The Sumter County Extension Service conducted a series of field trials at the Sumter County Youth Center on a pre-selected small-scale composting vessel. Compostable organic materials were collected by local volunteer groups and served as the feedstock for the compost unit field test. Testing took place to determine the effectiveness of a composting unit known as the Earth Tub composting vessel.
Testing and data collection included: Type and Quantity of Feedstock, Elapsed Time to Compost Various Feedstock, Weekly Temperature Readings and Compost Analysis by a Private Laboratory. To create awareness of the program and to provide educational opportunities, a composting informational kiosk was created to showcase composting techniques and the results of the Earth Tub demonstration.
Children and adults learned about composting while visiting the Sumter County Youth Center and educational publications were made available for home, school, office or business application. A promotional publication was created to promote composting as well as create interest in the FORCE sponsored composting unit field trial.
