Getting the Kids Started on Composting

Spending the last three years in the "city" is no excuse for my not having taught the kids the lesson of composting.  Now that my family is planning a cross-state move to a rural area in North Carolina, I find myself dreaming of all of nature's wonders I can share with the kids.  One of those wonders is gardening.  I have to be committed to a garden in the country because it will become the virtual classroom of my kids.  It seems kids and adults alike often believe that the Earth can't take care of herself on her own, that her management depends on how much we humans take from her.  And we know that the truth is we are part of the problem and the only messes we really ever clean up are the ones we create and we don't really ever do that great of a job with that.

Ever noticed how in the woods it isn't piled as high as the trees with dead leaves? That's because every year the leaves rot and bugs and worms and bacteria help turn the old stuff into nutrients to grow new plants.  This is what I plan to accomplish in the safety and comfort of my own kitchen. How? Compost!

Creating a kitchen composter ain't so tough. Here's how you can start:

1. First, you need a plastic bin or wooden box.
2. Fill the box with damp — not soaking wet — paper and cardboard shreddings. This is called the worm's "bedding."
3. Add your worms. Be sure they are red worms (red wrigglers). You can order them online or find them at a local bait shop. Don't use earthworms — they won't survive!
4. Chop up your leftovers from dinner — bread, pasta, fruits & veggies and bury them under the bedding.
5. Let the composting begin!
6. As the worms magically turn your trash into "castings," you can scoop some out to fertilize your garden.