Growing Foods: Compost, Wiggley Worms and Bacteria!
At Chepstow School we use compost bins to put our fruit and vegetable waste in, from our cooking classes, our snacks and from the school kitchens. We have recycle bins to put our plastic bottles, waste paper and cans that would otherwise end up on top of a landfill site. We grow our own vegetables, so the trucks do not have to come to our school as much which cuts carbon emissions.
We are using our own grown soil to help us grow food and we are keeping journals to monitor the progress of the growth!
We are using our own grown soil to help us grow food and we are keeping journals to monitor the progress of the growth!
What is in compost?
Compost is the end product of the decomposition of organic matter. Organic matter includes: garden waste,kitchen scraps, manure, leaves, grass clippings, straw... There are many methods of composting, but all organic matter will eventually decompose in to soil, with or without our help.
http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenprimer/g/Compost.htm
Decomposing organic waste
Our Compost Bins
What is good soil?
The unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of the Earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants. (ii) The unconsolidated mineral or organic matter on the surface of the Earth that has been subjected to and shows effects of genetic and environmental factors of: climate (including water and temperature effects), and macro- and microorganisms, conditioned by relief, acting on parent material over a period of time.
A product-soil differs from the material from which it is derived in many physical, chemical, biological, and morphological properties and characteristics.
http://www.rtpi.org.uk/download/5687/Soils.pdf
Make your own compost!
Help the world by composting and not throwing your food waste away. Composting is not just getting some egg shells and putting them into a compost bin, it can be fun! Among other things, try composting some of the things on our list of Top Ten interesting things to compost and help save the world.
Top Ten interesting things to Compost:
1. Unpaid Bills
2. Limestone
3. Jelly
4. Melted Ice Cream
1. Unpaid Bills
2. Limestone
3. Jelly
4. Melted Ice Cream
5. Glue
6. Popcorn
7. Toenail Clippings
8. Chocolate Cookies
9. Snow
10. Soggy Cheerios
6. Popcorn
7. Toenail Clippings
8. Chocolate Cookies
9. Snow
10. Soggy Cheerios
Not just tomatoes!!!
Cheerios too!!
Wiggley worms, friends or foes?
Worms can live in water but most live underground in the soil. Worms have a very good sense of touch as they move though the soil. Worms have a good sense of sight as well as touch. They have an eyespot on their forehead which helps them see! Worms come in all different shapes and sizes. Some big worms can be metres long but smaller worms can be as small as millimetre long. Some worms are so small you can only see them through a good microscope! Some worms eat plants; some worms eat tiny animals that also live underground.
Here are some species of worms!
- Earth worm
- Slow worm
- Round worm
- Flat worm
- Ribbon worm
Did you know...
More than 3,000 species of earth worm exist in the world!
More than 3,000 species of earth worm exist in the world!
Did you know...
When earth worms travel through the ground they bring air into the soil. This allows plant roots to grow more easily.
Earth worms will eat almost anything that was once alive but is now dead!
If a worm is cut in half only the part of the body with the head will live.
A worm is a “hermaphrodite” since it has both male and female reproductive organs.
Worms can not hear or see.
Worms can have 1-5 pairs of hearts.
The earth worm does not have lungs but instead uses its skin to breath.
Worms are cold blooded and there bodies are made up of 80% water.
Worms typically live for about 3-4 years, however there have been some cases where they have lived to 15 years!
http://www.infobarrel.com/Top_10_facts_about_Worms
When earth worms travel through the ground they bring air into the soil. This allows plant roots to grow more easily.
Earth worms will eat almost anything that was once alive but is now dead!
If a worm is cut in half only the part of the body with the head will live.
A worm is a “hermaphrodite” since it has both male and female reproductive organs.
Worms can not hear or see.
Worms can have 1-5 pairs of hearts.
The earth worm does not have lungs but instead uses its skin to breath.
Worms are cold blooded and there bodies are made up of 80% water.
Worms typically live for about 3-4 years, however there have been some cases where they have lived to 15 years!
http://www.infobarrel.com/Top_10_facts_about_Worms
Nutrients...
For a plant to grow strong, it requires nutrients from the soil to sustain its growth and development. Below is a list of essential nutrients and bacteria that can be found in the soil that help the plants grow.
Nitrogen:
If nitrogen is not available when a new cell is to be formed in a plant, the cell will not form and growth will stop.
Phosphorus:
Phosphorus is a component of the complex nucleic acid structure of plants, which regulates protein synthesis. Phosphorus is, therefore, important in cell division and development of new tissue. Phosphorus is also associated with complex energy transformations in the plant.
If nitrogen is not available when a new cell is to be formed in a plant, the cell will not form and growth will stop.
Phosphorus:
Phosphorus is a component of the complex nucleic acid structure of plants, which regulates protein synthesis. Phosphorus is, therefore, important in cell division and development of new tissue. Phosphorus is also associated with complex energy transformations in the plant.
Magnesium:
It helps plants with photosynthesis as it is required by all green plants for the synthesis of Chlorophyll molecules.
Potassium:
The formation of carbohydrates and proteins; the regulation of water conditions within the plant cell and of water loss by transpiration, as a catalyst and condensing agent of complex substances, as an accelerator of enzyme action, as contributing to photosynthesis.
It helps plants with photosynthesis as it is required by all green plants for the synthesis of Chlorophyll molecules.
Potassium:
The formation of carbohydrates and proteins; the regulation of water conditions within the plant cell and of water loss by transpiration, as a catalyst and condensing agent of complex substances, as an accelerator of enzyme action, as contributing to photosynthesis.
Bacteria...
Bacteria are some of the smallest and most abandoned microbes in the soil. Bacteria is important because it also helps the decomposition process. In a single gram of soil, there can be millions of bacteria. An estimated 60.000 different bacteria species, most of which have yet to be even named, and each has its own particular roles and capabilities. Most live in the top of 10cm of soil.
Where dose Bacteria come from?
Bacteria live everywhere. They can be found on your skin on your nose and everywhere on your teeth. Other bacteria can be in soil, on surfaces in the kitchen in the bathroom like the toilet and all over raw meat like chicken.Certain tough bacteria are able to live in the Earths most extreme environments!
Bacteria live everywhere. They can be found on your skin on your nose and everywhere on your teeth. Other bacteria can be in soil, on surfaces in the kitchen in the bathroom like the toilet and all over raw meat like chicken.Certain tough bacteria are able to live in the Earths most extreme environments!
Important Bacteria in soil
- Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
- Nitrifying bacteria
- Dentrifying bacteria
- Actinomycetes
Food for thought...
Currently we are working with our canteen staff to ensure there is minimal waste. Any organic waste is composted and used to add nutrients to the the soil growing our vegetables. It's one continuous cycle! We have interviewed Tia our head dinner lady for input, help and advice.
Currently, close to 100% of all our packaging is bio-degradeable which means that we can compost it, this is better for the environment.
Currently, close to 100% of all our packaging is bio-degradeable which means that we can compost it, this is better for the environment.
This page was created by Rhianna Golaup, Emma Jenkins, Billie-Jayne Corbett, Kirstie Westwood, Rhiannon Edwards, Amy Bunning, Bethan Badham, Alvya Khan, Rosie Morgan, Clara Zorab, Charlotte Hathaway, Jenni Hughes-Davies, Katie Way
