LIVING ON PLANET EARTH Composting Creates Soil © 2011 abcteach.com

Composting Creates Soil Soil, is made from rocks that have broken apart or worn away over many years. It also contains air, water, and humus-- the decayed remains of dead plants and animals. All of our food, clothing and shelter begin with good soil. It is an important natural resource that is often damaged or misused. © 2011 abcteach.com

Each of us can help to create new, clean soil by collecting and recycling our leftover plant materials such as scrap vegetables, grass clippings, leaves, cardboard and Christmas trees. © 2011 abcteach.com

Many communities have recycling programs, and countless families compost in their backyards. It’s becoming easier to do. © 2011 abcteach.com

Humus Humus is made with the help of animals and other living organisms.

These arthropods, worms, fungi and bacteria are called decomposers. They break down the dead plant and animal materials in natural environments such as forests and prairies, oceans and lakes. © 2011 abcteach.com

Many people actively compost their unused plant waste to make soil that will be used to grow new plants or in construction projects. Composting is recycling at its best – nature does it all the time. © 2011 abcteach.com

When we plan our composting system we need to make sure the animals and microbes have what they need in order to live. Decomposers require food, water and air. We do not put meat, fish, bones, grease or fat in our backyard or community composting systems because they create odors that attract nuisance animals. © 2011 abcteach.com

Composting Methods There are a number of ways in which you can compost plant materials to improve the soils in your home planting areas or in your community. There are three types: aerobic composting, anaerobic composting and vermicomposting. © 2011 abcteach.com

Aerobic composting uses air to keep bacteria alive. The bacteria grow and produce very high temperatures* that break the plant material down quickly without producing bad smells. *(71 o C, 160 o F)

© 2011 abcteach.com Anaerobic composting is simply stacking your plant materials in a pile and letting it compact with the weather and time. Because air is pressed out, beneficial organisms are unable to live in the pile. Instead, a very slow working bacteria that doesn’t require air breaks down the material.

This is what happens to your garbage when it goes to a landfill. It may take years for plant material to break down. It is smelly and produces harmful compounds like ammonia and methane.

Vermicomposting is the best system to compost food waste. It requires the help of red worms, bacteria, fungi, insects, and other bugs. They all work together to break down the organic materials for the others to eat. © 2011 abcteach.com

You need to feed the red worms and make sure there is enough oxygen and moisture in the system to keep the compost pile healthy. This is the system most gardeners use in their backyards to make soil rich in nutrients for their plants.

© 2011 abcteach.com Composting In Your Community Many towns and cities compost plant material rather than put it into a landfill with garbage and trash.

Some municipalities have found ways to pay for trash collection and other services by encouraging people to recycle as much material as possible. These efforts are very rewarding for the citizens and the communities in which they live. © 2011 abcteach.com

People put yard debris such as grass clippings, brush, and tree trimmings into recommended containers. © 2011 abcteach.com

This yard waste and corrugated cardboard is collected and processed at the composting facility where it will produce compost, topdressing, planting soil and wood mulch.

Rich Soils Produce Healthy Environments Become part of a growing community. There are more people recycling their yard waste rather than throwing it out with their trash that is headed for the landfill. © 2011 abcteach.com

Many families have made or purchased composting systems for their homes and neighborhoods. Help make every day Earth Day by joining a composting effort. By recycling plant materials we help to produce vibrant soils that offer nurturing food, and dependable clothing fiber and building materials. © 2011 abcteach.com

LIVING ON PLANET EARTH Composting Creates Soil © 2011 abcteach.com Images Courtesy of: Microsoft Clipart Contributions from abcteach.com staff members, and others as identified.