Clean Land Air and Water

15/11/2025

Week 3 of Helpage Community Compost and Garden Project in the making. Today, Jim and I were solo nudging away at tasks. Jim was working on the potters bench and I filled the 41 foot garden bed along the wall with sticks, shredded coconut fronds, and chopped up banana tree for nutrients. I worked on garden bed layout and removing the grass.

For next week, I am going to need a lot of boxes to cover the entire area. Boxes make great for w**d suppression. If anyone has boxes, either drop them off at Green Leaf or Helpage Center in town. Next Saturday, I need the whole area de-grassed.

If anyone would like to volunteer to assist in the project, please feel free to reach out. It's a great cause for the elders in the community. We meet every Saturday 8-12, feel free to join us for an hour or stay for the whole day.

15/11/2025

As the Recycle Organics program continues to expand, this week two schools in Corozal District, Chan Chen Gov. School and San Joaquin RC school, received custom built compost bins. When we deliver the bins, we start off with an interactive lecture for standard 3-6 students on why its important to remove food waste from going to the trash, how to make compost, and 3 reasons natural fertilizer/compost is better than store bought synthetic fertilizer.

Then the students make 4 groups and are given a question to brainstorm:
How can we reduce our personal waste?
How can we reuse waste?
What can we recycle?
How can we help the environment?

It gives me great hope for the future when the students can list a number of practical ways they can help the environment.

The bins are built from 100% recycled plastic by Full Circle and the metal is donated by Capital Supplies. The Recycle Organics program is funded by Environment Climate Change Canada.

The future is looking bright.

08/11/2025

Week 2 Helpage community compost bin and garden. Jim worked on a shed and potters bench. I sanded wood from old bench chairs, while a volunteer painted. They painted cut tires from Vasquez. They cost $5. Ryan Rivera with Oceana volunteers continued to work on the garden bed along the wall while the volunteers painted the back wall.

Next week, we’ll be pulling up grass and making garden beds. 🥳

It was a great day!

02/11/2025

Belize is bountiful with banana trees.

Natural Innovation? 🤔

🌿 Eco-Friendly Flood Defense
Brazil's innovative use of banana leaves to create biodegradable flood barriers is a game-changer! By turning agricultural waste into a valuable resource, this approach not only protects vulnerable areas from flooding but also promotes local jobs and sustainable practices. The permeable banana-fiber meshes allow water to flow through while trapping silt and debris, preventing erosion and recharging groundwater. A brilliant example of nature-based solutions for climate adaptation! 🌟

01/11/2025

Today at Helpage Corozal, Ryan Rivera and volunteers from Oceana, the Wave Runners from CCC, BYM, and CLAW’s very own volunteer Jim Sepulveda sponsored by Recycle Organics, teamed up to create something spectacular.

We are building a community compost bin and garden center for the elders. The compost bin is set to divert over 9000 pounds of food waste from going to the dump annually. The garden will provide vegetables and herbs, plus a healthy activity for the members at the center.

We are day one into a 6 week project. If anyone would like to contribute seedlings or garden items please message me. Anything would be greatly appreciated.

Big thank you to Capital for donating the metal. The planks for the compost bin are 100% recycled plastic purchased from Full Circle in Belmopan.

01/11/2025

Belize.

Bamboo and h**p are ancient plants with modern power. Known for growing in diverse conditions, these two crops offer sustainable solutions across multiple industries—from construction and fashion to fuel and packaging.

H**p can be used to make textiles, bioplastics, insulation, paper, and even biodegradable car parts. Bamboo, on the other hand, is a rapidly renewable alternative to wood and can replace plastics, steel, and even concrete in building applications. Together, they support over 50,000 products, many of which could dramatically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and deforestation.

Both plants absorb more CO₂ than many tree species, and grow with minimal pesticides and water. They also provide economic opportunities for rural farmers, especially in developing countries. H**p seeds are even a complete protein source, adding to its nutritional value.

Scaling up bamboo and h**p use globally could be a game-changer in achieving net-zero targets and circular economies.

**pRevolution

30/10/2025

FRIDAY RECYCLING REMINDER!
Recycle your glass, aluminum, and plastic coke, sprite and Fanta. Fill a box with clean items, drop off at the end of the pavilion at the Farmers Market every Friday before 11:00AM.

WE DON'T ACCEPT:
NO water bottles or other plastics.
NO plastic bags.
NO TIN CANS/FOOD CANS.

Be the change we need to help the world.

Any questions?

24/10/2025

GREAT NEWS! We are now accepting CAT FOOD CANS! YUP the buyer was informed they are made of aluminum. Please remove paper label and clean before depositing.

Thank you again to all who participate in helping keep waste from going to the dump!

24/10/2025

The third school we visited was Paraiso Gov. School. Wendy and I talked to about 30 students about the environmental impact of burning trash.

Corozal District burns 100% of our trash, whether it's at the dumpsite or backyard. Schools in the villages burn their trash on campus. Even though this is way of life and culturally accepted, the students are aware that this is pollution and it's bad for the environment. We are on the precipice for change.
We talked about ways to reduce, reuse and recycle waste and how composting food waste encompasses all three aspects.

We must change our buying habits today, if not for ourselves but for the children.

Check out this young eco warrior, future leader Leo. He was born ready to teach us.

Be the change we need to see in the world.

24/10/2025

The second school is St. Paul by the Sea. Linda and I talked to standard 5 garden club students. After the class we talked to the cafeteria lady whose daughter was in the garden club last year. She told us how the composting program inspired her daughter to start her own composting bin at home. She began with just a bin, then used her compost to plant and care for her own vegetables.

She’s been experimenting with different plants, but her biggest success so far is cucumbers!

It’s amazing to see how a simple school lesson can spark real change at home. This is exactly what composting education is all about; helping kids see that they can make a difference. It's about personal empowerment and community engagement.

24/10/2025

This week Lisa, Wendy, Linda and myself visited 3 schools that started the composting program last year. All three schools have remarkable stories so I'm going to make a post for each school.

The first school is San Antonio Gov. School. They have an extraordinary garden program. We met with students in standard 3-6 where Lisa led the class and discussed how we can help the environment and things that harm the environment. It's clear that burning food waste is harmful and composting is helpful. The students could call off the 4 things it takes to make compost and how to manage the bin. I was elated. The compost bin made about 20 gallons of compost from last year. This is a big win for the environment and their garden.

The future is looking bright!

24/10/2025

Every Friday bring your recyclables to the farmers market. Please leave box next to blue food waste bin. Feel free to bring your food waste too. Please read directions.
Thanks!