Composting in childcare production gardens

NC STATE EXTENSION NU*< NATURAL LEARNING INITIATIVE Composting in Childcare Production Gardens Local Foods: Childcare Center Production Gardens This publication is a how-to guide for starting a garden- related standard compost bin in a childcare center Outdoor Learning Environment (OLE). Included is guidance on design, construction, and management of compost bins as well as curriculum connections.This is the seventh of eight publications about childcare center production gardens. Composting is an easy, natural way to recycle and absolutely fascinates children as they begin to understand nature as a process of transformation. Compost can be made from most organic materials, such as leaves, kitchen scraps, and Outdoor Learning Environment (OLE) trimmings. The finished compost can be used as a soil amendment, mulch, or both, to improve the health of soil and therefore of plants. Compostable organic materials are commonly referred to as ’'browns'' and "greens." Browns are sugar-rich carbon sources that provide energy to microorganisms, absorb excess moisture, and provide structure to the compost. Greens are protein-rich nitrogen sources that provide energy and moisture to microorganisms (Figure 1). NITROGEN (GREEN) ■ Grass clippings ■ Vegetable scraps ■ Fruits ■ Coffee grounds and filters ■ Tea bags and tea leaves ■ Rinsed eggshells ■ Old herbs, spices ■ Flowers, dead blossoms Freezer-burned vegetables, fruits ■ Aquarium water, algae, plants CARBON (BROWN) Leaves, twigs, yard trimmings ■ Yarn, thread, string, rope Paper rolls (towel, toilet, gift wrap) ■ Straw, hay, corn cobs ■ Newspaper, non-glossy paper Pizza and cereal boxes, paper egg cartons ■ Grains, cereal, crackers ■ Paper bags, baking cups ■ Sawdust, wood bark and chips ■ Bamboo skewers, toothpicks Figure 1. Appropriate "greens" and "browns" for making compost. NAPPROPRIATE ITEMS Adding "greens" to a compost bin. These organic materials should not go into the compost: ■ Dog or cat feces and litter ■ Dirty diapers ■ Used facial or toilet tissue ■ Animal matter (meat, fish, bones, fats, grease, lard, oils, eggs, butter, milk, yogurt, and sour cream) ■ Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides ■ Diseased or insect-infested plants ■ Black walnut tree leaves or twigs ■ Weeds that have gone to seed or have invasive roots ■ Charcoal ash, coal, and wood ash ■ Pressure-treated lumber, pressed wood, and plywood ■ Magazines, catalogs, wrapping paper, greeting cards with metallic inks, and photographs Composting in Childcare Production Gardens 1