Worm Composting

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In an effort to teach about organic gardening and keeping usable food scraps out of the landfill - which yields better food, and uses natural methods - our 5th and 6th grade students participate in worm composting. 

 

In learning about composting, we understand more about healthy eating because compost goes back to the garden, which helps fruits and vegetables grow even better.

 

How we did this project:

 

We provided each class with a bucket, which the classes use to hold their food scraps.

The 5th and 6th graders collect the buckets regularly, weigh the scraps in each one, and dump

them into a bin full of worms, letting the worms turn the scraps into compost. Then they scrub

the buckets clean and return them to the classes. Over time, the worms turn the compost to

soil that is very good for gardening. We use the resulting "black gold" to use in our community garden plots 

and around campus in our other gardens.

Emptying the food scraps

More worm composting - putting it all together to begin the process of decomposition.

We have also composed haikus to reflect our awareness of our impact upon our local environment.  

Student haikus:

Bele Chere by Caeley Wray-Parcell (6th grade, Rainbow Mountain Children’s School)
summer heat, nervous
shaky feet walking up stairs
crowd watching, Bele Chere


By Ben Goodrum

too many hippies

too many beer breweries

not enough bike lanes

Carl Sandburg’s Home by Belle Crouse (5th grade, Rainbow Mountain Children’s School)
goats bleat in the barn
old house where the magic was made
hikes under trees’ shade


River Arts District by Ella Pesce-DeFarrari (5th grade, Rainbow Mountain Children’s School)
pebble dash buildings
paintings, blown glass, graffiti
done by great artists

Food Beauty by Elijah White (5th grade, Rainbow Mountain Children’s School)
local food beauty
trees mountains French Broad River
colorful people

Arboretum by Zoe Von Kohorn (5th grade, Rainbow Mountain Children’s School)
smooth petal roses
beautiful rhododendrons
arboretum scenes

by Bronwyn White (5th grade, Rainbow Mountain Children’s School)
creeks parting mountains
curvy trails for bicycles
local festivals

by Ryan Hatcher (5th grade, Rainbow Mountain Children’s School)
so many beer bars
hippies walk around Pack Square
hobos need money

Music for Downtown by Bracey Fountain (6th grade, Rainbow Mountain Children’s School)
music for downtown
taste bud changing restaurants
life changing mountains

Hello by Jack Altman (6th grade, Rainbow Mountain Children’s School)
Hello, treehugger
trails and hikes and rivers too
Asheville lives music


by Chase Jones (6th grade, Rainbow Mountain Children’s School)
flowing water creek
Flat Iron, George Vanderbilt
theater biking