Composting Materials and Rates Activity Source: Geological Society of America. Adapted with permission. Activity authored by Jessie Bersson (Arizona State University), Carla McAuliffe (TERC), and Matt Dawson (GSA). (Inspired in part by an activity at www.sciencebuddies.org) Soils are a key component of the interface between the biosphere (life) and the geosphere (land). Soils support life.“Our soils support 95 percent of all food production, and by 2060, our soils will be asked to give us as much food as we have consumed in the last 500 years,” according to Living Soil by The Soil Health Institute. [Read More]

Sustaining Living Soil with Composting Activity Source: Soil Science Society of America. Adapted with permission. Composting is the decomposition of organic waste materials in the presence of water, air, and microorganisms to produce organic fertilizer. Organic matter improves soil quality by feeding soil organisms, provides plants nutrients for growth, and enhances soil structure and water holding capacity., while reducing our dependence on synthetic fertilizers. A key part of a healthy compost pile is a balance of green and brown organic matter. [Read More]