As a small scale example of the benefits of composting in the system, Students are introduced to Vermiculture. The vermicomposting bins are teeming with Red Wiggler worms ready to munch on the organic material collected to feed them. Students learn through first-hand observation the role microorganisms play in converting waste to nutrient-rich soil.
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3.1 Worm Hotel
Understanding the Design of the Vermiculture Compost System (Beginner)
The design of the worm bin provides the optimal conditions for worms to do what they do. In this lesson, you will explore how they break down organic material to produce black gold, a nutrient rich vermicast that is valuable as a soil amendment and key ingredient for worm tea.
A Bigger Better…Worm Farm? (Intermediate)
Worms provide a critical function in the food production process. So in this lesson you will design a bigger better worm farm to supercharge your vermicomposting process.
Become Worm Bin Manufacturers (Advanced)
Worms should be ubiquitous on farms as the so-called work horse of the composting process and this lesson will allow you to design a marketable worm bin for sale to the public.
Lesson Resources
The Complete Guide to Vermicomposting (included w/ Worm Factory 360)
But really, worms?: The Benefits of Using Worms for Composting
3.2 What a Worm Likes
Perfect Conditions for Worms to Thrive (Beginner)
Worms need moisture to protect their delicate bodies and facilitate their breathing. This lesson explores the process of establishing and maintaining optimal moisture in the worm bin.
Keep it Earthy (Intermediate)
Composting requires oxygen, not just hungry worms and microorganisms. This lesson explores the role oxygen plays in the process.
Double Down! (Advanced)
Mother Nature seems to control the environment for all her creatures effortlessly. Though it may be a little more challenging for humans, this lesson will explore what it takes to provide the perfect conditions for worms to flourish.
Lesson Resources
The Complete Guide to Vermicomposting (included w/ Worm Factory 360)
Browns and Greens: Understanding Carbon and Nitrogen in the Composting Process
3.3 Inside the Worm
Anatomy and Physiology of the Red Wiggler (Beginner)
Worms are basic creatures but the job they perform is surprisingly complex. This lesson allows students to explore the anatomy of the red wiggler worm to discover how they do what they do best.
A Look Inside (Intermediate)
There is no better way to explore the anatomy of a worm than to see it up close. This lesson uses a dissection to examine the various internal systems of a worm’s anatomy.
And on His Farm There was a…Worm? (Advanced)
Farmers produce a lot of different products and for some farmers the star is the red wiggler worm. This lesson asks students to discuss exactly what it takes to become a worm farmer.
Lesson Resources
Anatomy of the Red Wiggler Worm
3.4 Worms for Lunch!
How Worms Turn Kitchen Scraps Into Rich Soil (Beginner)
Microbes abound in the compost. This lesson allows students to explore the micro-world of the compost bin and the creatures that are active there.
The Unseen Helpers (Intermediate)
It’s always helpful to have a solid reference guide to turn to when an unknown critter arrives on the scene. This lesson is the start to an ongoing project that will result in a catalog of microorganisms that call the worm bin home.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (Advanced)
In an effort to expand the catalog of critters that call the worm bin, home, this lesson integrates high definition pictures to the profile of each microorganism.
Lesson Resources
The Complete Guide to Vermicomposting (included w/ Worm Factory 360)
Anatomy of the Red Wiggler Worm
3.5 Worm Cafe
The Best Methods for Feeding Your Worms (Beginner)
In order to maintain balance in the worm bin, the inputs must contain both browns and greens. Carbon and nitrogen are critical inputs and this lessons allows students to practice their categorization of the two.
Celebrity Chef for Worms (Intermediate)
Taking care of a pet can be a real chore for kids and a composting bin with a few thousand worms is no exception. This lesson has students experiment to determine the best method for preserving bulk meals for the worms.
Fast Food in Wormville (Advanced)
Scaling any system is a challenge and it’s often impossible with automation. This lesson explores the process of automation as it relates to the vermiculture system.
Lesson Resources
The Complete Guide to Vermicomposting (included w/ Worm Factory 360)
Browns and Greens: Understanding Carbon and Nitrogen in the Composting Process
What Can I Put In My Worm Bin?
