Great River School Starts Using New Eco-Friendly Composting System
By Isabela Alvarez
Great River School has recently decided to start using a common composting method for their food waste. Their chosen method is worm bins. Worm bins are just that, bins full of worms. They are a great option for just about anyplace and anyone who has natural food waste because they are easy to start and maintain. Worm bins are not only convenient for you but also highly beneficial for the soil.
What makes worms highly beneficial for the soil is their poop. To be more formal, we can say vermicompost, which means organic material that has been composted by worms, in other words, worm manure. Vermicompost is very high in nitrogen which is an essential nutrient for the growth and well being of plants. Without nitrogen, plant cells cannot make proteins or DNA. It is also the key ingredient in any given fertilizer. Nitrogen is found in manure.
For our setup, we started with a plastic storage bin and drilled small holes on the bottom (small enough so that the worms cannot crawl through) after that, we added the worms and placed shredded paper and grit on top. Then we misted the mixture with water until it was moist. After that, we added the food, which should be half as much in weight as the amount of worms. Then we made a cardboard cover to go on top. all done!
Worm bins are a great composting tool and super easy to make, give it a try and you’ll be impressed!