“Vermicomposting,” the process of breaking down organic matter by placing red wriggler worms inside of a bin filled with shredded newspaper and topsoil, was on display at Wayne State on Nov. 14.
The presentation, held in the Faculty Administration Building, was given by Sustainable Food Systems Education and Engagement in Detroit member Julia Sosin. The group is also partnered with the Student Environmental Action Leaders.
Sosin, a freshman in environmental studies, has been experimenting with vermicomposting for a year now. She explained what materials to use when getting started, as well as where people can keep their pile.
“I keep my pile inside of my closet,” Sosin said.
An owner of a worm compost feeds the worms half of their body weight in unprocessed food. After the compost has become established, the worms will multiply and can be fed their entire body weight.
William Ahee, a junior double-majoring in environmental and urban studies, explained how vermicomposting is easier than regular composting in an urban setting “because you don’t have to worry about smell or rats.” Other reasons for using a vermicompost include space issues. It’s convenient for many people who live in apartments or lofts and don’t have
access to a backyard.
The average bin is approximately one-foot deep, two-feet wide and three-feet long. Such
a box could easily fit away in a closet, in the corner of a dorm, or even underneath a bed. The worms like dark moist environments and, if properly bedded, the box will not emit any odors or attract fruit flies.
The members of SEED Wayne seek to collaboratively build sustainable food systems on the campus of Wayne State and surrounding areas through teaching, research engagement and campus operations.
In the past, they were responsible for the campus farmers market, collecting the food waste from campus cafeterias and the garden between the Undergraduate Library and
the Warrior Grill. The presentation showed students how easy it is to recycle unused food on a small-scale level.
With Detroit’s incinerator scheduled to close this year, and global warming becoming more of a prevalent issue, SEAL and SEED joined forces to create a skill-sharing community.
The two are slated to be the student authority on recycling within Wayne State, both with their own distinct mission and plan for the future of WSU.
“About 16 percent of waste that goes to landfills is food,” Ahee said.
“That food produces really toxic things like methane when it breaks down, which is a leading [contributor to] climate change.
“[Vermicomposting] is a great intro to a lot of other things students can do when they leave Wayne State. It’s simple and it’s a great way to get involved.”
Be the first to comment on this article!