2. Task: Develop a proposal or working model that would contribute to sustainable living and be applicable to a small community of about 20 families. Group Aim: Clearly show people how to create and sustain a composting bin and show our sustainability plan for 20 families.

3. When beginning a compost bin your compost bin should be in a sheltered area with good drainage and on a level area which is able to be reached by the hose. Place your bin in this area stacked on two layers of bricks. Then add 100-150mm of coarse organic material. The next step is to add equal layers of volume of green and brown organic material such as leaves and vegetable scraps in layers. Fluff layers slightly and add water to ensure that the compost does not get dry. Cover the bin with a compost bin lid and leave for a few days.

4. Over the next few days after starting your compost bin the materials inside the bin should heat up and start shrinking. If your compost seems to be working slowly to shrink, put green material such as grass clippings in the compost bin with some water. Continue to place green and brown materials in the compost bin. When the bin is full, put the lid on tightly and leave to mature which could take many weeks or months. During this time new materials should be added.

5. Decomposition is a long process and to speed up this process you can turn you compost. For maximum results your compost heap should be turned every 4-6 weeks. To turn your compost heap turn up the bottom of the heap and put on the top.

6. Composting takes different periods of time depending on whether the compost is turned or not. When the compost is turned the time period will be about 3-4months and when it is not turned it will take around 9-12months.

7. Composting has many benefits because it is a natural process that breaks down organic materials like leaves, food scraps and paper which are then turned into a soil like substance rich in nutrients. This stops these organic materials getting wasted.

8. SUITABLE THINGS WHY ARE THEY SUITABLE? Organic kitchen Scraps Greens Tea leaves Browns Coffee groundsBrowns Garden DebrisBrowns and greens Lawn ClippingsGreens PaperBrown SawdustBrowns Tree clippingsBrowns and greens Cardboard and cereal boxesBrowns

9. UNSUITABLE THINGS WHY ARE THEY UNSUITABLE? Weeds like twitch, oxalis and dandelions. Would grow in the compost. Large pieces of woodWould not break down easily. Glass, plastic and tinsWould not decompose. Diseased plantsAre not safe to have in compost. BonesTo large. Meat, fish, fats and cooking oils.Cause Odour and rodent problems. Foliage with chemical spraysChemicals are not organic. Toxic MaterialBecause they are toxic. Citric FoodsWorms don’t like citric food.

10. Our community plan for sustainability is that for each family, that they are issued with a composting bin which would help the families stop discarding materials such as vegetables scraps with can be easily composted. This then enables them to put the compost in the garden.

11. http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/index.cfm?DEC920FD-14C2-3D2D- B944-7DC0BF031B61 http://www.bestgardening.com/bgc/howto/compost01.htm http://www.howtocompost.org/ http://vegweb.com/composting/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compostin g http://www.sustainability.govt.nz/rubbish/comp osting http://delicious.com/yr9villa