At home or at your school compost can be made out of leaves, grass clippings, vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, wood chips, straw, and small twigs.
Tiny living things do much of the work of breaking down organic materials to form compost. These tiny workers are called microorganisms and include such things as bacteria and fungi. Animals living in the soil help microorganisms break down organic materials. Worms and pill bugs are examples of soil animals that help change organic waste into compost.
As microorganisms and soil animals turn organic materials into compost, they use the organic materials as food. The organic materials provide many of the nutrients that plants need for growth and activity. Eventually, these nutrients are turned to the soil, to be used again by trees, grass, and other plants. This is nature's way of composting and recycling!!!
The compost that you make at your home or school can be used as a mulch or mixed into the soil. .
Compost is one of nature's best mulches and soil amendments. By composting and mulching you can save money by reducing your fertilizer and landscaping bills, lowering your water bill, and spending less on trash pickups or disposal.
Compost forms naturally nearly everywhere!!! Leaves drop from trees. Grass clippings are left after mowing the lawn. Plants and animals die. Over time, these organic materials break down or decompose. The rich, dark-brown, crumbly, soil-like material that results is called compost.
Compost
Why Compost?
Materials To Avoid
Best Ever Compost Recipe!!
Directions
How Does Composting Work?
Troubleshooting
What Can I Do with My Compost?
TNRCC Environmental Bulletin, Mulching and Compost
Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, Backyard Composting Wastes to Resources