What We Do

Mission

To engage the community in caring for the Earth by participating in the simple process of composting.

Service – How it works

Whether you live in a condo, apartment or own your own home we make it easy for you. You determine the location* (ex. side of the house, near garage, front porch) and can choose a collection schedule that is affordable for you. This is not your standard curbside collection service.

*Please select a safe and accessible location that works best for all seasons.

  1. Fill your bucket with food scraps. Your bucket is collected and a clean bucket is left behind.
  2. After using my service for 6 months, you are entitled to receive compost each Spring. For every 100 lbs. of food waste, you’ll receive 5 lbs. of finished compost up to a maximum of 30 lbs.! Please contact Earth Stew in Feb/March if you want compost.

Owner

Joanne Tooley is a Permaculturist and Vermiculturist.

Her philosophy is simple: “Take care of the Earth and the Earth will take care of you.”

She bases her business on the 3 ethics of Permaculture:

  • Care for the Earth
  • Care for the People
  • Share the Bounty

In 2008, Joanne became aware of how wasteful, unhealthy and unsustainable the current food system model is in the U.S. It turned her away from purchasing industrial produced foods to supporting the organic food movement and shopping locally.

In 2010 she received her Permacutlure Design Certificate which changed much of how she saw the environment and the earth. She learned that composing organic waste is the simplest and one of the most basic ways to help create a more sustainable food system.

The local food movement has made great progress in the distribution of organic foods produced from healthy soils into our local markets, however; there is a weak mechanism or no mechanism in place when it comes to recycling our food waste back to the earth to complete the cycle. Right now this potential resource is mixed with the trash and dumped into the landfill – entombed forever!

Earth Stew Composting Services is the mechanism that allows individuals and businesses an easy and affordable way to participate when composting for themselves is not an viable option.

Certifications: Master Composter – Midwest Extension Compost School