| From Garbage to Garden |
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| Tuesday, 22 February 2011 | |
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A group of elementary school children staying at the dormitory in Bendum are managing a series of vermicompost beds.
Marzon Limbago, an OJT (On-the-
Job Training) student from the Bukidnon State University (BSU) who is also a
resident of Bendum, assists these children in setting up the vermiculture.
When we are feeding thirty people in the house, we generate a lot of vegetable
waste along with other biodegradable material that has to be disposed well or
soon we’ll have a mound of wastes out at the back. Composting is the most
obvious approach where in we have to be well organized so as not to attract
vermin. We do this by mixing the waste with materials gathered from the
garden, animal dung, and earthworms collected from previous compost bed.
Vermiculture is an artificial rearing of earthworms; the worms used in
Bendum are known as the African Nightcrawler, which are different from the
local species.
The rate of decomposition and multiplication of worms are fast. The benefits
are significant, if this practice is optimized. Earthworms convert kitchen waste, paper and other organic
material into valuable compost that improves soil and landuse practice. Letting the earthworms
decompose (recycle) our organic wastes, saves the children from turning over the compost to keep it
aerated for many months. The areas around the house are also ‘free’ from organic wastes thus keep the
environment healthy. With the significant amount of earthworms produced, added value may be
optimized for animal food and not just a supply for the occasional fishing line.
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 06 June 2011 ) |
