Christine Harder chooses to spend a lot of her time digging through worm poop. The poop, or worm casting, is used as a healthy, nonchemical, and basically free fertilizer for plants.
The interdisciplinary studies in social science and environmental policy and Spanish senior interns at Michigan Energy Options, 405 Grove St., and her favorite part of the job is the compost education program. She creates compost bins, where one pound of worms and other small bugs eat three and a half pounds of old fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grinds, recyclable paper and other natural materials a week. The process helps reduce garbage waste and produces nutritious fertilizer.
In order to harvest the bins, the worms must be taken out and separated from the casting and put in a new bin every two to three months. The casting can then be used as a rich bed for plants. The program teaches people how maintain their own compost bins and how they work.
Becky Jo Farrington, the Michigan Energy Options’ environmental education manager, and Harder visit Lansing classrooms to teach young students about the benefits of worm poop. They educate kids about worm parts and functions and set up classroom bins where students can throw out recyclable garbage.
Farrington says that by teaching kids while they’re young, they develop recycling habits and take them into adulthood.
“It’s amazing when you grow up how much more you don’t like to touch worms, “Farrington said. “Little kids are so much more excited about it.”
Harder’s roommates were skeptical when she said she was bringing a worm compost bin home, but she says they have learned from it too.
“Before they throw anything out they either come to me about recycling or composting,” Harder said. “It makes me feel like I’m doing something here on earth.”
To learn about other Michigan Energy Options programs or upcoming worm bin building events, visit www.michiganenergyoptions.org.
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