Purpose
To make a compost pile and explain how a compost pile can help aid the environment by recycling used items rather than trashing them and sending them to a landfill.
Additional information
Many gardeners use pre-purchased compost bags to aid in their plant growth. You can make a compost pile on your own and use it to fertilize plants and recycle used items. How does making compost help the environment?
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Required materials
- Compost bin or area in your yard in which you can create the compost pile
- Garden tools such as a shovel and spade
- Various yard and kitchen waste
- Hose
- Journal or notebook
Estimated Experiment Time
A couple of months
Step-By-Step Procedure
- 1. Start by placing your compost bin in an area of the yard where you can easily dispose of yard and kitchen waste, or prepare an area in your yard in which to create the compost pile.
- 2. Add green yard waste, such as old flowers, grass clippings from the lawnmower or fallen green leaves from trees. Don’t use anything that has had pesticide sprayed on it or has been treated with chemicals!
- 3. Add brown yard waste, such as dried leaves from trees and other dead plant material.
- 4. As you use food and other items from your kitchen, you can add them to your compost pile. Good things to add are banana peels, cut up vegetables (for example, the peels of a cucumber or potato that would normally be thrown away) and egg shells. You don’t want to throw everything into your compost pile though – stay away from dairy, meats and any product that isn’t plant based.
- 5. Keep your compost pile damp (not soaked and not dry) and let it decompose for a month or two.
Note
Make sure you have the authority to create a compost pile in your backyard. If you live in an apartment or rental unit, make sure you get permission!
Observation
Keep an eye on your compost pile and record any observations in your notebook.
Result
When your pile is finished, use it to fertilize plants. Do you think making a compost pile has helped the environment? What would have happened to the waste had it not been recycled into compost? Would the environment have suffered? How has making a compost pile as opposed to purchasing compost not only aided the environment but helped your garden grow as well?
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