Project Clearinghouse

Vermicomposting

Sustainability Problem and Proposed Solution: 

Vermicomposting benefits the environment by providing a unique and easy way to recycle kitchen waste into beneficial compost. Not only does one reduce waste, but also repurposes it into plant nutrients to improve seedlings growth by preventing pathogens. Currently, our waste management practices have a detrimental effect on the environment by emitting greenhouse gases. Vermicomposting benefits our waste management but also provides an organic fertilizer beneficial to growth of plants.

Jump to: Contact | Project Description | Funding Sources | Metrics for Success | Results
Project Categories: 
Awareness, Education & Engagement
Waste & Recycling
Project Status: 
Proposed
Project End Date: 
06/25/2018
Campus Organization: 
Carbon Fund
Project Location: 
On campus

UCSC Arboretum


Stakeholder Contacts: 
Contact NameEmail AddressContact NumberDepartment
Tela Favaloro
tela@soe.ucsc.edu
Engineering
Janna Ratzlaff
janna.ratzlaff@gmail.com
6502245489
Both thirst and hunger non profit
Juliette Bechard
jbechard@ucsc.edu
9783947332
student involved in aquaponics project
Kristian Flores
kristianflores@live.com
3103472272
Alumni involved in Aquaponics project
Stacy Philpott
sphilpot@ucsc.edu
Environmental Studies
Funding Sources: 
Carbon Fund

Project Description: 

Utilizing vermicomposting will help reduce food waste in an efficiently and environmentally friendly way. In vermicomposting, worms are fed organic wastes which are then converted into fertilizer that can be used as plant nutrients, this benefits our waste management and provides an organic fertilizer that is beneficial to growth of plants. This project will be incorporated into an ongoing Aquaponics research project and will ensure waste from the greenhouse and other sources is composted and utilized as fertilizer for the crops. I would like to sustain around two worm factory bins with red wigglers and eventually incorporate the compost tea into the Aquaponics media beds as well as into a bioponics project that will be carried on at the arboretum S-labs. Educating others about composting practices on campus and in the community through vermiculture will help promote sustainable waste management. https://www.delhitrainingcourses.com/

Metrics for Success: 

Using a scale, we can track food waste added to worm bins on a weekly basis. This can be recorded on a data log that can be linked to the project. I will also take data on the success of plant growth utilizing compost tea.

Next Steps: 
Aside from incorporating this project into an ongoing Aquaponics research project I would like to expand vermicomposting into a bioponics in which I will be adding compost tea from the worm bins into the crops I will continue to grow in the greenhouse. In order to expand the project, I will be implementing composting systems at the arboretum to collect compost. The purpose is to sustainably grow food using worm castings, and compost tea from the worm bins as a plant nutrient. By utilizing vermicomposting I will reduce food waste and sustainability use it to grow crops instead. Initially It will take at least a couple of months or so to get the worms going and have them reproduce in order to produce compost tea.
Result Categories: 
Education/Outreach
Data Collection & Analysis
Results: 

For 2017, I will begin the project in the Spring Quarter while coming up with a research proposal to implement bioponics into an Aquaponics system utilizing vermicomposting. In order to keep track of the results, I will be using a data log and carbon capture to ensure that my pay back period will be in less than five years. Once I have reduced carbon capture to ensure my payback period my project will be finished. In 2018, I will continue to integrate vermicomposting into Aquaponics to enhance the quality of the food I grow, while also feeding some of the worms to the fish as a sustainable fish food.