Composting is a great way of making your own fertilizer for soils as well as improving your overall soil health and structure.  This year at the Outdoor Eco Day at Wolf Creek Fish Hatchery, Russell County Extension Office had the opportunity to be part of the field day events.  Students from the 4th grade classes at all local elementary schools attended the outdoor day with a total of 230 students attending the event.  The event focused on natural resources conservation, soils, forestry, recycling, composting and renewable resources management.  The composting activity was adapted and used with permission from the Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Clubs of America Organization, though UK.  

During the day students were able go through the composting activity and learn about what makes compost and what should not be in compost.  After the presentation on how to and what can be used in compost, students get to make edible compost using common food items that represent different items that can be put into compost.  After making the compost students get to enjoy a snack and have the opportunity to take home the info learned and start their own composting pile, even using the paper bag that the edible compost was made in during the activity.  After the event students are polled to see which one think that their family will start composting after going through the activity and 76% of students polled said that they would start composting with their families.  While 100% of students said that they learned something new about compost and what it does for the soil.