First-timer composter
Never composted before? Me neither! This is how I started in it…
I first heard about textile composting during my first semester at University of South Florida Patel College of Global Sustainability. I can say I was definitely amazed by the concept, but I did not go further or take action, as commonly happens with many ideas that cross our paths. Plus, I had never composted anything, even though I had known about composting food before.
Two and a half years later in Spring 2024, I had the opportunity to start an internship here at Rosebud Continuum where I connected a little more with Ericka Leigh, the on-site researcher of the textile composting project. I learned more about her research and accomplishments with it.
By Fall 2024, I decided I would start my first composting experience using the compost tumbler at Rosebud. Previously, I had dropped off scraps at the 15th street farm in St. Petersburg when I lived there and fed the biodigester at Rosebud for the past year, but I had never tried to compost on my own, and it felt like time.
After a few months of feeding and turning the compost bin, I thought it would have enough microbes to start putting in some textiles and take my compost experiment to a higher learning level. I put in two items, a cotton shirt and a ‘compostable tote’. (I could have sworn I took a picture to document the first day but apparently and sadly, I did not. Apologies!)
At least two months later, the cotton shirt finally started to show signs of decomposition and a month after that its almost gone! (see pictures below)
On the other hand, the ‘compostable’ green bag has not shown yet any signs of decomposition even after 4 months! (The ripped portions were already there)
It has been an experiment that has tested my patience, curiosity, observation, and follow up skills.
Questions like: Am I doing this right? Why is it taking this long? Why is it stinky? What are these insects that are appearing? Am I putting the right things in? -and many more- have come to me throughout this process and still do. It made me question a lot, which led to researching and new knowledge. It is through hands-on experiences such as this, that our mind broadens and the appetite to learn more grows!
I invite anyone reading this to consider composting a piece of clothing. It will give you far more in return than the time and effort you will invest!
-Mariolym Soto (volunteer)