Composting Activities

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN WORM COMPOST BIN

Materials Needed…

·         1 12-gallon plastic storage bin (colored NOT clear)

·         Electric drill fitted with 1/2-inch drill bit

·         Hot glue gun

·         Four plastic soda lids

·         Newspaper

·         Water

·         1 pound of red worms

Procedure

1. Drill about eight holes into the bottom of the storage bin. Space them out evenly to provide consistent drainage throughout the bin.


2. Glue plastic soda lids to each of the four corners on the bottom of the container. These "legs" will slightly lift the container to allow drainage.


3. Place the storage bin on a flat surface outdoors. The storage bin may remain outdoors when the temperature outside is between 55 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, place the bin indoors with a tray under it.


4. Shred a newspaper into strips about an inch wide. Fill about two-thirds of the bin with the newspaper strips.


5. Pour six cups of water into the bin and swish the newspaper strips around to fully saturate them.


6. Place the worms in the bin. Allow them to live in the bin for about three days before feeding them.


7. Fill the bin with food waste such as fruits, vegetables, eggshells, tea bags and coffee grounds. Add coffee filters, leaves and other yard clippings as well. Do not add plastic, meat or dairy.


8. Continue to put your food waste into the bin each day. Add new food waste to just a quarter of the bin at a time. Dig halfway down into each section, place the food down in an even layer and cover with the old waste you dug up. Rotate quarter sections each time you feed your worms.

COMPOST DIGGERS

Imagine on a pleasant day, your teacher or parent tells you that you are “Bob the Builder” for the day! Your task was to peel the turf or sod away from a 3-by-3-foot portion of ground. This area marked your composting headquarters. Use a pair of gardening gloves and garden rake to help remove the sod. Explain that removing the sod helps the "special compost creatures" get to the organic waste more easily. While you work, keep track of if they can find any creatures that might help in the composting process. Although they won't be able to see the bacteria that help produce compost, they should be able to find larger composting organisms, such as ants, worms, millipedes, slugs and spiders.