Composting GrantComposting Grant

Teacher Center Grant in fall of 2007Teacher Center Grant in fall of 2007 Student driven learning and researchStudent driven learning and research Process:Process:

KWL KWL Essential QuestionsEssential Questions Background info and guided researchBackground info and guided research Made type, location, size recommendations based Made type, location, size recommendations based

on researchon research Culmination of a semester’s worth of workCulmination of a semester’s worth of work

What is Compost?What is Compost?

Humus: Rich, dark, earthy material made of Humus: Rich, dark, earthy material made of decayed plant material. decayed plant material.

Nutrient-rich, natural fertilizer. Nutrient-rich, natural fertilizer. One of nature’s best mulches and soil One of nature’s best mulches and soil

amendments amendments Cheap way to improve soil fertilityCheap way to improve soil fertility

Why Make Compost?Why Make Compost?

Plants will have stronger rootsPlants will have stronger roots Loosens clay soilLoosens clay soil Creates healthy, balanced soilCreates healthy, balanced soil Food for micro-organismsFood for micro-organisms Best soil additiveBest soil additive

Why Make Compost? Why Make Compost? ( Continued…)( Continued…)

Improves aeration Improves aeration Soil can hold more waterSoil can hold more water Copies the way nature breaks down Copies the way nature breaks down

wasteswastes Cheap!Cheap!

Benefits to the CommunityBenefits to the Community

Healthier on the community (less land fills) LESS TRASH because 1\3 of all trash is

organic waste that could be composted Creates more useable space Saves money on buying store fertilizer and soil

What to Put in Your CompostWhat to Put in Your Compost Compost needs a proper ratio of “green” to Compost needs a proper ratio of “green” to

“brown” materials to work “brown” materials to work ““Green” materials-nitrogen-rich materials, Green” materials-nitrogen-rich materials,

such as such grass clippings, vegetable scrapssuch as such grass clippings, vegetable scraps ““Brown” materials- carbon-rich materials such Brown” materials- carbon-rich materials such

as leaves, straw, woodchips, pine needles, as leaves, straw, woodchips, pine needles, newspapersnewspapers

Ratio: 2 parts brown to 1 part green (2:1)Ratio: 2 parts brown to 1 part green (2:1) Too much carbon- breaks down too slowlyToo much carbon- breaks down too slowly Too much nitrogen- it will putrefy (stink)!Too much nitrogen- it will putrefy (stink)!

What NOT to Put in Your CompostWhat NOT to Put in Your Compost

MeatMeat DairyDairy High fat foodsHigh fat foods Treated woodTreated wood MetalMetal TrashTrash LimeLime Dog/Cat wasteDog/Cat waste Pesticides (including too many banana peels!)Pesticides (including too many banana peels!)

Qualities of a Good Compost SiteQualities of a Good Compost Site

Level placeLevel place Sheltered spot from too much cold or too Sheltered spot from too much cold or too

much heatmuch heat You need an effective storage systemYou need an effective storage system Well drained areaWell drained area

Passive vs. Managed Composting Passive vs. Managed Composting ( Passive)( Passive)

Passive composting means to just let Passive composting means to just let it sit. You don’t have to do anything it sit. You don’t have to do anything to the pile.to the pile. Least amount of time to maintainLeast amount of time to maintain Most amount of time to get usable compostMost amount of time to get usable compost

Passive vs. Managed Composting Passive vs. Managed Composting (Managed)(Managed)

Managed composting means to be involved Managed composting means to be involved with it and actively participate. You would with it and actively participate. You would have to turn the pile every now and then. have to turn the pile every now and then. Most amount of time to maintainMost amount of time to maintain Least amount of time to get usable compostLeast amount of time to get usable compost

There is a wide range between passive and There is a wide range between passive and managed composting.managed composting.

How Air, Water and Temperature How Air, Water and Temperature Affect Composting RatesAffect Composting Rates

Temperature- Temperature- If it is too hot then it attracts flies and If it is too hot then it attracts flies and

the micro-organisms can die.the micro-organisms can die. If it is too cold the micro-organisms If it is too cold the micro-organisms

could die.could die.

