Southport school unveils student-designed compost bins
Wed, 05/27/2026 - 9:17am
Rivers Healy, Lily Billings and Aiden Nunan cut a ceremonial ribbon May 22 to unveil the school's new compost system. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register
The first scraps enter the compost bins. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register
Students talk the importance of decomposers in keeping our planet healthy. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register
CMBG's Beth Jarvis gifts the Questers snail finger puppets for their hard work. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register
Rivers Healy, Lily Billings and Aiden Nunan cut a ceremonial ribbon May 22 to unveil the school's new compost system. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register
The first scraps enter the compost bins. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register
Students talk the importance of decomposers in keeping our planet healthy. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register
CMBG's Beth Jarvis gifts the Questers snail finger puppets for their hard work. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay RegisterIt was a moment almost a year in the making, but student team “The Compost Questers” unveiled Southport Central School’s new composting system for its community garden May 22 to assembled teachers and classmates.
The idea was proposed by Lily Billings, 9, who was inspired by the composting area older sibling Scout had set up in their home garden. “I wanted to see if we could do one here because we have a garden, and I saw a bunch of plastic bags of soil being used, and I was like, ‘No. No, I don’t like that.’”
“None of us did,” added teammate Aiden Nunan, 9.
After receiving an enthusiastic (and loud) "Yes" from Principal Shawn Gallager, Billings started assembling a team. The first thought that entered her mind? Which of her classmates were willing to get their hands dirty?
Alongside Billings and Nunan, the four-person club included Aurora Wallace (who was not present), and later addition, Rivers Healy, 10. Healy had to prove his dedication before being allowed to join, citing his motivation as wanting to help the vegetables grow faster with compost and being a part of the fun the Questers were having.
The kids worked with Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ Youth and Family Programs Educator Beth Jarvis to weigh the pros and cons of different composting styles. Jarvis praised the team’s work ethic, highlighting moments when they gave up free time and even left an ice skating event early to work on the project. But these moments of self-sacrifice were no brainers to the group.
“The Earth is the one who takes care of us, and so, why don't we for a change, take care of the Earth?” said Billings.
The students landed on three cylindrical wire compost bins, which require less room and maintenance, while providing optimal air flow and access to sun and rain. As previously reported in the Register, the students conservatively estimate the system will reduce the school’s compostable waste by 200 gallons a year.
During the assembly, the students shared a brief presentation on the virtues of decomposers, such as bacteria, fungi, mushrooms, mold, insects and other small organisms, who keep the Earth clean and create the essential nutrients for plant growth.
Jarvis underscored their message by calling upon the words of conservationist and frequent Southport visitor Rachel Carson: “In nature, nothing exists alone.”
“While I think humans forget that sometimes, it's clear that it's not forgotten here in this place, and that is why these students' voices were heard, and they were able to take action to make positive change in their world,” Jarvis said.
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