Help me give my students the opportunity to participate in year-round composting and soil conditioning across multiple grade levels.
FULLY FUNDED! Mrs. O's classroom raised $1,016
This project is fully funded
My Project
Teaching students about composting is not only a powerful science lesson—it’s also a practical way to enrich our school garden beds and cultivate environmental responsibility. It’s important for students to learn about composting, especially in the context of improving poor soil to create a healthy, productive garden space.
Composting introduces key scientific concepts such as decomposition, microorganisms, the carbon-nitrogen cycle, and soil ecosystems.
Students from our entire PreK-12 school district will be able to observe natural processes in action, reinforcing lessons in biology, chemistry, and environmental science. Plus, when students see their composting efforts lead to thriving plants and vegetables, it gives them a sense of accomplishment and purpose. They'll become active participants in the garden’s success—not just observers.
Currently, we have two areas of growing that need continual soil amendments. Adding composted brown and green matter assists with the transformation of dirt into rich, fertile soil. Compost improves soil structure, enhances water retention, and adds vital nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Teaching students to build and apply compost helps them understand that healthy soil is the foundation of all plant life—including the food they'll harvest and eat. Plus, students will learn how waste can be repurposed instead of sent to a landfill, lowering the district's carbon footprint and reiterating a mindset of sustainability and responsibility.
In our nothern climate, with frozen winter temperatures outside, we are creative in our composting. We will introduce the composting system with various, age-appropriate text and an indoor observation container. The Lumi system will allow for students to continue their quest to revitalize our grow beds year round. As weather permits, two varied-size wheelbarrows will be utilized to transport brown and green matter and food scraps to the composting tumbler, placed near the outdoor learning classroom's garden beds.
More than a third of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Lomi 1 Bundle – 3L, Electric Composter (90 Cycles), World’s First Smart Waste Kitchen Bin That Turns Waste into Natural Fertilizer with a Single Button, Indoor Compost Bin
• Amazon Business
$309.99
1
$309.99
Wheelbarrow Steel 6 cu ft Flat Free
• Grainger
$151.84
1
$151.84
Lomi Pods and Filters | Made in The USA and North America | Keeps Your Kitchen Fresh and Turns Your Food Scraps into Nutrient-Rich Plant Food (Pods and Filters, 45 Cycles)
• Amazon Business
$55.81
2
$111.62
FCMP Outdoor IM4000 Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter Canadian-Made, 100% Recycled Resin - Outdoor Rotating Compost Tumbler Bin for Garden, Kitchen, and Yard Waste, Black (37 Gallon)
• Amazon Business
$72.79
1
$72.79
Lomi Blends - All-in-One Lawn and Garden Solution - All-Natural Multi-Vitamin for Healthy Soil, Safe for Kids and Pets, Easy to Use - Sustainable Gardening
• Amazon Business
$29.99
2
$59.98
See-Through Compost Container
• Carolina Biological Supply Company
$40.95
1
$40.95
G & F Products G & F 10041 JustForKids Kids Wheel Barrel made of real metal kids size
• Amazon Business
$28.55
1
$28.55
Convino: A Compost Starter/Accelerator Which Help to Reduce Kitchen Waste Odor and Convert Yard Waste to Fertile Humus for All Composting Systems. Comes in 1 Package That Contains 4 Packets Inside
• Amazon Business
$9.99
2
$19.98
Composting - Paperback Book
• AKJ Education
$7.29
1
$7.29
Compost Stew - Paperback Book
• AKJ Education
$6.56
1
$6.56
A Gardener's Alphabet - Paperback Book
• AKJ Education
$5.83
1
$5.83
Materials cost
$815.38
Vendor shipping charges
$5.32
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$12.23
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$862.93
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$152.28
Total project goal
$1,015.21
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$1,015.21
2 Donors
-$478.16
Donations toward project cost
-$434.84
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$43.32
Matching donations from our partners
-$503.64
Match offers toward project cost
-$428.09
Match offers to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. O and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
