COMPOSTING GALORE!!!!!

Renata studied composting and worm farms

HOW TO COMPOST

WHAT IS COMPOST?

Compost is made from specific food scraps and is an extremely good soil conditioner.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF COMPOSTING?

• It adds nutrients and texture to the soil.
• It is simple and cheap to make.
• The amount of waste sent to landfills will be reduced as you are using your food scraps to make compost.

WHEN IS COMPOST READY TO USE?

Compost is ready to use when it looks like potting mix, usually after 2 or 3 turnings.

TIPS THAT WILL HELP YOU MAKE BETTER COMPOST

• Check regularly that your compost is not too dry or too soggy. In summer add water to make it moist and in winter add dry browns to prevent wetness.
• If you want to speed up composting these ideas will help you:

1. Chop and/or shred coarse materials and add to bin.
2. In heavy rain cover your compost heap
3. Dampen your heap regularly so it stays moist.

• Turn the compost heap often. This provides air for the compost which is VITAL.

WHAT TO PUT INTO COMPOST:

• Fruit peels
• Cofee grounds
• Tea bags
• Grass and plant clippings
• Hair and fur
• Animal manure
• Blood and small bones
• Seaweed
• Fish bones
• Chopped weeds
• Dried leaves
• Sawdust
• Wood shavings
• Hay
• Peat
• Vacumn cleaner dust
• Shredded paper and newspaper
• Egg shells
• Crushed Sea shells
• Wood ash.

WHAT NOT TO HAVE

• Meat
• Grease
• Fat
• Dairy products
• Large bones

WHERE CAN YOU BUY COMPOST BINS?

You can buy compost bins at hardware stores like Mitre 10, Place Makers, Carters, and also The Warehouse.

HOW MUCH DO COMPOST BINS COST?

Compost bins range from $50 - $700 depending on size and quality.

VERMI (WORM) COMPOSTING

WHAT IS VERMI (WORM) COMPOSTING?

Vermi Composting is when you use worms to make compost.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VERMI COMPOSTING?

• The worms make castings and Worm Tea by eating your food and vegetable scraps.
• Worm Castings are EXCELLENT for the soil as they are a quality conditioner.
• Worm Tea is also WONDERFUL for the soil as it is a good fertiliser.

WHAT YOU NEED:

• A container or bin which has full instructions.
• A small bunch of worms to start off with.

WHAT THE WORMS NEED:

• Food and Vegetable scraps
• Moist conditions
• Good temperatures which is not too hot, nor too cold
• Nothing like fly spray nearby

Samantha and Renata interviewed the worm monitor of Room 11, Holly. These are the results:

How often do you feed the worms?

I feed the worms every second day.

How much do you feed the worms?

I feed the worms 1-2 handfulls of food scraps.

What is in Worm Composting bins?

Bottom layer: Worm castings (compost)  Top layer: soil, worms, food scraps, fire ash, and moist newspaper.

How do you keep a compost bin in good condition?

To keep a compost bin in good condition you should change the newspaper when it looks bad, and sprinkle some water on top when it looks dry.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHECKING IF EVERYTHING IS IN WORKING ORDER

1. Wear mask and gloves for hygiene.
2. Open compost bin and check for:

• moist, clean newspaper
• plenty of food scraps.

   3.  If any of these are not there then add them in e.g. if newspaper is not moist add 1 cup of water. 

RECOMMENDATION

The two teachers I interviewed said that it was slightly unhygienic and should be placed somewhere out of the way. One of the teachers also said that the process was too slow.

I also interviewed two teachers and asked them if they would like composting bins in their class. Both teachers agreed enthusiastically.

COMPOSTING IS A GREAT WAY TO KEEP OUR WORLD CLEAN, GREEN, AND A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE!!!