What do you do with your orange peels and corn cobs after you are done eating? Most people throw them in the trash can. But food leftovers do not have to go into the trash. They are biodegradable, which means that they can be broken down by bacteria into natural materials. People who like to garden often put their fruit and vegetable scraps in a special place known as a compost pile.
A compost pile is a spot outdoors where food waste can break down into compost, which gardeners use. This process takes several months. Once the compost is created, people spread this mixture in their gardens to add nutrients to the soil. The compost in the soil helps new plants grow in the garden.
How do you take care of a compost pile? It needs air, water, and heat. Bacteria and other microorganisms break down the food waste into more basic elements like water and carbon dioxide. This process requires oxygen, so people use a shovel to turn compost regularly and help air reach all parts of the pile. The pile cannot dry out, so it should be covered to keep moisture in. Finally, heat speeds up the process. This means a compost pile should be in the sun for at least part of the day.
Food leftovers are not the only things that turn into compost. You can also add yard waste like grass clippings, dried leaves, and straw. In fact, you should add these things to create a healthy balance in your compost. But do not add any weeds to your compost pile unless you want to grow weeds in your garden! Sometimes seeds are left behind in the compost. This can be a welcome surprise if you find a tomato plant sprouting where you had not planted one. The tomato seed was hiding in the compost, waiting to begin a new life in the garden.
Questions
1) Gardeners use compost to
A. reduce the amount of trash on the planet
B. break down food waste
C. add nutrients to the soil
D. take care of bacteria and other microorganisms
2) To take care of a compost pile you have to
I. turn it regularly
II. cover it
III. make sure it is in the sun for at least part of the day
A. I only
B. I and II only
C. II and III only
D. I, II, and III
3) People should start a compost pile if they
A. need compost right away
B. do not like to garden
C. want to put their food waste to good use
D. eat oranges and corn
4) You should not put weeds in a compost pile because
A. they do not create a healthy balance
B. food leftovers are the only things that turn into compost
C. you do not want surprise plants growing in your garden
D. the seeds can create new weeds in your garden
5) As used in the final paragraph, sprouting most nearly means
A. blooming
B. growing
C. appearing
D. hiding