composter or rain barrel is Tuesday, April 20th, and pickup is on Saturday, April 24th at the Veterans’ Memorial Pool in Depew Park (Bay Street at Depew Court) from 9 am to 12 Noon. Click here for more information!