The Composters

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Now that we have our garden going and growing, we have started to compost to help reduce what we throw away in our trash bins and to help our garden.  Our PTA purchased a compost barrel for the garden several years ago. We use the barrel to make compost with fresh fruits and vegetables from the cafeteria and home, coffee grounds donated by a parent that works at Starbucks, dry leaves, paper, dead annuals and plants. A group of 3rd-5th graders collect the uneaten fruits and vegetables from the cafeteria and take it to the compost barrel every Wednesday. We have another compost pile that is made up of materials minus the food because we do not want to attract unwanted animals.

Tearing paper egg cartons to add to the compost.

Checking out the materials.

Unfortunately, not all students eat their veggies!

Taking the food to the compost barrel.

Adding in the food and turning that handle. Each student turns the handle 10 complete circles..

Students were amazed to see that the compost in the barrel broke down faster than they thought it would.