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Peru: Putting waste to good use
Farming in the middle of a desert comes with many challenges, as Vasco Masias knows well. At his farm near Chincha Alta in Peru, the owner of Grupo Aliment, a group of agricultural companies, has enlisted the help of his many chickens to transform the landscape. Masias no longer uses them only for the eggs they produce, he also makes use of their excrement. He mixes it with the chicken feed waste and applies it to the dry soil. The process has helped turn his arid farm into fertile arable land.
Palmiro Ocampo, a cook in the capital Lima, is also finding creative ways to be more environmentally friendly. He gets his vegetables from organic farms and uses all parts of the plants including what others would throw away. Through his initiative CCORI:Cocina Optima he hopes to reduce food waste in other kitchens and restaurants in Peru.
Plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates and bowls and expanded polystyrene (foam) cups and containers will all be banned this year from September 1, under new state government legislation.
We have heard the expression: “Important things come in small packages,” such as diamonds and pearls, and things like butterflies, hummingbirds, and honey bees.
There is a group in Holland that specializes in these small things: the Holland Area Beekeeping Association. Honey bees are a critical link to the beauty around us and the food we eat. The local association helps provide that link.
The city of Holland leads many other cities by encouraging residents to keep honey bees as a way of helping nature be successful. Our city ordinance requires an inspection and a permit to ensure bees will be comfortable for the neighbors too.