Vermicomposting in the Classroom Wacky for Worms: Vermicomposting in the Classroom Ben Huynh & Linda Ryan Climate of Change: Environmental Education in Action Conference OISE February 4th 2017

Outline:  Vermicomposting Basics Hands On! Meet your worm Building the Bin Care and Feeding of your worms Station Activities Curriculum Connections Prize Draw! Win your bin! Resources Questions?

What is Vermicomposting? Red Wiggler worms (Eisenia Fetida) living in a contained bin break down organic material into nutrient rich castings The Red Wiggler Red wigglers: -eat in place -high nitrogen diet - eat ½ their weight per day! http://www.groworganic.com/redworms-eisenia-foetida-800-1200-lb.html

Worm Facts! Worm Anatomy  Need grit to break down food 5 hearts  No teeth  Need grit to break down food 5 hearts No eyes- But photosensitive Hermaphrodites  Worm “babies” Cocoons http://zoologyinfosolution.blogspot.ca/2013/03/classification-of-phylum-annelida-by.html

Why Vermicompost? Waste diversion Free source of organic compost Education / biophilia

1) Waste Diversion Canadians are among the largest per capita producers of solid waste in the world! ~50% of our waste is organic1 30-40% of food waste ends up in the garbage! 1Composting Council of Canada :http://www.compost.org/ 1 Composting Council of Canada: http://www.compost.org/

Waste Diversion Continued Composting with worms is a great way to supplement traditional garden composters: Year-round, indoors Faster 1 Composting Council of Canada: http://www.compost.org/

2) Free Compost Vermicompost ( “blackgold”) is the best fertilizer! Natural, organic, won’t “burn” your plants Releases nutrients gradually (minimal “runoff”) Contains hormones and beneficial microbes that helps plants resist harmful pathogens3 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8miLevRI_o 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8miLevRI_o

3) Education and Biophilia Educational benefits for children (and adults!) Ecology! Zoology! Engineering! Biophilia: Fostering compassion for all living things, no matter how small or slimy!

A Tribute to Worms It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organized creatures.”  - Charles Darwin 1881

Creating a Worm Environment Bedding: Carbon source (shredded newspaper, cardboard) Garden soil (for grit and microbes) Egg shells or agricultural lime (to neutralize acidity) Coconut coir (to lighten bedding) Water –”well wrung out sponge” Add worms

Feeding 1 2 3 4 Feed 1-2 times a week Bury food under the bedding Vegetable and fruit scraps Coffee grounds Tea bags Cooked pasta/rice (no sauce) No citrus Feed 1-2 times a week Bury food under the bedding 1 2 4 3

Yummy Yucky http://homeandgardenamerica.com/worm-composting-tips

The Harvest 4-6 months harvest “black gold” Pile Sort: -Place in piles -Worms go to bottom -Scoop off top!

Hands On! Meet your worm Build a bin Care and feeding

Option Stations 1. Harvesting Demonstration 2. Build your own bin 3. Examining Bin Critters with MyScope 4. Nutrient Compost Testing

Vermicomposting & EcoSchools A Win-Win Partnership

Curriculum Connections Sharing Where can you use this in your classroom? Please add your ideas by opening the padlet link below! https://padlet.com/lkryan300/8b8twcm0lrxl Vermicomposting in the classroom padlet

Four lucky people will win a bin! ? Q and A ? Prize Draw!! Four lucky people will win a bin! Thank you!

Reference List & Resources BC Compost Education Vermicomposting Fact Sheet: http://compost.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Vermicomposting-2.pdf Other organisms in a worm bin: http://naturesfootprint.com/community/articles/bugs-creepy-crawlies-whats-in-my-worm-bin/ Cathy’s Crawly Composters: The GTA Worm Composting Expert! Buy worms, bins, workshops, advice! http://www.cathyscomposters.com/ Great Student- Friendly Worm Educational Site: University of Illinois Extension: The Autobiography of Squirmin’ Herman the Worm http://extension.illinois.edu/worms/

Reference List & Resources The Classic Educational Worm Composting Book Worms Eat Our Garbage by Mary Appelhof, Mary Frances Fenton and Barbara Loss Harris, Flower Press, Kalamazoo, MI, 1993. (Available on Amazon) Soil and Compost Nutrient Testing Kits (ph and NPK) Luster Leaf 1601 Rapitest Soil Test Kit (Available from Lee Valley or Boreal) Vermicomposting Ted-Ed Talk: Good classroom introduction resource http://ed.ted.com/lessons/vermicomposting-how-worms-can-reduce-our-waste-matthew-ross