{"id":191,"date":"2016-06-14T15:55:09","date_gmt":"2016-06-14T15:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esa.org\/microbial\/?page_id=191"},"modified":"2020-10-14T23:57:18","modified_gmt":"2020-10-14T23:57:18","slug":"education-outreach","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/esa.org\/microbial\/education-outreach\/","title":{"rendered":"Education &amp; Outreach"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">Dedicated outreach about composting<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">As part of past outreach efforts, we have donated 3 full compost kits to prominent community gardens from around the area of Sacramento, CA, Amherst, MA and Ft. Lauderdale, FL. We are also giving out our new book \u201cCompost &amp; Garden Education\u201d for preK-5 students and their teachers to several preschools around the Amherst area.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">Download the curriculum<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/microbial-preprod\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2016\/06\/CompostingCurriculum_ESAME2016.pdf\">Compost &amp; Garden Education K-5 <i class=\"fa fa-file-pdf-o\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">guided activities to start composting, including setting up a compost bin (below), worm composting, and more!<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">activities for children including word search and coloring pages!<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">information for instructors on why compost and where to learn more!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/microbial\/vermiculture\/\"><strong>How to: Vermiculture<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong>How to: Compost Bin<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">What you need<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong>L<\/strong><strong>arge bin<\/strong> with opening on the top, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B00486Y80A\/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1465920391&amp;sr=1&amp;keywords=container+compost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">purchase online @ Amazon<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong>Thermometer<\/strong>, \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Thermometer-Greenco-Stainless-Fahrenheit-Temperature\/dp\/B01BMX3SYI\/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1465918646&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;keywords=thermometer+compost&amp;psc=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">purchase online @Amazon<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong>Moisture probe<\/strong>, \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Etekcity-Indoor-Outdoor-Moisture-Hygrometer\/dp\/B00CTPXXEE\/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1465918690&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=moisture+probe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">purchase online @ Amazon<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong>Soil sieve<\/strong>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/SE-GP2-14-Patented-Stackable-Sifting\/dp\/B008B0T5Z2\/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1465918711&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=soil+sieve\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">purchase online @ Amazon<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><b>Food waste<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong>Yard trimmings<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><b>Soil<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">What you do:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong>DAY 1<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">Each student is given a 2-Liter bottle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">Using scissors and following the diagram, cut off the top two inches of the bottle. This is where your compostable items will stay.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong>Add 1-2<\/strong> cups of soil to the bottle along with various compostable materials. You should have a ratio of 2:1 greens: browns.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">LAYERS:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong><u>1<sup>st<\/sup> <\/u><\/strong><strong>Lay twigs or straw first. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong><em>\u00a0<u>Why<\/u><\/em><\/strong><strong>? <\/strong>This helps drainage and aerates the pile.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong><u>2<sup>nd<\/sup><\/u><\/strong><strong> Lay a layer of \u201cgreens\u201d.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong><u>3<sup>rd<\/sup><\/u><\/strong><strong> Lay a layer of \u201cbrowns\u201d.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong><u>4<sup>th<\/sup><\/u><\/strong><strong> Continue to alternate \u201cgreens\u201d and \u201cbrowns\u201d remembering the analogy 2:1.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong><u>5<sup>th<\/sup><\/u><\/strong><strong> Add \u201cgreens\u201d (manure) like grass clippings, buckwheat, wheatgrass, etc.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong><em><u>Why<\/u><\/em><\/strong><strong>? <\/strong>Even though the use of manure in farming has declined dramatically over the years, manure is still a valuable fertilizer for any farming operation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"><strong><u>6<sup>th<\/sup><\/u><\/strong><strong> Cover with anything you have (wood, plastic sheeting). Covering will prevent the compost from being over-watered by rain<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">Add some water for moisture. You will know that the water is enough when you have enough to create a sponge-like environment. For best results slightly water each layer you add in your compost bin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">\u2026\u2026..<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">DAY 2 (after 2-3 days)<\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">After <strong>2-3<\/strong> days, observations can be made and notes may now be taken about the changes happening with the compostable items and how the soil in the bottle altered.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">What to expect<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">Decomposition has started to take place in your compost bin! Now you may be able to see a humus-like material that is great for your gardening!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">Can I use soil from my own garden?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif\">For living organisms to grow on your soil it needs to be light, loose, crumbly and \u201cfluffy\u201d. Depending on how well you keep your garden your soil may or may not be suitable for composting. For example, pH levels can be crucial to your plant\u2019s ability to absorb nutrients. A pH between 6.5-6.8 is perfect for most minerals and nutrients to be absorbed. It doesn\u2019t matter how rich it is in nutrients, the plants won\u2019t be able to absorb them. If you would like to use soil from your own garden then you can get your soil tested here: <a href=\"https:\/\/nifa.usda.gov\/Extension\/\">https:\/\/nifa.usda.gov\/Extension\/<\/a> or purchase your own testing kit here: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.planetnatural.com\/product\/soil-test-kit\/\">http:\/\/www.planetnatural.com\/product\/soil-test-kit\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dedicated outreach about composting As part of past outreach efforts, we have donated 3 full compost kits to prominent community gardens from around the area of Sacramento, CA, Amherst, MA and Ft. Lauderdale, FL. We are also giving out our new book \u201cCompost &amp; Garden Education\u201d for preK-5 students and their teachers to several preschools around the Amherst area. Download&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":999,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-191","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/microbial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/microbial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/microbial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/microbial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/999"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/microbial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=191"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/microbial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/191\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/microbial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}