Lesson 5.7 - Working With Natural Cycles

Recycling is something that nature perfected a long time ago.  The more you look at our environment, the more you learn about the ways that substances are recycled by natural processes.  Many people make the effort to recycle.  Recycling the materials that you no longer need or use is not always easy.  Special facilities need to be built to recycle substances.  Composting is a method of recycling plant and animal wastes.  Read "Working with Natural Cycles" on page 251.

 

Question 1. What important substance is present in decomposing plants and animal wastes?

Question 2. What is compost? 

Question 3. Where is compost used?

Question 4. How can you reduce the amount of garbage sent to landfills?

Question 5. What did farmers do with cattle manure 100 years ago?

Question 6. Why is it more difficult to deal with cattle wastes today?

 

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Composting certain kinds of household wastes will reduce the amount of garbage going to the landfill site and also give you a nutrient rich material that can be used for your plants, garden, or lawn.  Google for the answers to the following questions. Be sure to "Check Answers".

Question 7. What kinds of materials can you compost?

Question 8. What kinds of materials should you not compost?

Question 9. What are the best worms to use in your composter?

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Answers to Questions:

Question 1. What important substance is present in decomposing plants and animal wastes?

Nitrates are present in decomposing plants and animal wastes.

Question 2. What is compost?

Compost is a mixture of decomposing plants and soil.

Question 3. Where is compost used?

Compost is used in gardens, lawns, and potting soil for house plants.  

Question 4. How can you reduce the amount of garbage sent to landfills?

You can reduce the amount of garbage sent to landfills by composting yard and kitchen wastes.

Question 5. What did farmers do with cattle manure 100 years ago?

100 years ago, farmers had a few cattle and they would spread the manure on their fields.  The manure was a good fertilizer.  

Question 6. Why is it more difficult to deal with cattle wastes today?

Today cattle are concentrated in feedlots by the thousands.  The high concentration of cattle means that they produce vast quantities of waste in a small space.  The liquid waste will cause problems when it rains and the run-off can contaminate water supplies.  The feedlot owners spread the manure onto farmers fields where it fertilizes the soil.  The manure must be tilled into the soil because the smell can be a problem for anyone living nearby.

 

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Answers to Questions:

Question 7. What kinds of materials can you compost?

You can compost organic material such as some kitchen waste and some garden waste.

Question 8. What kinds of materials should you not compost?

You should not compost meat, fish, fats, oils, dairy products, grass clippings treated with lawn chemicals, animal droppings, human waste and disposable diapers.

Question 9. What are the best worms to use in your composter?

Earthworms called "red wrigglers" are the best worms to use in your composter because they reproduce quickly and eat the waste and produce excellent humus.

 


Now it is time to do Assignment 12E.  Page forward to access it.