Compost!

Compost!

This book is intended to start a conversation about sustainable living at home and in communities. Use it as a launching point with your students towards building a common language around sustainability, climate change, and growing food close to home.

Written by Robin Ross Edited by Alex Hughes Photos courtesy of Canva.com Brilliant Labs, 2021

Compost is decaying organic matter, like vegetable scraps and yard waste that can be mixed into the soil to feed plants. It’s a natural way to have a healthy garden!

Composting is the best way to recycle food waste that would otherwise go to a land fill.

Some farmers and gardeners use synthetic fertilizers. This means the fertilizers are made with chemicals made in a factory.

These fertilizers are convenient, especially if you have a very large garden! However, there are many benefits for gardeners that make their own compost. The compost holds moisture in the soil, and helps reduce weeds and diseases in the plants.

Remember: Fertilizers give plants the nutrients they need to grow.

Compost gives the soil nutrients it needs to produce healthy plants.

To start, you need a large container like a garbage can. A hole in the ground can also be used to store compost while it decomposes. It should be in a spot that gets a lot of sunlight and allows water to drain away. Food waste, leaves, grass trimmings, and manure all make great additions to compost.

Each of these adds something different to the soil that can be helpful to the plants. "Green" compost, like fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clipping, and even seaweed, add nitrogen to the soil. "Brown" compost like leaves, sawdust, dead plants, and newspaper add carbon, among other nutrients. Typically, it is recommended that you use a ratio of three parts brown material and one part green. You'll need to add water and stir your pile during the summer while it is composting. Remember: Adding layers of brown compost will help it drain water and get enough oxygen from the air.

It isn't recommended that you use meat or dairy while making compost. They attract animals and can promote bacteria growth that isn't good for your garden soil.

Your compost will need at least a few months to fully break down. It needs to be watered, stirred, and lots of patience.

You’ll know it’s ready to use when It’s crumbly, dark brown, and smells like soil.

Mix your compost in with the soil for a healthier plant. You can also spread it around the base of shrubs or trees, or even sprinkle it on a lawn.

By putting extra work and care into your plants, you will get more out of them. It’s one of the ways we can care for our environment and the sustainability of our farms.

Glossary compost: decayed organic materials used to fertilize the soil. decompose: when something organic breaks down into smaller parts. For example, leave decompose on the forest floor. sustainability: meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. synthetic fertilizers: fertilizer that is made by humans using materials not found naturally.

Inquiry questions: Are homes or farms in your area using compost?

What would happen to a farm field if they never added compost to it?

How does using compost affect animals in the ecosystem?

What would happen if everyone in your community used their organic waste to make compost?

Take It Further: Make your own compost and use it to nourish other plants. How could you measure whether your compost made a difference to the plants?

Visit projects.brilliantlabs.ca and search the projects linked to gardening and SDG #11.

HOW WE CAN HELP TEACHERS & EARLY LEARNERS Brilliant Labs is a not-for-profit, hands-on technology and experiential learning platform based in Atlantic Canada. We support the integration of global citizenship, creativity, innovation, coding, and an entrepreneurial spirit within classrooms and educational curricula.

If you have questions about our organization and how we can help you in your classroom or virtually, please connect with us by email at info@brilliantlabs.ca or visit www.BrilliantLabs.ca