Hints for Worm Factory Teachers
This page has been developed to act as a resource for teachers who currently have a worm composting bin in their classroom. Please feel free to visit this page often as updates will be made on a continuous basis. If you have a story, experience, or tip you would like to share, please email it to Kerry Rickrode. Make sure to let us know of any special projects or events occurring from the use of the worm bins too!
Teachers Share Possible Worm Factory Activities:
Conduct an experiment to compare regular soil versus compost and observe how it affects plant growth
Use compost to start seeds in the school garden and in houseplants
Feed worms scraps from school kitchen which will provide for continuous worm growth
Create gifts for school administration and other teachers - Place vermicompost in small bags and include a plant in a hand-painted pot. A great idea for a year-end appreciation gift!
Feed worms with leftover snacks from classroom
Use the compost to side-dress plants growing in HCCD's Gro-Lab!
Create a Worm Diary
Use liquid "worm tea" for flowers
Worm Factory Success Stories:
Hands-on Science technique
Student interest and curiosity increased
Topics such as recycling and ecology became a focus in science unit
Planted entire garden with plants started from seed and fed with worm compost! In the past, only few seedlings have been strong enough to survive
Cantaloupe seeds sprouted in the bin. We removed the sprouts and planted them
Blending food scraps real well increases worm reproduction
Tips for a Successful Worm Factory:
Keeping the spigot open lets the bottom tray drain out and the worms that get to the bottom tray don't drown
Avoid feeding worms strawberries - they smell!
Fruit, vegetable peels, coffee grounds, bread, rolls and oatmeal all work well as food sources for the worms
Setting Up the Worm Factory