Compost, Giving back to Mother Earth

Using what was once waste by decomposing it into a rich dark soil full of nutrients that are needed for plant life, compost is the most important element in organic agriculture (growing crops without chemical herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers).

On Lotan food scraps from the kitchen and neighborhoods, along with garden clippings, straw, cow and goat manure are composted, producing the earth used in the kibbutz organic gardens. This is another part of the renewable cycle of Community Supported Agriculture.

The Center for Creative Ecology's composting station demonstrates how Lotan integrates compost on all levels of community life: In the central kitchen, neighborhoods, daycare centers, and other kibbutz work branches.

Not all guests are able to operate large scale composting centers; therefore, examples of take-home compost technology are exhibited for guests to adopt or use as inspiration to create their own novel ways of composting.