/oss/taxonomy/term/390/all en /oss/article/science-science-everywhere/composting <p>Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. The ultimate natural recycling process. Bury a body and after a while only the skeleton remains. What has happened to the rest? Well, the flesh served as a feast for a variety of bacteria, fungi, insects, mites and worms which use its components to build their own bodies and as a source of energy. What they don’t use, they poop out, enriching the soil with minerals and humic material, a mixture of carbon based compounds that helps hold water in the soil. Plant some daisies on top, and you have everything needed to push them up.</p> Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:51:26 +0000 Joe Schwarcz 1599 at /oss