Monday 21 October 2013

Compost in a Bottle {Science Experiment}

With Fall  on it's way for my friends in the northern hemisphere and spring down here I thought I would share this easy experiment any one can do any time of the year. Earlier this year Sir N and I spent a delightful day out at Barwon Waste Management Education Centre where we helped in an experiment called Compost in a Bottle.  This is a wonderful experiment you can do at home and watch over the year to see what happens.

You will Need
  1. Strips of news paper
  2. Blood & Bone (garden fertilizer)
  3. Bread
  4. Grated Carrot
  5. Grated Potato
  6. Soil
  7. Two or Three 2.25 Lt cold drink bottles (we used Coke bottles)
Method
  • Clean the plastic bottles well. Cut the bottle around the top leaving a small part to act as a hinge.
  • You will need fruit, vegetables, soil, paper and fertilizer.  In order to make all the bottles identical I chose to grate carrots and vegetables and use a cup measure when placing into the bottles.
  • Follow the recipe (a picture recipe)
  • Layer soil, vegetables, fertilizer (only a tablespoon per layer) and paper. Each bottle needs to be identical.
  • Spray each layer with a little bit of water.  Do NOT soak.  Only a fine mist spray.
  • The original experiment required two identical bottles. We made a third bottle without fertilizer because we wanted to know how well compost worms work in comparison to fertilizer in a compost bin.
  • When the bottles are full tape them shut.
  • Mark the side of the bottle with a permanent pen showing the different layers.
  • Place one bottle on the windowsill, and one in a dark cupboard.  We placed the one with the worms in the dark cupboard as well.
Seven Months Later ...

Left - Windowsill bottle
Middle - Dark Cupboard with worms
Right - Dark Cupboard.
What experiments have you done with your families recently ?
Blessings
Chareen

This post is part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew Fall into Nature Blog Cruise. (Goes up on Tuesday 22 October)

Saturday 19 October 2013

Coming Soon! 2014 Crew Applications


For my blogging friends who are considering joining the Crew for the 2014 season there are a few tips on the Schoolhouse Review blog for you.

Blessings
Chareen

Thursday 17 October 2013

Paper Mache Masks {Virtual Fridge}


This Week
A while back we had fun making a paper mache mask.  Sir N did not like the feel of the flour glue mix but he persevered.


I found some great tutorials on YouTube
Featured This Week

Pop Art Mona Lisa Style! over at Too Many Flower's Travels. Cath has done a great tutorial and show and tell.

Your Turn

I invite you to take some photo's of your children's artistic pursuits put them in a post and link up with me I would love to come over and see the wonderful art your children have enjoyed doing.
Virtual Fridge Link Up

Blessings
Chareen

The Virtual Fridge a weekly art meme where we can hang our children's art on a virtual fridge. This meme was started by Jennifer over at A Glimpse of our Life who kindly invited three other bloggers to co-host this weekly meme.

Your hosts are