Let it Rot Created by Educational Technology Network. www.edtechnetwork.com 2009

Compost Methods Pile Temp Not in my Pile Turn it Around “Brown” Vs. “Green” 10 20 30 40 50

Question 1 - 10 This method of composting will give you finished compost in the quickest amount of time

Answer 1 – 10 Hot Composting

Question 1 - 20 Although this method requires no maintenance, it will result in a small amount of compost.

Answer 1 – 20 Dig-a-hole Composting

Question 1 - 30 This Method requires little maintenance but is slow and will not kill weed seeds.

Answer 1 – 30 Slow/Passive Composting

Question 1 - 40 This method requires you to add all of your ingredients at once and must be turned every day.

Answer 1 – 40 Tumbler Composting

Question 1 - 50 This method is the quickest and is also the best for controlling weeds

Answer 1 – 50 Hot Composting

Question 2 - 10 These are the fastest at turning material into compost and prefer a temperature between 105 – 140 degrees Fahrenheit

Answer 2 – 10 Thermophilic Bacteria or Bacteria

Question 2 - 20 A drop in temperature could mean that the pile has became anaerobic. This means that it is lacking what?

Answer 2 – 20 Oxygen

Question 2 - 30 In order to insure that weed seeds and plant pathogens do not exist in your compost pile, the temperature must reach or exceed 131° Fahrenheit for how long?

Answer 2 – 30 3 days

Question 2 - 40 Higher temperatures will also help to deter what?

Answer 2 – 40 Rats or other Vermin

Question 2 - 50 The optimal temperature for fast composting is between _____ and ______ °F

Answer 2 – 50 90 – 135 °F

Question 3 - 10 Although these shouldn’t be used in composting, their shells contain a lot of calcium and are great for compost.

Answer 3 – 10 Eggs

Question 3 - 20 While wood ashes are very beneficial for compost, this type of ash should not be used as it may be toxic for the micro-organisms needed for your pile.

Answer 3 – 20 Charcoal

Question 3 - 30 This should not be used as it breaks down very slowly and may attract your neighborhood dogs

Answer 3 – 30 Meat or Bones

Question 3 - 40 When adding these to a compost pile, you should always cover them with a “brown” material

Answer 3 – 40 Food scraps

Question 3 - 50 This type of reading material should not be used for compost as it contains mixed paper

Answer 3 – 50 Magazines

Question 4 - 10 Turning the compost pile adds oxygen to it. This oxygen is needed by the micro-organisms in the pile because they are _________ organisms.

Answer 4 – 10 Aerobic

Question 4 - 20 At times a compost pile can have a very strong odor. This is usually due to the pile being to wet or containing too much of this

Answer 4 – 20 Nitrogen

Question 4 - 30 Turning your compost pile speeds up the process of composting. You know the process is finished when the compost is deep brown and smells like this

Answer 4 – 30 The forest floor

Question 4 - 40 Turning your compost pile helps spread and sometimes increase the temperature which in turn helps to kill these

Answer 4 – 40 Unwanted Organisms

Question 4 - 50 You may have to turn your pile because it has gotten too wet. If your pile is too wet, it may collapse and restrict this

Answer 4 – 50 Airflow

Question 5 - 10 A compost pile that contains too little of this element will not generate enough heat

Answer 5 – 10 Nitrogen

Question 5 - 20 Organisms that aid in the decomposition process use this element for energy

Answer 5 – 20 Carbon

Question 5 - 30 If a compost pile contains too much nitrogen, the pile will emit this odor

Answer 5 – 30 Ammonia

Question 5 - 40 Green ingredients provide this element to your pile

Answer 5 – 40 Nitrogen

Question 5 - 50 Brown products provide this element to your pile

Answer 5 – 50 Carbon