With these funds I will initiate a school wide composting campaign which is part of a larger zero landfill project.  Every student in our school, from Pre-school up until 12th grade, will be involved in this environmentally relevant project.  We will design, construct, test, and maintain both traditional composters as well as worm bins (vermicomposters!).  We will have sorting tables in each room and we will collect our compostables daily.  Once our compost piles, buckets, and bins are up and running we will be able to use the composts to brew compost tea!  The microbial benefits of this process cannot be understated.  Bacteria and fungal populations, which are critical foundations of the soil food web, will experience exponential growth after a few days in a bucket with a bubbler and a few teaspoons of organic molasses!  The finished brew can be used as a fertilizer, an herbicide, and to restore bacteria and fungi to soil wherever applicable.  The students will learn the microbiology and the science behind these processes.  They will also learn how to be organic farmers and grow their own food in the process.  Our aggressive composting campaign will move our school that much closer to becoming a fully functional zero landfill entity.  Everything the students learn throughout this project can immediately be put into practice at home.  The students will have to re-educate their parents with the intention of encouraging all of their families to pursue a zero landfill ideal in their own homes.  We will also be creating coloring books and how-to guide books to enable others to replicate our successes.  Lastly, we will send these materials to school boards and city councils to encourage them to create common sense environmental policies that actively reflect our proactive attitude in tackling the massive environmental disaster that is school generated waste.

Supply List:

(3) 55 gallon rain barrels- $270

(6) plastic buckets- $20

air pump manifold- $80

(6) air stones- $20

plastic tubing- $20

timers- $20

flat soaker hoses- $30

(4000) red wriggler worms- $60

(2) worn stackable bins- $230

(2) 80 gallon compost bins- $240

(10) coco coir bricks- $50

(8) heavy duty storage bins- $100

gallon of organic molasses- $20

(5) spray bottles- $10

funnels- $10

fixtures and fittings- $20

TOTAL COST: $1,200 

Back Up Plan