CATHY FOX
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE
PORTAGE-DU-FORT – In a move toward sustainability, the municipality is distributing backyard composters — known as “earth machines” — to all residents, including some local businesses. The initiative, spearheaded by Mayor Lynne Cameron and Director General Lisa Dagenais, is designed to reduce waste, lower municipal garbage costs, and empower residents to create nutrient-rich compost for their gardens.
Mayor Cameron said the decision was guided by the town’s small population and strong local interest in composting. “Many residents were concerned about losing their at-home compost to door-to-door pick-up,” she explained. “This approach keeps it local and useful.”
The program is fully reimbursed by the provincial government, according to Dagenais, meaning there’s no cost to the municipality or its residents. “It’s a win-win,” she said. Since compostable materials make up the heaviest portion of household waste, removing them from the garbage stream should significantly lower the cost of waste transport — currently $300 per ton — so residents should also see a reduction in garbage-related taxes.
The “earth machines” resemble large, black plastic rain barrels, with a screw-top lid, slotted sides for air flow, and a hatch at the base for removing finished compost. Residents are encouraged to layer green (nitrogen-rich) waste like fruit and vegetable scraps with brown (carbon-rich) materials such as dried leaves, weeds, or straw. Stirring the mixture occasionally introduces oxygen, which accelerates decomposition. After a few months, the resulting compost can be used to fertilize garden beds.
A resident’s story
Longtime resident Jackie McCallum relies on her homemade compost to maintain a thriving garden that overflows with perennials, herbs, berries, and edible plants — much of it grown in upcycled containers.
“I’m steadfastly organic,” McCallum says proudly, pointing out her tireless methods: companion planting, attracting beneficial insects and birds, and hand-picking pests. Her approach to pest control includes identifying bugs through online searches and creating natural sprays made with soap, hot pepper, or garlic.
McCallum has also joined a local volunteer committee to support others in making the switch to home composting. Her composting setup, which closely resembles the new earth machines, includes a series of large, covered bins behind her shed where she composts everything but meat, bones, and fat. She stirs the contents regularly and ensures all bins are covered and secured to prevent pests. Some bins are used to store weeds to dry and age before layering them with fresh kitchen waste in the main bin. In fall, she spreads the finished compost across her garden beds, replenishing the containers with autumn cleanup waste to begin the cycle again.
Her gardening roots run deep — she got her start as a child helping her grandmother weed the family’s homestead garden. These days, you’re likely to find her among her plants, hand-picking pests, prepping preserves, or crafting herbal mixes to share with friends and family.