Getting Your Children to Compost

A compost heap is a way of disposing of kitchen and yard refuse by allowing them naturally decompose. Composting is a clean, safe, healthy process that can be turned into a pretty easy project for you and your children. Composting results in the creation of good dirt! As waste matter decomposes, it turns in to the topsoil that you can use for your garden or houseplants.

A compost pile can easily be set up in a corner of the yard with few supplies. Take your child out exploring and look for a level spot about 3- to 5-feet square out of direct sunlight.

Once you and your child find the right spot in your yard it is time to break out the rake and clear the area of sod and grass. Once cleared it is time to build your bin. When building a composting bin you want to be sure to leave enough space for air to reach the pile. This is one reason I like to use chicken wire and scrap wood posts.

The first step in building the compost heap is to grab three to five pieces of scrap wood to frame the area. You will want to hammer the posts into the ground. Once this is done I use a staple gun to staple chicken wire to the posts. The next step involves the kids. I like to challenge my children to gather up all of the leaves, sticks, etc. in your yard and put them into the compost heap to get it started. the goal is to have a nice base of four inch base of yard material to get things started.

Now you are ready to go. You will want to teach your children what to put into the compost bin. Let them know that foods can be composted, including vegetable trimmings, egg shells, coffee grounds with filters, and tea bags. You will also want to let them know that other items you might not have even considered can be composted. They can add to the bin things such as leaves, grass, yard clippings, vacuum cleaner lint, wool and cotton rags, sawdust, shredded newspaper, and fireplace ashes.

Every few weeks you will want to have an adult turn the compost with a pitchfork. This will circulate air and distribute moisture evenly. Don't be surprised by the heat of the pile or if you see worms, these are signs that the decomposition process is at work.

Your compost heap will be ready for use in 3 to 6 months. You will know it is good to go when it is a dark crumbly material that is uniform in texture.

Once the compost is done I like to get my children involved in using the compost to use as potting materials. We like to pot garden mums in the fall or use it to cover the seeds of our vegetable garden in the spring. You can spread it in the garden or yard beds or under the shrubbery.

Most importantly have fun with this process and enjoy passing on a natural way of disposing of waste material to your children. This will help create a more sustainable future.