Earth Day 2026

The Art of Compost

A district-wide initiative for our Compost Pilot Schools — transform compost toters into educational murals and celebrate STEAM and sustainability. A celebration of art, composting, and repurposing.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools Fertile Earth Worm Farm
REGISTER

1. Overview

To celebrate Earth Day 2026, we propose launching "The Art of Compost", a district-wide initiative for our Compost Pilot Schools. This program invites students to transform their standard green compost "toters" (bins) into educational murals.

This initiative connects STEAM education (Science and Art) with civic engagement. By displaying these decorated bins at the front of our schools, we will increase community visibility for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) sustainability efforts and our partnership with Fertile Earth Worm Farm.

2. Program Objectives

  • Increase Participation: Make the composting program "cool" and visible to students who may not be currently participating.
  • Community Awareness: Signal to parents and the community that the school is an active participant in environmental stewardship by displaying bins in high-traffic areas.
  • Creative Expression: Allow art students to interpret the science of composting through visual media.

3. The Theme

"Nurturing Nature: The Cycle of Return"

The artwork must interpret the theme of sustainability through composting. Students are encouraged to visualize the journey from food scraps to soil, the role of worms/microbes, and the importance of reducing landfill waste, and how the earth cycle keeps the earth beautiful.

Students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools during a field trip to Fertile Earth Worm Farm.
Students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools during a field trip to Fertile Earth Worm Farm.
Fertile Earth composting toters used as part of the composting pilot program with Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Fertile Earth composting toters used as part of the composting pilot program with Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

4. Contest Guidelines & Logistics

A. The "Canvas"

  • Schools will decorate one (1) inactive compost toter. (Additional toter?)
  • Material Constraints: Students must use weather-resistant materials (acrylics, spray paint, sealed paper).
  • Operational Safety: The decoration must not interfere with the functionality of the bin. The lid must open freely, and the lifting bar/wheels must remain unpainted and unobstructed for the Fertile Earth trucks to service them.

B. The Display

From April 16th to April 22nd, the decorated toter must be moved from the cafeteria/loading dock to the front of the school (Main Entrance or Parent Drop-off loop) to ensure maximum visibility during Earth Week.

C. Submission Process

  1. Snap: A high-resolution photo is taken of the finished bin (students included in the photo is optional but encouraged). We encourage creativity.
  2. Post: The school uploads the photo to their official Instagram or Facebook account.
  3. Tag: The post must tag @FertileEarthWormFarm and use the hashtags #MDCPSComposts and #FertileEarthDay2026.
  4. Confirm: An email with the link to the post is sent to the contest administrator.

5. Timeline (Leading to Earth Day)

  • March 16: Official Announcement sent to Principals and Art Leads.
  • March 23 – April 10: Design and execution phase (Student Art Teams).
  • April 15 (Wednesday): Submission Deadline. All toters must be finished.
  • April 16: Toters placed at the front of the school.
  • April 16 – April 21: Voting Period.
  • April 22 (Earth Day): Winners Announced.

6. Voting & Recognition

Voting will be determined by social media engagement to drive traffic to the school's commitment to sustainability.

  • Criteria: The toter with the most "Likes" and "Shares" on the official post by 5:00 PM on April 21st.
  • Judges Choice: Fertile Earth Worm Farm will select one "Creative Innovation" winner based on artistic merit and adherence to the theme.

7. Announcement of Winners & Publicity

To maximize recognition for the students and the District, the announcement of the winners will be coordinated across three primary channels on Earth Day (April 22):

A. Fertile Earth Newsletter Feature

  • The winning school, along with the 2nd and 3rd place runners-up, will be the headline feature in the Fertile Earth Monthly Newsletter.
  • This will include a photo spread of the winning designs and a short interview with the school's lead teacher or art students.

B. MDCPS Website Recognition

  • We will coordinate with the Department of Communications/STEAM to secure an "Honorable Mention" or "Sustainability Spotlight" on the relevant section of the MDCPS website.
  • This serves to formally recognize the winning school's administration for their leadership in environmental science.

C. Social Media Blast

  • Winner Announcement Post: Fertile Earth will post a dedicated "Winner's Circle" graphic on Instagram and Facebook, tagging the winning schools and MDCPS.
  • Stories: We will re-share all entry submissions to our Stories throughout the day to ensure every participating school gets visibility, regardless of whether they won.

← Back to Schools resources