Ann Baird and her family live life as green as possible.

They built the first code-approved seismically engineered cob house in North America.

The Highlands home also functions with solar power, collected rainwater and compostable toilets.

The no-flush option looks similar to a toilet except instead of a toilet bowl full of water, a bucket collects the waste. And instead of flushing, each user drops a handful of wood shavings in the bucket.

B次元官网网址淪hredded newspaper would work well instead of the wood chips,B次元官网网址� Baird said.

Each week the familyB次元官网网址檚 waste buckets are dumped into the compost pile that is carefully monitored with a thermometer. The mound of organic matter doesnB次元官网网址檛 emit a foul smell.

B次元官网网址淚t decomposes so quickly it doesnB次元官网网址檛 rot,B次元官网网址� Baird explained.

To keep the heat in, the compost heap is covered with straw, but Baird explains newspaper would also make a good cover.

B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址paper can also be put right into the compost pile,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚f you burn it it just goes right up into the atmosphere, if you recycle it turns into other products, but if you compost it, it turns back into earth.B次元官网网址�

When composting human and kitchen waste together, Baird explained the compost pile is rich in nitrogen and needs to be balanced out with carbon. The carbon comes from the newspaper.

Goldstream B次元官网网址 Gazette lines boxes of ripening tomatoes in BairdB次元官网网址檚 pantry.

B次元官网网址淥ne tomato always goes gross and rots, this way I just have to change the newspaper and I get to keep the box,B次元官网网址� Baird said explaining the newspaper covered with goo then goes in the compost.

One for the animials

One place that is always welcoming copies of the Goldstream B次元官网网址 Gazette is the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Metchosin.

After the newspapers are read cover to cover, they end up lining bird cages. Pigeons, robins, sparrows and thrushes enjoy a birds eye view of the paper.

The bottoms of the cages are mesh wire and the bird dropping fall onto the newspapers underneath.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not good for them to sit directly on the newspaper,B次元官网网址� said Kari Marks, Wild ARC manager. Bird poop makes the paper slippery,B次元官网网址� she explained.

With the newspaper being in a little tray underneath the cages, B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 easy for us to crumple up and dispose the newspapers,B次元官网网址� she added.

Wild ARC also uses shredded newspapers in the worm compost bins.

Donated newspapers are always appreciated at Wild ARC. To donate your old newspapers call Marks at 250-478-9453.

Did you know?

n Old Gazettes can be used to make a lasagna garden by layering items such as grass clippings, newspapers, leaves and compost.