WaterWater Water- Water-

If it is too dry the decomposing process If it is too dry the decomposing process slows down.slows down.

If it is too wet, then it will flood. Water If it is too wet, then it will flood. Water replaces the air creating an anaerobic (no replaces the air creating an anaerobic (no oxygen) environment and slows oxygen) environment and slows decomposition. The micro-organisms can’t decomposition. The micro-organisms can’t live. live.

Air Air Air Circulation- Air Circulation-

The organisms that are in the compost pile need air The organisms that are in the compost pile need air to live and decompose the materials there.to live and decompose the materials there.

You need good ventilation and to turn the pile You need good ventilation and to turn the pile often. often.

Types of Composting Bins Types of Composting Bins

There are a few types of There are a few types of composting bins:composting bins:

1) Holding Unit: 1) Holding Unit: Simply holds the Simply holds the materials to be materials to be compostedcomposted

Types of Composting BinsTypes of Composting Bins

2) Turning Unit: Lets you turn the composting 2) Turning Unit: Lets you turn the composting materials so they can decompose fastermaterials so they can decompose faster

3) Or you can just make a pile!3) Or you can just make a pile!

What is Vermicomposting?What is Vermicomposting? Composting with wormsComposting with worms Uses red worms that produce Uses red worms that produce

castings (worm poop) castings (worm poop) Should be in a shady area Should be in a shady area

Great for composting food Great for composting food

waste or for composting in waste or for composting in

small placessmall places

Benefits of VermicompostingBenefits of Vermicomposting

There are many benefits of vermicomposting over traditional There are many benefits of vermicomposting over traditional composting. Here are a few:composting. Here are a few:

1) doesn't stink 1) doesn't stink 2) takes low maintenance2) takes low maintenance 3) easy (if you have the patience) 3) easy (if you have the patience) 4) can do it in a small space, even inside!4) can do it in a small space, even inside!

Types of Vermicomposting BinsTypes of Vermicomposting Bins Non-Continuous (or Batch Composter)Non-Continuous (or Batch Composter)

This type of bin is used because it is small and This type of bin is used because it is small and easy to build.easy to build.

Relatively difficult to harvest compost because Relatively difficult to harvest compost because the materials and worms must be separated when the materials and worms must be separated when harvesting.harvesting.

Types of Vermicomposting BinsTypes of Vermicomposting Bins

Continuous Horizontal FlowContinuous Horizontal Flow A series of bins lined up horizontally.A series of bins lined up horizontally. Relies on the earthworms migrating Relies on the earthworms migrating

sideways towards food.sideways towards food. Larger than a non-continuous system Larger than a non-continuous system

but can be used indoorsbut can be used indoors Easier to harvest the compost.Easier to harvest the compost. Get useable compost faster!Get useable compost faster!

Types of Vermicomposting BinsTypes of Vermicomposting Bins

Continuous Vertical FlowContinuous Vertical Flow Series of bins stacked vertically.Series of bins stacked vertically. Relies on the worms moving upwards Relies on the worms moving upwards

towards food.towards food. Can be used in doors.Can be used in doors. Easy to harvest compost because worms Easy to harvest compost because worms

move to the trays in the bin where fresh move to the trays in the bin where fresh food is.food is.

How do You Care for a Worm Bin?How do You Care for a Worm Bin?

Materials You’ll Need- Materials You’ll Need- Bedding (newspapers) or “Brown” MaterialBedding (newspapers) or “Brown” Material WaterWater WormsWorms Food scrapsFood scraps

Temperature-between 14Temperature-between 14°° and 25 and 25°c (50 °F and °c (50 °F and 80 °F)80 °F)

PH should be neutral to slightly acidicPH should be neutral to slightly acidic Needs to have holes to allow oxygen in.Needs to have holes to allow oxygen in.

