2. http://www.quietyoutube. com/watch?v=edH488k5R ng http://www.quietyoutube. com/watch?v=edH488k5R ng

3. So… We can decay biomass (living matter) by using compost ing!

4. Let’s Talk About It!!

5. What is Composting?  Composting is the transformation of biomass through decomposition into a soil-like material called compost.  Invertebrates (insects and earthworms) and micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi) help in transforming the biomass into compost.  Composting is a natural form of recycling which continuously occurs in nature.  During decomposition, bacteria and fungi feed, reproduce and give off great amounts of heat.

6. Do you remember that Decay is a Chemical Change? Do you remember evidence of chemical change? Bubbling? Fizzing? Foaming? Becoming colder “on its own”? Becoming hotter “on its own”? What evidence of chemical change do you see here? http://www.compost.org/conf2006/4ResearchMatters/ExtractingHeatfromCompost.pdf

7. Do you see evidence of thermal energy being produced in this compost pile? http://www.css.cornell.edu/compost/why.html http://hotdogjam.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/compost_heap.jpg

8.  Heat water  Run heated water under flooring to keep houses warm  Heat greenhouses to grow food in winter  What can you think of? What if we could capture that thermal energy and put it to use? http://www.magicsoil.com/Heat/index.htm

9. So… Composting can provide energy – THERMAL ENERGY!

10. After the biomass has decayed, it is now rich in nutrients (such as nitrogen) and can be added to soil to help plants grow.

11. http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/images/g06956figure01.jpg

12. See the Whole Process on the Next Few Slides!

17.  Reduces landfills  Decays biomass (which would be trash)  Chemically changes bio-trash into nutrient-rich soil, which can be used as fertilizer  Produces thermal energy, which can be harnessed So….. Why is Composting Good?

18. To promote the breakdown of organic materials, you need 3 things:   A good carbon:nitrogen ratio (4 parts carbon:1 part nitrogen)   Sources of carbon (“browns” or dry, hard materials) are dry leaves, sawdust, shredded newspaper, hay, straw, and eggshells.   Sources of nitrogen (“greens” or wet, soft materials) are manure, green plants, grass clippings, vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, and tea bags.   Water, which you add whenever you add new dry materials to the pile   Microorganisms, which are introduced by adding a few shovelfuls of dirt to the pile What to compost:

19.   Leftover cooked food (it attracts animals, contains fats and oils that are slow to break down, and contains salt that is harmful to plants)   Meats (raw or cooked) and cheeses (they attract animals, contain fats and oils that are slow to break down, and contain salt that is harmful to plants)   Inorganic material like plastic or metal (it won’t break down)   Cloth and glossy paper (they take too long to break down and contain chemicals that are harmful to plants )   Pet waste (it makes it smell bad and can introduce disease)   Living weeds with roots (they may grow in your bin) What not to compost:

20.   The plant materials should decompose into compost within 4 months in warm weather, longer under cool or dry conditions.   The smaller the pieces of material, the faster they will compost. Shred newspaper, crumble eggshells, dry leaves, etc.   Warning signs:   If the pile is not hot, it lacks either nitrogen or moisture.   If the pile smells like ammonia, it is too wet or too tightly packed for oxygen circulation.   If the compost is slow to break down, the pieces you added may be too large, or it’s too cold outside.   When the compost looks like dirt, remove it from the pile and distribute to lawn and plants in your yard.   Distribute evenly on top of dirt; don’t let the compost touch the stems of plants (unless they have bark) because the compost will weaken the structure of the stems. Important Information