UArizona Compost Cats

This week’s edition of KUWTCC features Compost Cat Grace!

Grace ventured off to Sequoia National Park, Point St., George in Crescent Beach, Ca, Avenue of the Giants, Butte Falls, Oregon and Lake Tahoe all for her honeymoon! Grace and her husband had so much fun but are also so excited to be back in Tucson!

What have you guys been up to this summer? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s installment of Keeping Up With The Compost Cats, a series where we look at what our staff is doing as they travel, enjoy the seasons, and continue composting!
Keep on the lookout for more posts soon!

Our last installment of this year’s heart-wrenching farewells, it’s time to say goodbye to the woman who did it all, Grace Adams. Grace is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a minor in Music and an undergraduate certificate in Data Science & Visualization. Grace has been a strong helping hand with all of our teams since she started in June 2021, but her true love will forever be with Social Media and Marketing where she currently stands as the team lead. Grace’s work has been shared virtually through our social media and physically with our Compost Cats posters around Tucson. Grace’s time with us wasn’t long enough, we are grateful for the laughs and incredible memories she brought to us, her hard-working spirit, and her dedication.

We will miss Grace’s creativity, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our projects. She is currently on her honeymoon then heading on back to UArizona for a Masters in Marketing at Eller!

Thanks for everything, Grace!

Happy First Day of Summer!
As you’re enjoying the season make sure to stay safe and healthy. Drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and have some fun in the desert!

Happy Father’s day!

Compost Cats will be celebrating and thanking their dads this weekend!

What do you do to celebrate?

Welcome to this installment of Compost Critters! Featuring a new guest star, Momo the turtle! He may not directly help the compost, but he’s a fun little dude to hang out with when doing maintenance at the Cooper Center for Environmental Learning. We also found this bug, we think it’s a Pygmy Chafer! What do you think?

Naturally, if you spend a lot of time around compost, you’re going to run into some Compost Critters. These tiny superheroes play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter and turning food scraps into nutrient-rich soil gold! So, here’s to the little critters that keep our gardens thriving, and happy composting!

The Compost Cats are seeking student employees to fill 2 positions! Help design content for our social media platforms and marketing needs, facilitate environmental education events, and maintain compost systems around the city!

Check out the links in our bio to apply, and please feel free to DM us with any questions regarding these positions!

We acknowledge that not everyone has had the opportunity to engage in sustainability, and we would like our program and work to be as accessible as possible. Therefore, no prior sustainability experience is required to apply for these positions.

Applications are open until filled, so apply now!

Our last installment of this year’s heart-wrenching farewells, it’s time to say goodbye to our favorite orange-haired gal, Maddie Morse. Maddie is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with an emphasis on Soil, Air, and Water. Maddie has been a cherished member of Compost Cats since July 2023, where she works in our Bucket Program team and the ENR2 Compost Pilot Program. Not only will Maddie be missed by us, but she will also miss seeing all of our participants’ faces during her regular Bucket Program shifts. Maddie’s dedication, cheerful demeanor, and unwavering commitment to sustainability have made a lasting impact on our team.

We will miss Maddie’s infectious enthusiasm, her ability to brighten everyone’s day, and her exceptional BAT driving skills. Her innovative ideas and solutions have significantly improved our operations, particularly in the composting initiatives she helped.

She is currently in the accelerated Master’s program in Environmental Science and is an intern with the USDA as a Hydrologic Technician this summer! Maddie’s future is undoubtedly bright, and we are excited to see all the amazing things she will accomplish.

Maddie, thank you for everything!

Start your summer break by joining the Bucket Program! We provide an opportunity for campus and community members to take action toward lessening their environmental footprint by diverting food waste!

When food waste enters the landfill, it breaks down into methane gas that gets trapped in the atmosphere and contributes to climate change. Change your environmental footprint and join today!

For more information, check out our pinned post, email us at [email protected], or send us a DM!

Next in our installment of heart-wrenching farewells, we say goodbye to our resident vibe lord, Brandon Green. Brandon is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Plant Systems. He has been a beloved member of our Maintenance, Food Cycle, and Demonstration Site teams since he was hired in Fall 2021. Brandon worked to ensure our demonstration sites were operated smoothly and maintained, and contributed much to the Bucket Program and Food Cycle teams. Brandon’s time with us was full of comic genius, out-of-this-world outfits, and insightful conversations amidst the hard work. We are so lucky to have had his personality and kindness on our team for this long! 

We will miss Brandon’s aptly timed puns, snail stories, and impressive gym gains. He plans to work in horticulture or greenhouse crop production and eventually return to school for a graduate degree!
 
Thanks for everything, Brandon!  
 
Keep your eyes peeled for more farewell posts soon!  
 

