Blog
Compost in a Jar
Today we are going to be setting up our very own compost experiment! If you haven't already check out Jennifer's Compost quiz, it's time to put that knowledge into action!
Here is what you will need;
- a clear jar or recycled plastic bottle
- food scraps
- shredded paper
- leaves or grass clippings
- soil
- water
Now, follow these steps to setup your very own mini compost in a jar!
1.The first step is to gather all of your materials!
2. Once you have materials assembled we are going to start layering our mixture! First, add a generous layer of soil.
3. Now add your organic material or food scraps. I used orange peels, banana peels and some lettuce scraps. Make sure to break them up into tiny pieces so that they will break down faster!
4. Cover your food scraps with another thin layer of soil.
5. Next, layer in the shredded paper. I used paper from a recycled shopping bag, but you can also use news paper!
6. Cover this layer with another thin layer of soil.
7. Gather some leaves or grass clippings for your next layer. Make sure to crumple and tear up the leaves into small pieces.
8. More soil!
9. Repeat these layers until you have filled your jar.
10. Now, add a little bit of water (the soil should be damp, but not soaked!). Bonus points if you add rain water from a homemade rain gauge! Check out our post on rainy day activities to learn how to make your own rain gauge.
11. Finally, add a lid to your jar and place it by a window. I used a small piece of aluminum foil to cover the jar so that I could easily poke holes in the top to allow oxygen into the mixture. If you want to keep track of your compost's progress add a small line and the date at the top of the soil line. Add new lines to help track progress!
Happy composting and happy Earth Week!
