Transcript Compost Compilations

Compost Compilations
Kelly Feille
What is this rotting mess?
• Composting speeds up the natural process of
decomposition
• Bring together organic materials, create for
them a prefect environment for decomposing
com=together
post=to bring
Why should I compost?
• ¾ of household waste is
organic material
– Yard waste 230 pounds
per person a year
– Food waste 100 pounds
per person a year
– Family of 4 = 1320
pounds of organic waste
a year
A small school of 400
students serving two
meals a day resulting
in 50 pounds of food
waste per student
produces ONE TON
of compostable
material a year.
Healthy Soil
• Compost contains N, P and K as well as Boron,
Cobalt, Iodine, Iron, Manganese,
Molybdenum and Zinc and releases these
nutrients as plants need them.
• Increases water capacity of soil
• Neutralizes toxins and metals
• Acts as a pH buffer
How it works
• Organisms work to break down organic
material releasing valuable nutrients.
– Bacteria
– Fungi & Actinomycetes
– Macroorganisms
(worms and insects)
Three levels of bacterial growth
• Psychropilic below 55° F
oxidizes Carbon and
releases heat energy to
move into mesophilic zone
• Mesophilic 70°-90°F where
much of the decomposition
occurs
• Thermophilic 100°-160°F
peaking temperature where
harmful substances are
killed off
Beyond bacteria
• Fungi & Actinomycetes
– Cool temperature fungi
break down cellulose &
lignin
– Medium temperature ½
breeds of fungi and
bacteria (actinomycetes)
have a cobwebby look.
• Macroorganisms
– Earthworms
– Insects
Getting Started
Methods
• Heap method - a 5’x3’ pile out in the open. You’ll need at least two piles.
• Indore Process (not indoor) invented by Sir Albert Howard uses sandwich
like layers of green/wet – dry/withered and requires you to keep an
accurate moisture content, optimum pile size and good aeration.
• University of California Method will give you compost in just 14 days. Use
all chopped or shredded material with a thorough blending of C:N and
turn your material often.
• Ogden 3 pile system requires that you move a completed compost pile
and start a new one. The idea is that you should have compost at 3
different stages at all times; beginning, middle, end.
Systems
• Wooden box made using pallets.
Create ½ of a cube to contain
your compost. It is
recommended to use 4 pallets
per box, using one as a floor
piece to allow for aeration.
• Circular or 5 panel wire bins
• 3 bin system made from wood
and wire
• Commercial plastic bins made
from a steel drum or garbage can
• Composting tumblers
Compostable Materials
GREEN MATERIALS
• Shaved feathers contain Nitrogen
• Garbage – all organic kitchen refuse (including coffee grinds!)
– Except grease, oil and animal fat! Meat scrapings will attract animals
and flies. Dishwater often contains grease.
• Grass clippings
– Dry first
– Mix with dry, absorbent materials
– Put them into layer – cake pile in thin layers
• Leaves – chop and mix to speed up decomposition
• Hops – spent (from brewery waste) may retain a bit of moisture
• Weeds – thermophilic temperatures kill most weed seeds and also if
subjected to digestive system of earthworm they will not survive. If you
add weeds, add manure or like substance to ensure sufficient heating.
“BROWN” MATERIALS
• Peat Moss – adds no nutrients, but adds bulk
• Newspaper – shredded
– Carcinogenic carbon black ink is rendered inert by high temperatures
– Colored ink is mostly vegetable dyes, no longer heavy metal ink
• Pine needles – break down slowly but are a good texturizer
• Sawdust – thin sprinkles
• Sod – adds topsoil and organic matter and is a good insulator (place on
top of pile, roots up, grass down)
• Ground stone and shells – very fine particles
• Hay or Straw – should be weathered first
• Hedge trimmings – chopped or shredded
• Ashes (wood only) potash a fine sprinkling over 18” or so
• Leather waste (dust) contains Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Ratio Recipe
Carbon to Nitrogen ratio of 30:1
Aka: Brown
Aka: Green
Do not use. . .
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Coal/charcoal
Colored paper with heavy metal dyes
Diseased plants
Non-biodegradable items (synthetic materials)
Pet litter
Sludge (human waste)
Toxic chemicals
Speeding it Up
Activators
Techniques
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Complete compost
Manure
Meal (but look out for pesticide
residue found on many types of
meal)
Natural activators
– Alfalfa meal, blood meal, bone
meal, compost, cotton seed
meal, fish meal, hoof meal,
manure, soil
Artificial activators
– 10-15-10 fertilizer – 1 cup for
every 10 square feet
Bacterial activators
Aeration
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Moisture
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Ratio of 40-60% (consistency of a well
wrung wet sponge)
Moisten as you build and add material
Moisten as you aerate
Use rainwater!
Turning your compost
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Ventilation stalks, lift and fluff with a pitch
fork or aerator.
To remain in a thermophilic state your
compost bin needs to be turned every 3-4
days
Turn the pile whenever the temperature
drops below 100° F
Ground, chop and chip your material
before you put it into your pile.
Is it done yet?
Finished compost will:
• Be free of pathogens & weed seeds
• Have an adequate supply of major nutrients
• Be crumbly
• Be dark in color
• Smell sweet & earthy
• Have a drop in temperature from 150°F to
outside temperature.
• Be 25-30% organic material
What do I do with it?
• Spread over whole growing are in the fall or a
month before spring planting
• Spread over plantings
• Compost tea
– 1 part compost with 5 parts water, stir and let sit
for several days and poor over plantings
• Don’t overdo it! Too much compost will not
be beneficial for your soil.
In the Classroom
Data to collect
• pH level – healthy soil ranges from 4.7-7.0
– Adding lime raises pH of soil
• Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK)
• Temperature
– Hot piles kill seeds, pathogens destroyed quickly
– Cold piles doesn’t harm earthworms, less turning needed
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Insects present
Odor
Color
Height
Texture/consistency
What changes are taking place in a
compost bin?
Tools available:
Thermometer Observation Disks
Meter Stick
Pitchfork Soil test kit
What data will we collect?
Is it qualitative or quantitative?
Data Analysis and Presentation
How will your group display your data and what
does it mean?
Be prepared to
share your findings!
Rosemont 6th Grade Compost Compilations
Take it home
• What changes will you need to make to this
activity to make it work for your students at
your school?
• What hints are helpful to keep in mind?
• Share your great ideas!
Evaluation Time
Thanks for coming! I hope you’ve learned
something and, even better, have something
you can take with you to your students!
Compost Compilations
Kelly Feille
Rosemont 6th Grade
FWISD
[email protected]