Park City Composting: WORMS!!!
Posted by Joshua BartosiewiczThe past couple of weeks Park City Composting has been introducing various styles of composting to our 8th grade class. Students have learned about Thermophilic composting, Mesophilic composting, how to make a traditional compost pile, how to use a tumbler composter and most recently, how to vermicompost which is composting with WORMS!
Vermicomposting is a style of composting that utilizes earthworms or red wigglers to help aid in the breakdown process of organic material. The worms will eat the nitrogen sources (food scraps), digest the material and reintroduce it into the environment through their nutrient rich waste which are referred to as ‘worm castings’. The students learned about the benefits of this style of composting as well as the anatomy of an earthworm!
In the most recent visit with Park City Composting, students were able to help construct worm bins which are being stored in the science lab and monitored weekly. It is really incredible to see the breakdown process first hand; we are able to watch the food scraps in the pile be converted into organic-rich soil thanks to our wiggly friends!
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