Relationship to Farm to School:
Composting garden and food waste teaches children about the natural cycle of plant growth and decay. Children will experience the link between plant growth and healthy soil by learning how to recycle and reuse material in an earth friendly way.

Why It's Important:
Healthy soil creates healthy plants. Compost aerates the soil; contains essential plant nutrients that are released slowly into the soil; can be used as mulch; can be mixed with potting soil for container plants or it can be mixed with existing soil at planting time.

How It Works:
Time To Make Compost
Composting for Kids-slide set for kids (Aggie Hortiiculture-Texas A & M University)
Basic Composting.
Compost in a Hurry. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Vermicomposting:
Vermicomposting Kid's Page (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Worm Composting

Who to Involve:
School Food Service - to collect appropriate cafeteria food waste
School groundskeeper - to collect leaves and grass clippings
Waste Management Boards or city environmental education departments - for guest presenters and resources on composting