Miss B’s Worker Bees-Carbon Cycle Composting Bins

We were excited to set up our new compost bins in May as a part of our project which aims to reduce school waste and to learn about sustainability. We use a multi-box system to turn school waste into rich soil. To start a new box, we line the bottom with dry twigs to help air flow through the pile. Next, we build the compost by adding equal amounts of “greens,” such as kitchen scraps, and “browns,” such as dry leaves. We chop up any large pieces so the tiny decomposers can break them down much faster. We mix these layers well and add water to keep the pile damp but not soggy. When a box is full, we cover the top with extra-dry leaves and sacks to keep out smells and bugs. We use a thermometer to check that the pile gets hot enough to work properly. Once it cools down, we fork it into the next box to cure under a tarp. It is ready when it looks and smells like fresh forest dirt! Thank you to Caleb Johnson, Izaac Hutchins, Micah Ogilvie, and Sanveer Madhoo for their mahi!