FROM REFUSE TO RESOURCE
In order for Full Circle Compost to help provide bins for backyard composting, Stuart has teamed up with E.J. Johnson and Delmar Lathers. A fulltime naturalist and an instructor at the Manzanita School, Lathers teaches composting and instructs folks on how to build the bins from pallet wood.

Stuart has also teamed up with Callie Goldstein, a writer, designer, and co-chair of the Urban Agriculture working group at the Los Angeles Food Policy Council that works to ensure food is healthy, affordable, fair and sustainable for all.

“Good soil filters water and allows the water to stay in the soil right here,� Goldstein said. “[It can] rehabilitate our old growth forests in Topanga with soil that has microbial life in it. It’s beneficial for trees and gardens—soil and climate work hand in hand.�

Stuart and Goldstein are also working with Nathan Daneshgar at Pine Tree Circle to install a compost bin to take in the food waste from The Canyon Bistro, Waterlily, and The Canyon Gourmet in accordance with CA Assembly Bill 1826 that requires local jurisdictions to implement an organic waste recycling program on and after January 1, 2016 to divert organic waste generated by businesses.

“It’s a paradigm shift,� Goldstein said. “We have to acknowledge that a lot of what we have become accustomed to doesn’t work. It’s just a minor alteration in our routine that has a longterm effect on the environment. We are seeing this in the market and our local economy—asking people to be the change you want to see.�

“Just think,� Stuart said. The composting program at Manzanita School and the Full Circle bins converted [more than] 10-tons of food waste over six years—and that’s just one school,� “Imagine if all Topangans contributed on a community basis, it could make a real difference and benefit the environment by going “full circle.�

Full Circle Compost also puts out a newsletter to support the Topanga composting community. For the newsletter Sign-up, go to: http://eepurl. com/bpVynT

PROJECT DRAWDOWN
Stuart was inspired to found Full Circle Compost after reading the book, “Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming,� edited by Paul Hawken.

Project Drawdown is a global research organization that identifies, reviews, and analyzes the most viable solutions to climate change, and shares these findings with the world. The book is available at Amazon.com and other outlets. For the complete list of Project Drawdown’s 100 Solutions: https://www.drawdown.org/solutions.

Stuart also teaches Drawdown Workshops at Manzanita School. For information on Cecilie Stuart’s free Drawdown Workshop for adults and youth: Cecilie.Stuart@outlook.com.

To sign up for the newsletter: http://eepurl. com/bpVynT; For more information: (310) 871- 0061; movetheworldnow.org/; fccompost.org/; Instagram: @fccompost; Facebook: facebook.com/ fullcirclecompostnonprofit.