Restore: Soil
Want to learn more? Check out our composting resources!
Students from Covenant Classical Christian School making an indoor vermicomposting bin under the guidance of Green Steps mentor Ryan Nevius.
- What should be composted?
fall leaves, fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags, tissue paper, and “gray-on-the-inside” cardboard can all be composted. - What shouldn't be composted?
Anything meaty, fatty, oily, sugary or milky cannot be composted; these items may attract pests. - Decide where you will put the materials for composting
- An indoor worm bin can be made from a plastic container or foam cooler with air holes poked into the lid. Add damp “bedding materials” (shredded newspaper or peat moss) and Red Wiggler Worms (NOT night crawlers or earth worms). Bury small fruit scraps daily in each corner of the bin. Slow down if food is not gone after a four day rotation. Worms can eat half their weight each day. Keep bedding damp and the temperature moderate. When bedding becomes “goop” place food only at one end for two weeks in order to swap out the bedding at the opposite end. Use the vermi-compost as mulch around plants or dilute it to make a compost “tea” that is great for your plants!
- Garden bins should be placed at least 10 feet from your school.
- Great compost bins are available for as little as $39.95 from Gardener’s Supply Company
- DHEC Recycling Education grants will pay for compost equipment. Schools may need multiple bins. More bins may be needed as participation grows.
- Great compost bins are available for as little as $39.95 from Gardener’s Supply Company
- An indoor worm bin can be made from a plastic container or foam cooler with air holes poked into the lid. Add damp “bedding materials” (shredded newspaper or peat moss) and Red Wiggler Worms (NOT night crawlers or earth worms). Bury small fruit scraps daily in each corner of the bin. Slow down if food is not gone after a four day rotation. Worms can eat half their weight each day. Keep bedding damp and the temperature moderate. When bedding becomes “goop” place food only at one end for two weeks in order to swap out the bedding at the opposite end. Use the vermi-compost as mulch around plants or dilute it to make a compost “tea” that is great for your plants!
- Determine how you will collect the materials
For example: place buckets with attached lids in lunch rooms, kitchens, and beside hand-washing sinks (Cat litter buckets with attached lids work great!) - Decide how you will layer the materials and facilitate composting
- Empty school buckets into compost bins each day. Put dry material (dry leaves work best) on top of the wet material each day to eliminate odors and insects and you can also enlist parents to bring in bags of dry leaves.
- Add oxygen by flipping the pile weekly and add water to keep material damp, like a wrung out sponge. Tear larger items, smaller items will decompose faster.
- Place the compost on bare ground for surface contact with soil critters.
- Empty school buckets into compost bins each day. Put dry material (dry leaves work best) on top of the wet material each day to eliminate odors and insects and you can also enlist parents to bring in bags of dry leaves.
- How will you finish the compost?
You may want to use two bins — “cook” the first semester batch until spring without adding new materials in bin #1. Then, “cook” the second semester batch until fall without adding new materials in bin #2. - Put your compost to use!
Sprinkle it around your plants or mix 1 part compost into 5 parts garden soil for planting.
Want to learn more? Check out our composting resources!
