How To Get Kids Involved With Composting This Summer
Composting With Kids This Summer – By Rachel Ducker
As a mum of three, I am always looking for a few simple things that we do as a family to get outside, learn and have fun in the garden. This summer we are adding composting to the list.
The arrival of our new compost bin has become our new summer project. We’re going to be using the compost bin as a practical, yet educational summer garden project that will show the children what happens to the waste that the household produces on a daily basis.
Why Composting Feels More Achievable Than You Might Think
At first I thought that composting would be one of those tasks that I would look upon as a chore but the more I read up about it, the more it seems to be one of those simple habits that can be very good for the garden, help to recycle waste and save money by not having to buy so many bags of fertiliser.
The children can see the ‘waste’ (fruit peelings, vegetable scraps, garden cuttings, old cardboard etc) that would normally be put in the bin being added to the compost bin to be turned into something that will feed the soil and help the plants grow. This is a very visual process and really helps children to understand the process of decomposition and how everything can be reused.
Learning About Nature, Soil And Growing
This is an excellent way for kids to learn about nature, how we can be better at not wasting food and help bugs and other animals. It also teaches them about soil and about how things grow. It’s a great way for families to get involved in gardening, even if space is at a premium and even if they have no prior experience.
Every little bit of help is needed – collecting suitable food scraps in the kitchen caddy and adding them to the compost bin or throwing in loads of garden cuttings for the children to trample down and watch the worms wriggle about are just two examples of the many tasks that your children can get involved with.
Keeping It Simple From The Start
For me, starting to compost has to be easy, so I don’t get put off before it’s even started! I don’t expect it to be perfect from the word go, I know it’s a learning curve and that there is plenty of help available along the way.
There is loads of help available for starting to compost. Norfolk County Council have plenty of information on their website, and for those who need a helping hand there are discounted compost bins for sale online as well as at Norfolk recycling centres. There are also free beginner courses and summer events planned.
Getting Help From Norfolk Master Composters
Norfolk Master Composters Celebrate 20 Years Helping Norfolk Residents Compost.
In addition to information available online from Norfolk County Council to help residents home compost, Norfolk Master Composters are celebrating 20 years of helping people across the County to compost. These experienced gardeners are willing to offer tips, help with any problems and generally share their experience to help people get the best from their compost. Whether you are a complete beginner and are looking for advice on how to get started with composting or are already composting but would like to improve the quality of your compost, then Norfolk Master Composters can help.
Discounted Compost Bins For Norfolk Residents
Residents of Norfolk can buy discounted compost bins online from Get Composting or collect a free compost bin from one of Norfolk’s Recycling Centres.
The Compost Bin We Are Using At Home
We are using the Blackwall 220 Litre Compost Converter at home. The Blackwall 220 Litre Compost Converter is an ideal size for a family garden and will allow us to turn all of our kitchen and garden waste into a wonderful resource for our garden in the form of compost.
Buy a discounted compost bin here
Free Composting Advice For Beginners
If you are new to composting, Norfolk Recycles has plenty of support available, including:
* Home composting advice
* A free Introduction to Composting course
* Free beginner composting workshops and webinars
* Information about Norfolk Master Composters
* Guidance on what you can and cannot compost
Useful Links For Norfolk Families
Find home composting advice from Norfolk Recycles
Access the free Introduction to Composting course
View free composting courses and workshops for beginners
Learn more about Norfolk Master Composters
Turning Waste Into Something Useful
Composting is one of those small changes that can become a part of your daily family life. It helps children to be practical and to help reduce the amount of waste which a household produces and the compost is used to support the growth of plants in your garden – and the effects can be seen in a very short period of time.
This summer we will start small, learn together and see where it gets us. Less waste, more learning and hopefully lots of happy plants!
Ready To Give Composting A Go?
For Norfolk families who have been thinking about composting but have not known where to start, here is the perfect opportunity to get started!
