NSF North Mississippi GK-8 How to Host a Compost Jill Frank North Mississippi GK-8 March 2007

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 What is a compost?  A compost is how nature recycles things naturally.  When you see twigs or leaves on the forest floor, composting is taking place.  Living things will decompose and create nutrient rich soil.

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 What does a compost do?

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Why should we compost?  Every day each of us throws at least 4 pounds of garbage away.  That equals 1,460 pounds a year!  All of our garbage goes into a big pit called a landfill.  In the landfill, our garbage does not decompose.

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 What items can be composted?  Items that were once living can be put into a compost pile to break down.  Kitchen and yard scraps work the best.

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 What does the compost need to work effectively? 1.Soil 2.Scraps The 4 T’s 3.Temperature (soil must be hot) 4.Turning (you must mix the soil regularly) 5.Tiny bugs (they eat the scraps) 6.Thirst (for the tiny organisms to drink)

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Sow Bug

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Mold

Earthworm

Springtail

Hister Beetle and Mites

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Millipede

Pill Bug and Snail

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 What does a compost make? NUTRIENT RICH SOIL

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 What 6 things does a compost need? 1.Soil 2.Scraps The 4 T’s 3.Temperature (soil must be hot) 4.Turning (you must mix the soil regularly) 5.Tiny bugs (they eat the scraps) 6.Thirst (for the tiny organisms to drink)

NSF North Mississippi GK-8References  California Against Waste Compost. Accessed 21 March ddc  Department of Agriculture. Composting with Willie the worm. Accessed 21 March  How Stuff Works How a Landfill Works. Accessed 2005 October  How Stuff Works How a Compost Works. Accessed 2005 October  I EARN. Environmental protection. Accessed 21 March  Lavies, B Compost Critters. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books.  Pomona College Organic Farm Education.  Turn and Screen. Compost windrow cover. Accessed 21 March  Wikipedia Compost. Accessed 21 March