What a shame that Island Grown Initiative’s pilot project of composting is about to end. Many people on the Vineyard have been able to dispose of their food waste by dropping it off for processing and subsequent local use as fertilizer: a win/win/win situation — good for residents, good for farming, good for the environment.

I am hoping that some organization, the Agricultural Society comes to mind, will take on the challenge of re-establishing this program. I have been told that West Tisbury zoning considers processing the waste to be “light industry” and therefore not allowable on Agricultural Society property. This conclusion makes no sense to me. Composting has been part of agriculture for thousands of years. How is using a machine instead of worms to chop up the waste any different than using a tractor instead of a horse and plow to turn the soil?

This issue has Island-wide impact. Please, someone, do whatever it takes to continue this program.

Bari Boyer

Edgartown