vermicomposting in the residence halls: stories from the worm keepers maren stumme-diers...
TRANSCRIPT
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Vermicomposting in the Residence Halls: Stories from the
Worm Keepers
Maren Stumme-DiersSustainability Coordinator
Luther College
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Project Outline•Gauge student interest•Research options•Seek ideas/feedback•Secure funding (worms, bins)•Identify and train worm keepers•Make and distribute bins•Publicize•Compost•Harvest castings
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Addressing Concerns
• “Who will take care of the bin”• “What happens if it smells?”• “Will the worms escape?”• “Who will take the bins over the Summer?”
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Key Conversations
• Custodians in the Residence Halls• Hall Directors/Resident Assistants• Students• Local experts
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Materials• Worms– Happy D Ranch in California– 10 lbs = $190 (This covered our 7 bins)– Population doubles in 3-6 months
• Bins– Rubbermaid Containers– Small vs. Large?– Drill holes for ventilation
• Bedding– Shredded documents– Old Newspapers
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Feeding the Worms~ 1lb. Food/1lb. Worms per day~
Worms Like:• Vegetable/Fruit scraps• Shredded newspaper • Coffee Grounds• Eggshells• Dryer lint• Plain pasta or rice• Plain bread
Worms Don’t Like:• Meat or Bones• Fats • Dairy• Very spicy foods• Glossy paper• Large amounts of citrus, hot
peppers, onions or garlic• Liquids• Processed Foods
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Implementation
• Identified 7 Locations• Put together bins• Training– Worm keepers– RAs
• Daily maintenance• Weekly check-ins• Summer care
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Lessons Learned
• Large bins get heavy!• Most successful in house/cluster setting• Dedicated worm-keepers are a must• Students LOVE this initiative
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The Latest
• Castings being sorted by Sustainability House– House fund-raiser
• Creating additional bins• Distributing to campus houses, offices, first
year residence halls
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To Stay Updated
• Visit our website:– www.luther.edu/sustainability
• Contact me directly:– Maren Stumme-Diers