1. CUE Farm Compost Butler University, Fall 2017
Grace Hart, Environmental Studies
Problem: The current compost structure fell apart due to poor initial construction. The compost material was spilling out the sides and it was overgrown with plants. There was no proper maintenance schedule to prevent these things from happening.
Research was conducted mainly using anecdotal information to determine the ideal approach to small farm composting.
Primary goals:
Cost effective
Long-lasting
Replaceable parts
Sifter feature
Pest resistant
Products:
Maintenance procedures
Compost building plans
Price estimates
This project provided a sustainable compost system and structure to help the CUE continue its mission to “Innovatively explore, steward, and enhance urban ecosystems.”
End Product: A triple bin compost structure with a half-door on the front of each bin for easy access to finished compost that is pest resistant because of the use of hardware cloth. The inexpensive materials (Palettes) are easy to remove and replace, which will increase the longevity of the structure. It rests on cinderblocks, avoiding direct ground contact and therefore preventing decomposition of the wood palettes. A weekly maintenance system was set to keep ideal conditions for compost.
Future Steps: Construction of the structure, implementation of maintenance procedures