Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

A Recycling Apprentice Ecologist [ALR118]

Ecology is generally defined in two different manners. It is the branch of biology that addresses the relationships of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings. Additionally, it is the political movement that seeks to protect the environment, especially from pollution.

Our family has been personally involved in ecological activity (landscape refuse composting, and personal waste recycling) for more than twenty years. My high school marching band also recycles e-waste as an annual fund raising activity. As such, my contribution to our ecological projects has been ongoing including:

- using the back side of academic worksheets as scratch paper, then disposing of the paper into a compost pile (shredded or whole),
- placing non-meat food scraps into compost piles,
- using daily newspaper as floor covering of pet guinea pig cages, disposing of used paper into our compost or garbage as a compostable material,
- collecting, crushing and dispersing egg shells into flower and vegetable garden beds to add calcium into the soil,
- collecting glass and plastic containers for a friend who commercially recycles them,
- collecting large cardboard, metal and other materials into commercial cans for regular pick-up by the city,
- participation in annual large item street pick-up. Most items are claimed by other individuals before large trucks even arrive for restoration as their skills allow. and
- 20Creating the next season's large vegetable pots by layering shredded paper, food scraps, falling leaves and plant trimmings, watered by winter and spring showers.

I have grown up with this type of management of otherwise wasted materials. Our yard is lush, filled with many birds, some unwanted rodents and busy bees, fruits, vegetables and herbs. I am an Apprentice Ecologist focused upon healthy recycling.