It's not a recipe you're likely to find in any cookbook, but compost chef Priscilla Costa, shown here in character as a Portuguese grandmother, shared her secret for compost success with WUF delegates visiting the IDRC booth.

"It's like a cake, " she said, "you layer it — green, brown, green, brown." The green Costa is referring to are moist materials, like kitchen scraps that are high in nitrogen. Brown materials, like leaves, are drier and high in carbon. 

Costa is with City Farmer, a long-time IDRC partner. The Vancouver-based organization promotes urban agriculture (UA) across the city and its Web site is a focal point for UA research and activities around the world. To learn more, visit www.cityfarmer.org.