OBJECTIVES: Making mixture of food waste, green waste, wood chips, and horse manue. Measuring heat energy from decomposition. VOCABULARY: proportion compost MATERIALS: food waste coffee containers (to measure out proportion) manue or other nitrogen rich data sheet green waste wood chips BACKGROUND: The actual breakdown of organic materials is accomplished by a wide variety of microorganisms. Managing the composting process for peak effectiveness can be seen as making sure that this vast workforce of tiny labourers is provided with everything that they need. These needs include: · a favourable carbon : nitrogen ratio · sufficient moisture · adequate oxygen PROCEDURE: 1.  Ask students to bring in food waste from home (mainly fruit, vegetables, egg shells).   Vegetables will help with nitrogen, espcially leafy vegetables.  Fruit helps with moisture. 2.  The goal is to fill the Jora Composter on one day.  Children can help break up green waste and put in coffee containers.  Ideally put in 3 parts food and green waste; 1 part manue, and 1 part wood chips.  Also turn the Jora composter to start the aeration and mixing process. 3.  After the event, have each class take a reading once a week and record on sheet.  4.  At the end of 3 months (or before a vacation) take out the pre-compost and put in black bins.  This will mature until students will use it at the end of the year to put in the science garden.

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