We are almost ready to reveal our completed prototype for out compost mat. I just wanted to give a brief overview of what our prototype is about and our sketch. We will be uploading pictures of our finished product later today. Now I would like to introduce NEM, our nutrient enriched mat!
NEM: Our engineering-based solution for the restoration of nutrients into Haiti’s rapidly depleting soil is our biodegradable compost mat, also known as NEM (Nutrients Enriched Mat). The compost mat is composed of three main layers. The bottom layer is a netting material made from jute fibers. This biodegradable jute netting material also servers as the top layer of the mat to hold the middle layer in place. Compost from SOIL, straw bale, wood chips, and dried leaves are all mixed together to form a compost mulch mix and flatten into a blanket-like layer through the use of a solar-powered hydraulic compression machine. The jute netting will slowly begin to biodegrade and what will be left is the nutrient rich compost layer.
Our prototype demonstrates a before and after of what essentially the netting will become after it has been set in place for a couple of months. Our health educational flyer goes into further detail of our mat, and our poster will explain NEM more in depth.