Transcript Each of us can help to create new, clean soil by

Composting Creates Soil
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LIVING ON PLANET EARTH
Composting
Creates Soil
Soil, is made from rocks
that have broken apart
or worn away over many
years. It also contains
air, water, and humus-the decayed remains of
dead plants and animals.
All of our food, clothing
and shelter begin with
good soil. It is an
important natural
resource that is often
damaged or misused.
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Each of us can help to create new, clean soil by collecting and
recycling our leftover plant materials such as scrap vegetables,
grass clippings, leaves, cardboard and Christmas trees.
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Many communities have recycling programs, and
countless families compost in their backyards. It’s
becoming easier to do.
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Humus
Humus is made with the help of animals
and other living organisms.
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These arthropods, worms, fungi and bacteria are
called decomposers. They break down the dead
plant and animal materials in natural environments
such as forests and prairies, oceans and lakes.
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Many people actively compost their unused plant
waste to make soil that will be used to grow new
plants or in construction projects. Composting is
recycling at its best – nature does it all the time.
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When we plan our
composting system we
need to make sure the
animals and microbes
have what they need in
order to live.
Decomposers require
food, water and air. We
do not put meat, fish,
bones, grease or fat in
our backyard or
community composting
systems because they
create odors that attract
nuisance animals.
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Composting Methods
There are a number of ways in which you can compost plant
materials to improve the soils in your home planting areas or
in your community. There are three types: aerobic
composting, anaerobic composting and vermicomposting.
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Aerobic composting uses air to keep
bacteria alive. The bacteria grow and
produce very high temperatures* that
break the plant material down quickly
without producing bad smells.
*(71o C, 160o F)
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Anaerobic composting is simply stacking
your plant materials in a pile and letting
it compact with the weather and time.
Because air is pressed out, beneficial
organisms are unable to live in the pile.
Instead, a very slow working bacteria
that doesn’t require air breaks down
the material.
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This is what happens to your garbage when it goes to
a landfill. It may take years for plant material to break
down. It is smelly and produces harmful compounds
like ammonia and methane.
Vermicomposting is the
best system to compost
food waste. It requires
the help of red worms,
bacteria, fungi, insects,
and other bugs. They
all work together to
break down the organic
materials for the others
to eat.
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You need to feed the red worms and make
sure there is enough oxygen and moisture
in the system to keep the compost pile
healthy. This is the system most gardeners
use in their backyards to make soil rich in
nutrients for their plants.
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Composting In Your Community
Many towns and cities compost plant
material rather than put it into a landfill
with garbage and trash.
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Some municipalities have
found ways to pay for
trash collection and other
services by encouraging
people to recycle as much
material as possible.
These efforts are very
rewarding for the citizens
and the communities in
which they live.
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People put yard debris such as grass clippings, brush,
and tree trimmings into recommended containers.
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This yard waste and corrugated
cardboard is collected and processed at
the composting facility where it will
produce compost, topdressing, planting
soil and wood mulch.
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Rich Soils Produce Healthy Environments
Become part of a growing community. There are more people
recycling their yard waste rather than throwing it out with
their trash that is headed for the landfill.
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Many families have
made or purchased
composting systems for
their homes and
neighborhoods. Help
make every day Earth
Day by joining a
composting effort. By
recycling plant materials
we help to produce
vibrant soils that offer
nurturing food, and
dependable clothing
fiber and building
materials.
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Composting Creates Soil
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LIVING ON PLANET EARTH
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