> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://4revs.gitbook.io/handbook/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://4revs.gitbook.io/handbook/chapters/soil-secrets/where-do-i-start.md). # Where do I start? ## Practical exercise

Apartment compost: vegetables, fruit, cardboard begin to sprout while the worms take a rest underground.
Image credit: personal collection of the author, Noemi Salantiu.

Did you know that you can create living soil by yourself? Composting is essentially a process whereby organic matter is biodegraded in the presence of microorganisms. In a few weeks or months a rich material will be produced, which can then be used as a natural fertilizer for your garden or plants. Give yourself and your family a challenge by setting up a small compost. Here are some types of compost that are easy to start: 1. Bokashi: originating in Japan in the 1980s, this way of composting is based on fermenting organic waste. The mix of food leftovers is inoculated with specific microorganisms and left to ferment in the absence of air. This is a practical solution for small apartments because it needs only a sealed bucket. Find a bokashi guide [here](https://www.treehugger.com/what-is-bokashi-composting-5088917). 2. Vermicompost: relies on the activity of a species of redworms to break down the organic matter in the presence of air. This is also an indoor solution, fit for family households. Find a vermicompost guide [here.](https://www.treehugger.com/vermicomposting-step-by-step-guide-5185295) 3. Hot compost: relies on bigger quantities of layered food scraps and garden waste which are mixed and brought to a higher temperature (approx. 60 degrees celsius), favoring bacterial decomposition. This type of composting is suitable for an outdoor space. Find a hot compost guide [here](https://www.treehugger.com/hot-composting-step-by-step-guide-5186518). Composting will teach you many things about your home ecology, processing your own food waste, and caring for the tiny microorganisms that inhabit the soil. Plus, it is a great educational activity for children! * Make a conscious purchase! Go to an organic or health branded grocery store and pick a product which your family consumes often. Read the label carefully to discover: Is it grown sustainably? At your next family meal, tell the story of the product and discuss the ways in which it could be made more sustainable. ## Reflection points * If you haven't seen it already, watch the documentary Kiss the Ground or The Need to Grow. They do a smashing job in portraying global initiatives which are making local change. Which one of the local initiatives speaks to you the most, and why? * Read about what Japan is doing to combat desertification, as a signatory country of UNCCD. Start from the website of the [Ministry of Environment](https://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/desert/global_5.html) and continue to identify a project which is making an impact. * Think of a natural product which is a favorite of yours. It can be food, or a clothing item, or a fashion accessory etc. * Can you trace them back to the original raw material that they are made from? * How is this material grown or cultivated? * Does the seller disclose the source of the material? If not, could you imagine switching to another seller which makes the same product in more sustainable ways?