Press Coverage - February 13, 1998

The following is an article which appeared in the February 13, 1998 edition of the Kansas City Kansan.

Starting young to help environment
by ROY TEICHER of The Kansan

Marcia Pomeroy looked on with pride Thursday afternoon at the gathering she had assembled at Hawthorne Elementary School: members of Americorps, Boys & Girls Clubs, Environmental Protection Association, two dozen awestruck kids, and very special guest - Mother Nature.

Pomeroy, director of YouthFriends, the volunteer arm of the Boys & Girls Club, had the idea of bringing an environmental project to the club's before-and after school program (Kidzone), Pomeroy soon had a six-week commitment from AmeriCorps' National Civilian Community Corps as not only mentors for the project but as tutors as well.

In January, 13 members of Denver-Based NCCC arrived in Kansas City, KS; five of whom were assigned to Hawthorne where they would eventually work with students on the creation of a compost.

Composting, for the uninitiated (including one befuddled reporter), is the creation of extremely fertile soil through the systematic breakdown of organic matter by ravenous microbes.

The compost, which is the cumulative pile of grass, leaves, fruits, vegetable, coffee grounds, etc. The fenced concoction is regularly "turned" to ensure the equal distribution of microbes from the dirt. Eight weeks later, one has mighty rich soil.

NCCC member Beth McIlroy looked on as Hawthorne kids gleefully tossed everything from cabbage leaves to old coconuts into the compost. "The kids have been real enthusiastic," she said. "They're excited to be involved."

McIlroy, and others, were grateful for the support and guidance of composting phenom Marcia Dickinson, Environmental Protection Agency solid waste consultant.

"All these kids have been raised in the city," said Dickinson. "They don't know a thing about Mother Nature."

She cautioned students not to place any meat or dairy products into the compost in order to discourage four-legged visitors.

Third-grader Justin Smith took a break from some frenzied orange peel-tossing to say: "You get to put all kinds of stuff in there."

Classmate Brandi Thiery appeared to grasp the underlying environmental theme: "I can throw stuff in that I used to throw out."

Composting novice Rose Montgomery is Kidzone's program director. "I'm going to do this in my own garden." she vowed.

Thanks to the fertile soil, which should be full "cooked" in a few, Hawthorne will soon boast a variety of gardens. Not only will they add a lovely aesthetic touch, says McIlroy, but they'll be integrated into the school's science program.

Fertile soil, to be sure.

Press Coverage - February 13, 1998

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