There is no waste in nature. You could say that composting is nature’s recycling system. For example, when leaves fall to the ground, over time they will turn into soft black dirt, sometimes called “humus”. The same thing happens when a whole tree falls to the ground, or when an animal dies. Anything that was once alive will eventually “decompose” and return to the earth.
Composting takes advantage of this natural process, and, like magic, it turns our kitchen garbage into treasure! Composting begins with thousands of bacteria that cannot be seen without a microscope, which live naturally in the soil. Once the bacteria have started their work breaking down the garbage, the insects and worms in your compost pile start working, too. Compost is teeming with living things! Just like us, these compost decomposers have three basic requirements: air, water, and food. They love to eat organic things that we throw away such as coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peelings, grass clippings, and leaves. You can see some of these decomposer animals, like earthworms and millipedes, with your eyes, and for some, the bacteria, you will need a hand lens or microscope. All of these living things are decomposers that fit into the cycle of life. Our organic garbage becomes their resource!
Why should you compost?
When you compost, you are sending less waste to the landfill, recycling and re-using natural materials, and making a natural, beneficial, and non-harmful soil fertilizer. Wow! Like a magician who pulls a rabbit out of a hat, your compost pile can turn organic garbage into treasure!
What can you do with this treasure?
Plants LOVE the humus, or dirt, that you make when you compost. When you add this rich dirt to your garden, it helps nourish the earth and its new growing plants. Humans depend on healthy soil to grow our food, so when you compost you are helping to make the planet a healthier place for everybody. Some people compost their food and garden wastes in their back yard most often in a compost pile or bin. Some people have worm composters (also called vermicomposters). Some schools have composters. How do you think you can start to compost?
Sustainability + You = Turning your vegetable food scraps and yard waste into compost!
Yes, our students and teachers are making a difference!
Turning garbage into gold at ÉCOLE ROBERT BROWNING
Don't dump that trash. Don't pitch that tea bag or toss that turnip. Turn your garbage into gold--compost it!
Students at École Robert Browning were thrilled to get their compost “up and running”. Mary, from Resource Conservation Manitoba presented to each class and at lunch hour, students contributed to the organic matter container. We all paraded outdoors to create the perfect start to our new compost bin. Our lunch program and classroom teachers will continue to support this initiative. Composting is when plant matter changes into soil-like material called humus (commonly called compost). This process of decomposition is helped by air and water. Insects, earthworms, bacteria, and fungi help with this transformation. Composting is a natural form of recycling which happens in nature all the time. École Robert Browning is dedicated to this and many other “green” initiatives. Student involvement and student voice were goals we are working hard to achieve in our efforts to be “enviro-friendly”. To learn more about this initiative, please contact Michelle Gashyna, Principal. (September 2009)
The compost bins have arrived! The St. James-Assiniboia School Division keeps getting greener! The compost bins are here! Eight schools and the Maintenance Shop have decided to pilot a new outdoor composting program in our school division.
It all started with the help of our superintendent’s department applying for a Green Schools Grant. A portion of the funds have gone toward the composting project and the rest of the funds have gone to several other sustainable living causes within our school division. Our division carpenters took on the challenge to design and build our own outdoor compost bins. They made the bins out of untreated cedar so that the bins themselves can be composted one day. The bins are designed so that young students can participate in putting compostable (organic) materials into the bins as well as turning the materials in the composter. At Stevenson, Mr. Jake Doty (an EA), and our Eco-Kids team take out the compost pails from the lunchrooms and staffroom every day. Mr. Grant Johnston (our caretaker) provides us with our tools and our brown materials (dried leaves, sawdust, twigs, shredded paper). This year at Stevenson we want to learn more about how we can reduce the amount of garbage we produce as well as how we can give back to our earth. In September, we had a presenter from Resource Conservation Manitoba teach each classroom in our school about how to compost and the benefits of composting. By spring, we hope to have enough compost ready to add to our gardens and possibly use to create more gardens. To learn more about this initiative, please contact Jane Couch, Vice Principal. (September 2009)
What can a handful of teachers and a small group of students do to help reduce their ecological footprints? This important question was asked by the staff and students at Phoenix School.
One idea that was implemented beginning early in 2009 was the “waste free lunch”. Both parents and students attended an assembly where we talked about the idea that we could reduce the big and ugly pile of garbage from just one day’s lunch to almost nothing. Now, we try to only bring items that can be recycled or composted to school. Vegetable waste is being looked after by the Grade Four students' vermicomposting. The red wriggler worms have been a very interesting project for our Grade Fours. We have seen a significant reduction in lunch garbage which is a measurable success. We will harvest the rich compost. The little worms may not like the light, but they sure enjoy apple cores and banana peels! The compost will be collected and used to fertilize our garden plots. To learn more about this initiative, please contact Lisa White, Principal of Phoenix School. (spring 2009)
SJASD gets greener with support from Green Manitoba
We are excited about obtaining funding from Green Manitoba in the amount of $22,500.00 for sustainable development projects around the Division!
Some of this funding is being targeted to purchase composting bins. By the end of June 2009, new composters will be built at eight Early Years’ Schools around the Division. Several of our schools including Lakewood, Voyageur, Brooklands, Crestview, Phoenix, Stevenson, Strathmillan and Robert Browning schools will be able to participate in this educational and practical “green” project! To learn more about this initiative, please contact Brett Lough, Assistant Superintendent, Administration, Planning, and Research, Phone 888-7951 ext.228. (June 2009)