Worm BeddingWorm Bedding

You can use:You can use: Potting soilPotting soil Shredded paper or newspaperShredded paper or newspaper LeavesLeaves Peat mossPeat moss HayHay SawdustSawdust

Needs to be kept moist and looseNeeds to be kept moist and loose

Worms Like to Eat Food ScrapsWorms Like to Eat Food Scraps

Egg shells Egg shells FruitFruit Coffee grindsCoffee grinds VeggiesVeggies NoNo meat meat NoNo dairy things dairy things NoNo greasy foods (It coats their bodies, and they can’t greasy foods (It coats their bodies, and they can’t

breathe)breathe) Don’t add new food until the old food is goneDon’t add new food until the old food is gone

How Much Does a Worm Eat?How Much Does a Worm Eat?

For one pound per day of food waste, you’ll need For one pound per day of food waste, you’ll need 2000 worms!2000 worms!

When the bin is new, feed them one-half their body When the bin is new, feed them one-half their body weight per dayweight per day

Eventually, they will eat their body weight in one Eventually, they will eat their body weight in one day!day!

Why Does Our School Need a Why Does Our School Need a Vermicomposting Bin?Vermicomposting Bin?

Our school needs a vermicomposting bin Our school needs a vermicomposting bin so we can take responsibility for our so we can take responsibility for our school’s waste systems and help the school’s waste systems and help the Spencer Schools work towards being a Spencer Schools work towards being a “green school”. “green school”.

We can use the compost product for our We can use the compost product for our plants in the Green House Programplants in the Green House Program

We can sell worms for profit.We can sell worms for profit.

What is a Waste Audit?What is a Waste Audit?

A test to measure how much compostable material a A test to measure how much compostable material a certain group (sixth grade) produces over a set certain group (sixth grade) produces over a set amount of time amount of time

Labeled trash cans will separate compostable material Labeled trash cans will separate compostable material from trashfrom trash

A tally will count number of people dumping wasteA tally will count number of people dumping waste We will measure compostable material collected, then We will measure compostable material collected, then

use the information to calculate average amount of use the information to calculate average amount of waste contributed by each individualwaste contributed by each individual

We will use this information to figure out bin size and We will use this information to figure out bin size and amount of worms needed amount of worms needed

Waste Audit ResultsWaste Audit Results Waste audit conducted 1/24/08 to determine amount of Waste audit conducted 1/24/08 to determine amount of

waste generated:waste generated: 4.1 lbs of compostable waste was generated by 91 4.1 lbs of compostable waste was generated by 91

students students On average S-VE students generate:On average S-VE students generate:

14.35 lbs of compostable waste per day 14.35 lbs of compostable waste per day 71.5 lbs of compostable waste per week71.5 lbs of compostable waste per week 2,583 lbs of compostable waste per year 2,583 lbs of compostable waste per year

29 lbs of worms are needed to consume an average 29 lbs of worms are needed to consume an average

day’s compostable waste!day’s compostable waste! We will use this information to:We will use this information to:

determine the size of the worm bin we needdetermine the size of the worm bin we need Determine the number of worms we needDetermine the number of worms we need

Next Steps: Next Steps: We’re Not Done Yet!We’re Not Done Yet!

Conduct Conduct school wideschool wide (grades 5-8) lunch waste (grades 5-8) lunch waste audit week of March 3audit week of March 3rdrd, 2008., 2008. Was 6Was 6thth grade a valid and reliable sample? grade a valid and reliable sample? Would it look different with other grades?Would it look different with other grades? What about breakfast? Kitchen scraps? What about breakfast? Kitchen scraps?

Determine location of worm bin (Sarah)Determine location of worm bin (Sarah) PurchasingPurchasing Staff and student educationStaff and student education

A Special Thank YouA Special Thank You

This project is partially funded by the This project is partially funded by the Schuyler-Chemung-Tioga/Corning Teacher Schuyler-Chemung-Tioga/Corning Teacher Center. The SCT/C Teacher Center offers a Center. The SCT/C Teacher Center offers a mini-grant program each year to area mini-grant program each year to area educators to develop innovative projects that educators to develop innovative projects that impact instruction and student learning. We impact instruction and student learning. We thank you for your generous support of our thank you for your generous support of our project.project.