CULTIVATING COLLABORATIVE COMPOSTING IN NEW MEXICO

The overarching goal for CCCNM is to effectively increase food waste reduction efforts, food waste diversion, and composting across New Mexico and the US through community-focused, collaborative efforts that are documented and shared freely. The project goal has important environmental, social, and economic components that are integrated into the project design and strongly align with the CFWR purposes and priorities and USDA's Executive Priorities (Table 1).Environmentally, the program seeks to create better waste management pathways by diverting organic waste from landfills, and turning it into high-quality compost that can be used to fertilize local gardens and farms, which will promote the protection of public health and the environment by enhancing soil health, water retention, and carbon sequestration. Composting organic materials mitigates climate change by sequestering carbon in the soil, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and decreasing strain on landfills.Socially, the program seeks to cultivate environmentally centered civic engagement and equip residents and local farmers with the skills and tools they need to effectively reduce food loss and waste, and to make and use compost. To give participants these tools, CCNM applies multiple strategies in EPA's Food Recovery Hierarchy (Table 1), including source reduction, feeding hungry people, and composting.Economically, the project focuses funds on sites that will serve historically underserved neighborhoods, beginning indigenous farmers, and others. CCCNM allows agricultural producers easier and cheaper access to compost by making it available for free to participants. Diverted food waste will help feed low-income and disadvantaged families through value-added products and improved fertility of community gardens.The following goals and objectives are set to ensure each pilot meets the project goals.Community Compost Co-op Goals and Objectives(1) The CCC will serve 25 households, diverting 1,125 lbs of food waste in the first year of operation, which by the third year of operations (about 1.5 years after the grant period) will build on established ties to serve 75 households and divert 33,750 lbs of food waste each year (Lancaster Composting Co-ops whitepaper).(2) The CCC will increase food security for Martineztown residents and neighbors by increasing resident engagement in the community garden and CCC and generating compost to fertilize community and residential gardens to provide fresh produce to Martineztown residents.(3) The CCC will provide education on sustainability issues, composting, and ways to reduce food waste and the associated economic benefits ($1,500 per year for an average family) for at least 50 Martineztown residents by providing educational materials and facilitating discussions at orientation and workshops.Farm Compost Hub Goals and Objectives(1) IFH staff to divert 20 cubic yards of farm, coffee, and brewery waste and residues each week from June to October in the second year of the grant (440 cubic yards total). This will be done by enrolling ten farms to participate in the farm compost hub pilot, continuing existing partnership with New Mexico Piñon Coffee, and securing partnership with a brewery.(2) Infrastructure improvements will increase soil organic matter, all else equal, while decreasing external inputs of participating farms after five years. During the grant period, compost coordinator will educate farmers (including beginning indigenous farmers) on proper compost application and related soil health practices, generate 132 cubic yards of compost in the first year after infrastructure improvements, and distribute generated compost to farms proportional to inputs received.(3) IFH will double the volume of value-added nutritious food products going to food insecure communities and families by accepting a separate stream, alongside farm residues for composting, for edible but unsellable produce from participating farmers. IFH will also continue to expand efforts to create valued-added products from seconds produce and freely distribute these to food insecure communities and families.