Congratulations to the Spring 2024 graduates!

To kick off this year’s installment of heart-wrenching farewells, we say goodbye to a true jack of all trades, Tori Hernandez. Tori is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with an Emphasis in Leadership, Sustainability, and Communication. She has been a powerhouse member of our Education, Social Media, and Outreach teams since she was hired in Fall 2022. Tori has served as our Education Team Lead and has worked to make the Compost Cats’ presence known in the Tucson and TUSD communities. Tori’s time with us was full of fun and tons of laughs amidst the hard work, and we are so lucky to have had her bright spirit on our team for this long!
We will miss Tori’s infectious humor, impeccable style, and impressive time management skills. She plans to work with AmeriCorps for a year as a Team Lead and then head to grad school.

Thanks for everything, Tori!

Keep your eyes peeled for more farewell posts soon!

Happy Mother’s Day!

During this weekend full of celebration, we sure hope you make time to thank your mom!

We love our moms, especially Mother Earth! 🌱🌷🌎

What are you doing to celebrate?

Congratulations! Welcome to the Summer of ’24. 😎

We hope your finals went well and that your summer is even better!

See you in the fall! ❤️

Happy finals week, Wildcats! 🤍

The Office of Sustainability is here cheering you on as you tackle your final exams, projects, and presentations! Remember, while it’s always a great feeling to end the year academically strong, it’s also important to take care of yourself. During this time, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with stress and anxiety. So, please make sure that you prioritize self-care. Getting enough sleep, eating healthy food, and taking necessary breaks are crucial, and will help you be more productive and better process information! Even a short walk through the university or taking a moment to relax and listen to your favorite podcast can have a very positive effect on the mind and body.

If you are feeling stressed, there are some great resources on campus to help reduce pre-finals stress. On May 5th from 3-5pm at the Main Library, there will be therapy dogs available, so take a break and go say hi to some cute puppies! The Main Library will also have free snacks available on May 5th from 7-8pm to help boost your energy during finals week. There are several more events on campus where you can either get study help or take a break to calm your nerves. Be sure to check the University of Arizona calendar for more information at the provided link: https://welcome.arizona.edu/calendar.

This week’s edition of KUWTCC features Compost Cat Maddie!

Maddie has been having lots of fun climbing, hanging out with Epsilon Eta members and doing some community service!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s installment of Keeping Up With The Compost Cats, a series where we look at what our staff is doing as they travel, enjoy the seasons, and continue composting!

Keep on the lookout for more posts soon!

Swipe to check out what the Compost Cats have been up to in the month of April (Earth Month)!
 
This month we:
 
Tabled at the Find Your Environment Day resource fair;
Tabled at the Children’s Museum Tucson’s Earth Day event;
Tabled in the Student Union Memorial Center at the new Zero Waste Station; and
Attended Students For Sustainability’s screening and panel discussion of Princess Mononoke at the Highland Bowl!

How are you celebrating this Earth Week? We have some suggestions! 🌎 Check out these events coming up in Tucson!

If you can’t make it to any of these, look for otherwise to celebrate this Earth month, like diverting food waste, visiting a community garden, picking up trash, or just spending some time outside! 🏜️ Earth Day reminds us how important it is to care for our Earth! ♥️🌵

This week’s edition of KUWTCC features Trinn, Greta, Jose, Lachlan, and Tori!

These Cats had a workday at Tucson Village Farm this past Saturday! They put in some irrigation for new plants, sealed up one of our bins, and painted some signs!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s installment of Keeping Up With The Compost Cats, a series where we look at what our staff is doing as they travel, enjoy the seasons, and continue composting!

Keep on the lookout for more posts soon!

Check out what our Bucket Program participants are composting this week! 🪣 From celery leaves to coffee grounds to moldy grapes, we’ll take it all! What are you composting this week?

Looking to compost your own food scraps? Join the Compost Cats Bucket Program to start diverting your food waste! Read our pinned post or visit our website for more information.

Happy Composting! 🍌

In celebration of National Pet Day, this week’s edition of KUWTCC features Sunshine, Iroh, Munchie, Meggie, Mitchell, Stink, Poi and Roi, Buddah, Elsa, Anna, Sookie and Venus!

Compost Cats loves any excuse to post our pets and we would love to see all of yours! Celebrate National Pet Day by sharing a picture of your own pets and don’t forget to tag us!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s installment of Keeping Up With The Compost Cats, a series where we look at what our staff is doing as they travel, enjoy the seasons, and continue composting!

Keep on the lookout for more posts soon!

Locally-grown, in-season foods often require less packaging and less transportation than other foods grown far away. Especially if you grow the food yourself! 😉

This edition of What’s In Season focuses on plants that are ready to be put in the ground this spring and early summer in Southern Arizona!

