The Issue: Compost Reduces Use of Harsh Garden Chemicals

Compost transforms food waste into a nutrient-rich organic soil conditioner. When used for gardening, it eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers and decreases the need for pesticides, helping to grow fresh food without the use of potentially harmful substances.

The Campaign: Composting Bins and Tools for Youth Garden

If this Grassroots campaign raises $400, then Transition OKC can build and purchase maintenance supplies for two composting bins for Closer to Earth, a youth-run community garden. Maintenance supplies include shovels, rakes, garden forks, gloves, and hand tools. Each additional $200 raised will be used to build an additional composting bin and purchase maintenance equipment for another urban garden. Closer to Earth's youth urban gardens are maintained by 12 teenage interns and more than 350 student volunteers each year, who sell half the food grown and donate the rest to local food pantries.

Through its current collaboration with Closer to Earth's youth urban garden, Transition OKC helps foster an investment in youth environmental education, as teens involved with the gardens develop leadership skills and are empowered to protect the environment as they learn about and practice urban organic gardening, recycling, and composting.

To celebrate the launch of Groupon Grassroots, Groupon will provide a $1,000 kickoff grant to this campaign.