Sing A Song of Compost

"To the tune of Sing A Song of Sixpence"

Sing A Song of Compost

Sing a song of compost by the apple tree
Learn about the secrets there for you and me.
Make your own compost and spread it on the land
It's fun to make and fun to do, so come and take my hand!

First you put some branches at the bottom of the bin
This will make a base for all that will go in.
Then you build the layers, one by one
Making compost in the yard can be so much fun!

Alternate the layers of brown and of green
Sprinkle bits of water all in between.
As the pile gets higher, turn it once for air
Then you let it sit and cook for months without a care.

The compost pile will cook and you know it will get hot!
Red wriggler worms they like it quite a lot!
They eat all the food scraps and make the black gold
Miraculous and magical, a wonder to behold.

When you finally open up the compost bin
Put your hand inside and look right in
No more leaves or clippings or old banana peels
Only dirt so rich and black, how soft it really feels!

Then you take the compost and spread it on the ground
Underneath the roses or in a little mound
Plant your beans and pumpkins or any other seed
Vitamins for vegetables, the soil it really feeds!

If you're feeling fancy, make a kind of tea
Not the kind for cookies, for grandma and me
Compost in a bucket filled with water fine
Gives an extra feeding for tomatoes on the vine!

Now you've made some compost, I hope you've had some fun
Finding all the magic underneath the sun.
Keep a compost cooking by the apple tree
​Tell your friends about it all and share the recipe!

© written by Christine Summerfield/March 31, 2019