1. 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

2. 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?

3. 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!

4. 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

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

6. 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 :
1 Composting Council of Canada: 

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

8. 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 3

9. 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!

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Yummy Yucky

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

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

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

17. Vermicomposting & EcoSchools A Win-Win Partnership

18. Curriculum Connections Sharing
Where can you use this in your classroom?
Please add your ideas by opening the padlet link below!
Vermicomposting in the classroom padlet

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

20. Reference List & Resources
BC Compost Education Vermicomposting Fact Sheet:
Other organisms in a worm bin:
Cathy’s Crawly Composters:
The GTA Worm Composting Expert! Buy worms, bins, workshops, advice!
Great Student- Friendly Worm Educational Site:
University of Illinois Extension: The Autobiography of Squirmin’ Herman the Worm

21. 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, (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