Desktop Composting
Composting at work seems like an inconvenient and impossible task for anyone that doesn’t work at a farm, dude ranch, botanical garden or zoo. But the truth is that desktop composting is not only possible, but can cost you nothing and provide entertainment (add worms!), great potting soil, and a happy concience come Earth Day.
All you need is a decomposition column - an easy project made from three 2-liter bottles that’s from my favorite book that teaches basic scientific inquiry, Bottle Biology. (It was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation administered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.)
Snacking on a banana at work because you missed breakfast? Compost the peel! Enjoy an afternoon tea? Compost the tea bag! Crossed off the list on the sticky note? Yup, you can compost that paper too. Throw it in your decomposition column and done.
The small holes made from safety pins allow air to flow while any fruit flies remain inside the column. Add a few worms, like red wigglers, to help accelerate the decomposition process.
A Decomposition Diversion
Add a cocoon or chrysalis that you find in the ground of your yard to the column, to observe a metamorphosis first-hand. We once had an office pool going on the hatch date.
 |
| Step One - Cut First Bottle |
 |
| Step Two - Cut Second Bottle |
 |
| Step 3 -Cut Third Bottle |
 |
| Assembled, Finished and Composting |
Thank you Veronica for showing this. I will be building one of these today! I am really excited about it.
 |