What are you looking forward to planting soon?

Do you ever miss the smell of your compost when it's not bucket drop-off day? Luckily for you, we are releasing a limited edition Compost Scented Candle. With notes of spiced rotting citrus, 3 day-old burnt coffee, earth, and worms, you'll be transported to your favorite Bucket Progam dropoff site. We are doing a 15% off sale for the next 24 hours, so you can snag one of these beauties for only $39.99 while supplies last! Get your Compost Candle now, link in bio.

This week’s edition of KUWTCC features Grace!

Grace recently traveled to Connecticut and Massachusetts for NCAA Women’s Basketball March Madness tournament! While traveling she collected a hand painted decorative egg at Trinity Church in Boston, ate some tasty fish and chips in Norwich and we can also see that she was even in Las Vegas for a PAC12 Men’s Basketball tournament!

Wish Grace and the Men’s Basketball team luck in Los Angeles for the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Men’s March Madness tournament coming up!

Thanks for tuning in on this week’s installment of Keeping Up With The Compost Cats, a series where we look at what our staff is doing as they travel, enjoy the seasons, and continue composting!

Keep on the lookout for more posts soon!

Ever thought about the impact of tossing out that half-eaten sandwich? 🥪 Food waste doesn’t just disappear; it turns into methane gas in landfills, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO2. 🍊There are simple things we can do to prevent food waste in our lives, from freezing our food to buying less! Read through this post for more tips.
 
Don’t forget, if your food goes bad, compost it! 🪴

This week’s edition of KUWTCC features Brandon and Greta!

These two had a fun time at TROT’s Horsin’ Around event this past weekend! Where they helped with waste sorting and were able to get their face painted! Can you tell who the real spider-man is?!

Thanks for tuning in on this week’s installment of Keeping Up With The Compost Cats, a series where we look at what our staff is doing as they travel, enjoy the seasons, and continue composting!

Keep on the lookout for more posts soon!

Today we’re highlighting a rockstar Food Cycle participant, Snooze A.M. Eatery’s Tucson location!

The team at Snooze Tucson takes special care to divert food waste from entering the landfill by separating it from plastics and other waste and putting it into a designated food waste bin. The staff enjoys contributing to the mission of Food Cycle, and appreciates the awesomeness of supporting a circular food economy! 
In 2022, part of the Snooze Tucson team had a chance to participate in a compost demonstration given by Compost Cats, and tour the Los Reales Sustainability Campus to see where the composting magic happens. 
We love having Snooze Tucson as part of Food Cycle and are so thankful for their active participation in working to keep food waste out of landfills! 
 

This week’s edition of KUWTCC features Lachlan & Maddie!

These two got creative and showed off their knitting and crocheting talent at the bucket program! We can see Lachlan successfully knitted a pumpkin and Maddie beautifully crocheted a square! Do you know how to crotchet? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s installment of Keeping Up With The Compost Cats, a series where we look at what our staff is doing as they travel, enjoy the seasons, and continue composting!

Keep on the lookout for more posts soon!

Welcome to Spot the Contamination!

This is a series that highlights common contaminations we find in our compost piles and provides explanations as to why they can’t break down. Scroll through our slides to try and “spot” the contamination, then swipe to the next slide to see where it really is! These photos are of piles of food waste gathered throughout the years we’ve been in operation.

Welcome to this installment of Compost Critters featuring Pomegranate the cat! She may not directly help the compost, but she certainly boosts morale among the Compost Cats, which is helpful too.

Naturally, if you spend a lot of time around compost, you’re going to run into some Compost Critters. These tiny superheroes play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter and turning food scraps into nutrient-rich soil gold! So, here’s to the little critters that keep our gardens thriving, and happy composting!

Are you looking for compost for your home garden or houseplants? Are you a Bucket Program participant? Well you’re in luck! 🍌

At the University of Arizona Community Garden or Tucson Village Farm drop-off sites, the Compost Cats have free compost available for all Bucket Program participants! Come by the Garden during our Monday evening shift from 4-6pm, or Saturday mornings from 9-11am, or TVF on Thursday evening from 4-6pm and Saturday mornings from 9-11am. You can fill your bucket or bring your own container! 🌻

Happy composting and happy gardening! 🧑‍🌾

This week’s edition of KUWTCC features Isa & Kaitlyn!

These two were helping out with some woodwork at Tully Elementary during a workday funded by a USDA Grant! The money from this grant allows Compost Cats to work alongside the UArizona School Garden Workshop to bring composting education to TUSD students!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s installment of Keeping Up With The Compost Cats, a series where we look at what our staff is doing as they travel, enjoy the seasons, and continue composting!

Keep on the lookout for more posts soon!