Compost in a Jar

  To introduce all the classes to our new compost system,  they have been making 'Compost Stew'

We started by talking about WHY we compost, how it benefits US and the environment. 

We all had a look at the BLACK GOLD compost we had in a jar and the compost Room 7 and Room 8 made last year. It took over 6 months but has now turned into beautiful, rich black compost. 

We read the story Compost Stew and talked about what can go into the compost. 

Everything we need in the compost can be put into these groups: 

* GREENS (to add nitrogen)

* BROWNS (to add carbon) 

* WATER

* AIR

How we made the Compost in a Jar

We had 2 jars so got into 2 teams. Then we got with a buddy, we had to collect either greens or browns in an old ice cream tub. 

We started by adding soil to the jar then we add greens and browns in layers; 

- green , soil, brown, soil and keep going like that. 

  

We didn't squish it down too much as it needs air. We then added water and a paper towel on the top which had an elastic band around it. 

In the jar there is also FBI -  Fungi, Bacteria and Insects. They are in what we took (the layers) and they will help make the compost and the level on the compost go down. 

We will leave it somewhere in class where it will get sun and each week measure the compost (height and temperature). 

I predict the compost stew made by our year 3's will make compost faster because it has more air and the pieces inside the jar were smaller. 

By Aimee.