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Nitzanim Artists' Statements for Compost Signs
For the sign project for the Gann Academy Farm, Nitzanim (Gr. 2-3) explored composting and its connection to Jewish values. They examined a number of Jewish sources that either hinted at the idea of composting or spoke to a history of Jewish farmers’ using compost. Compost was used by ancient peoples, including Jews, Romans and Egyptians.
The Talmud records that ashes, food waste, straw, stubble, chaff, and grass were used to enrich the soil. There is a discussion in the Talmud about whether it is permissible to spread compost or other coverings over food on Shabbat:
Mishnah Shabbat 4:1
בַּמֶּה טוֹמְנִין וּבַמָּה אֵין טוֹמְנִין. אֵין טוֹמְנִין לֹא בְגֶפֶת וְלֹא בְזֶבֶל, לֹא בְמֶלַח וְלֹא בְסִיד וְלֹא בְחֹל, בֵּין לַחִים בֵּין יְבֵשִׁים. לֹא בְתֶבֶן וְלֹא בְזָגִים וְלֹא בְמוֹכִים וְלֹא בַעֲשָׂבִים בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵן לַחִים, אֲבָל טוֹמְנִין בָּהֶן כְּשֶׁהֵן יְבֵשִׁין. טוֹמְנִין בִּכְסוּת וּבְפֵרוֹת, בְּכַנְפֵי יוֹנָה וּבִנְסֹרֶת שֶׁל חָרָשִׁים וּבִנְעֹרֶת שֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן דַּקָּה. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹסֵר בְּדַקָּה וּמַתִּיר בְּגַסָּה:
In what things may they cover up [food] [on Shabbat], and in what things may they not cover it up? They may not cover up [food] in peat, compost, salt, lime, or sand, whether moist or dry; Nor in straw, grape-skins, rags or grasses, when they are moist; but they may cover up [food] in them when they are dry. They may cover up [food] in garments, produce, doves’ wings, carpenters’ sawdust and thoroughly beaten flax. Rabbi Judah forbids [storing] in fine [flax], but permits [it] in coarse [flax].
Students discovered that by piling layers of certain food waste (not meat or dairy), plant cuttings, dead leaves, and some soil, and making sure the pile has a little water, lots of sun, and air, it will turn into nutrient-rich soil to help plants grow.
Each group chose a pasuk or slogan to use for their sign and designed a linocut stamp to illustrate it.
אֶ֭בֶן מָאֲס֣וּ הַבּוֹנִ֑ים הָ֝יְתָ֗ה לְרֹ֣אשׁ פִּנָּֽה׃
Psalms 118 תהילים קי״ח
Translation: The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone [of the new structure].
Interpretation: Treasure Out of Trash
We used this pasuk to show that if you put scraps into the compost pile then it turns into rich soil.
Lev: I made a man with a shovel making compost.
Danielle: I made treasure [jewels] in a trash bin.
Alex: I made a garbage truck with gems coming out of it.
We learned how much work it was to make and stamp the linocut. We are looking forward to going to the Gann Academy FARM!
Alex Ayalon, Lev Jacobs & Danielle Perry
אֲנִי צָרִיךְ אוֹכֵל
אֲנִי צָרִיךְ אוֹכֵל
We used this slogan to show that you have to put the right things into the compost pile for it to turn into the compost and so it won’t smell.
Lindsey: I made an apple core and a banana peel and an arrow.
Daniel: I made a hungry compost-pile monster.
We learned Jews composted in the past. We learned that some farms teach kids, [which is why the Gann Academy farm asked us to make signs]. We are looking forward to going to the farm.
Lindsey Allen & Daniel Preis
מִיקְרוֹבִּים עוֹבְדִים
מִיקְרוֹבִּים עוֹבְדִים
Microbes at Work
Microbes at Work
We used this slogan because microbes are at work in the compost pile. They digest the food put into the pile. We made magnifying glasses showing microbes wearing hard hats and carrying shovels. We liked learning how to make linocut stamps.
Micah Silverman & Avigail Sofer
בֶּן בַּג בַּג אוֹמֵר, הֲפֹךְ בָּהּ וַהֲפֹךְ בָּהּ, דְּכֹלָּא בָהּ.׳
Pirkei Avot 5:22
משנה אבות ה׳:כ״ב
Translation: Ben Bag Bag said, “Turn it over and [again] turn it over for everything is in it.”
Sign text: Turn it and turn it
We think “Turn it over and turn it over for everything is in it” is like compost because lots of things are in it and, for it to turn out right, you have to turn it once in awhile because it needs air.
Lauren: I made a shovel turning the compost.
Mira: I made a rainbow in a circle with the sun in it to represent everything turning.
We learned more about composting and that you have to turn it. We are looking forward to seeing our sign at the farm.
Lauren Levin & Mira Niederman
עוֹד ירוּקִים, עוֹד חוּמים
Add Greens, Add Browns
We used this slogan to show that you have to put in both green things (plant waste) and brown things (soil and dead leaves) for the compost to come out right.
Emma: I made a brown leaf.
Livia: I made a green leaf.
We learned that there are veggies in compost. We are looking forward to seeing our sign at the farm.
Emma Andler & Livia Topper
אני צריך אוויר
Give Me Air
I used this slogan because compost piles need air for the microbes who do the work to live. I made a part of a compost pile reaching out to the air. I never knew about linocuts before. I am looking forward to seeing our signs.
Noa Berman
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