Players Needed: At least 1 adult for supervision, direction and assistance during the course of
craft project
Materials Needed:
Plastic garbage pail or bin that has an accompanying tight fitting lid (keeps
those unwanted animals away).
Drill
Shredded newspaper or dried foliage
Soil (can be from your garden)
At least 1 adult to operate the drill and offer instructional advice.
Steps:
- Begin by adult drilling approximately 10 small, randomly, but equally spaced
holes in the bottom of the pail. Then have adult drill 2-3 small holes randomly placed holes around the sides of
the bin. These holes will ultimately allow for optimum aeration of the compost to occur.
- Have child(ren) fill bottom of pail 1⁄4 full with shredded newspaper, dried foliage such as leaves (or both).
- Next, have children layer dirt into the pail until entire mixture fills 1⁄2 of the pail.
- Advise child(ren) that you need to select a place for pail that is outside,
away from the home and out of the direct sun.
- Continually, add various grass clippings, fruits, veggies, coffee grounds, tea
bags (minus the tag staple), egg shells, torn up cardboard, toilet/paper towel
rolls.
*Never add any of the following items: Meats, fish, bones, bread, pasta, prepared foods, plastic or synthetic
materials, oil/fat, pet or human feces, diapers, weeds that have matured to
seed, diseased plants, magazines, coal, ash, or cat litter.
- Continually aerate the pail by mixing and agitating the compost. Ensure that mixture remains fairly moist. You can add a little water if your climate is dry or if mixture is too moist,
you can easily add more dry materials such as newspaper and dried leaves.
- Once compost has matured (towards the bottom) feel free to add to your garden.