3.6 A Day in the Life
How Fast Do Worms Consume Waste? (Beginner)
Your worm bin is full of munch-happy worms but how much can they consume? This lesson teaches students how to calculate the worm’s rate of consumption.
The Mathematics of Worms (Intermediate)
Just how much can a bin of worms compost in 30 days? This lesson will teach students how to calculate the consumption rate of the worms in the vermiculture system.
Worms on the Payroll (Advanced)
Imagine if your school was able to recapture the nutrients in all of its food waste. This lesson provides students the opportunity to crunch the numbers on a full scale worm composting system that would do just that.
Lesson Resources
The Complete Guide to Vermicomposting (included w/ Worm Factory 360)
3.7 Worm Party
Which Worms are Best for Composting? (Beginner)
Not all worms are the same. Some are better than others for composting. This lesson explores the anatomy of red wigglers to uncover why they are the best choice for composting systems.
A Worm is a Worm, Right? (Intermediate)
What makes a red wiggler the composting worm of choice? This lesson compares the anatomy of the red wiggler to nightcrawlers revealing why their perfectly designed for the job.
Top, Bottom, and in the Middle (Advanced)
Not all worms are alike. Some are surface dwellers while others are rarely seen above ground. This lesson provides students the opportunity to map the habitats of various worm species with a creative rendering.
Lesson Resources
Anatomy of the Red Wiggler Worm
3.8 Worm ER
Identifying and Solving Problems in the Worm Bins (Beginner)
The best way to prepare for issues in the worm bin is to understand what can go wrong and how to detect it early. This lesson helps students develop a skillset needed to evaluate conditions in the worm bin.
Worm Worries (Intermediate)
What’s wrong with the worm bin? Not sure? This lesson will prepare students to troubleshoot common worm bin issues and effectively remedy the situation.
Machines, Mechanisms, and Manpower (Advanced)
Automating the processes of a worm farm would be imperative to reach a true commercial scale. This lesson delves into the process of automation unlocking the creativity of the class.
Lesson Resources
3.9 Happy Helpers
The Worms Don’t Work Alone (Beginner)
Work compost is teeming with life and these little critters are vital to the process. This lesson explores the insects and microorganisms that participate in the vermiculture process.
Role Call (Intermediate)
The food soil web sounds like a magical place, doesn’t it? In this lesson, students will explore the participants and the role they play in the worm bin.
You Scratch My Back and I’ll Scratch Yours (Advanced)
Nearly every natural process requires the participation of multiple players. In this lesson, students will discuss the symbiotic relationships that exist in the worm bin.
Lesson Resources
The Role of Insects in the Composting Process
3.10 Worm Poo
Harvesting Worm Castings for Compost (Beginner)
Worm poo, castings, vermicast, vermicompost. Whatever you call the product of the worm composting process it’s all black gold. This lesson teaches students how to harvest this black gold.
The Poo Cache (Intermediate)
Harvesting worm castings, commonly known in the Lab as worm poo, is the dirty work as they say. In this lesson, students will learn how to harvest castings without disrupting the worms.
The Price is Right (Advanced)
Every business needs a sound financial plan and this lesson provides students with a first step in that direction. Financial forecasting is a vital skill to develop in the process.
Lesson Resources
The Complete Guide to Vermicomposting (included w/ Worm Factory 360)
3.11 Tea Time in Wormville
Compost Tea from Worm Castings (Beginner)
Compost tea is a staple for farmers. It provides nutrients efficiently as a foliar spray and soil drench. This lesson walks students through the compost tea process.
Perhaps the Sweetest of All Teas (Intermediate)
Compost tea is like a wonder drug for plant development. In this lesson, students will experiment with the application of compost tea to measure its effects.
A Pinch of This, a Dash of That (Advanced)
A recipe is never complete. That applies to your favorite meal and the perfect compost tea recipe. This lesson targets the process to create the perfect compost tea recipe.
Lesson Resources
The Complete Guide to Vermicomposting (included w/ Worm Factory 360)
Equipment Recommendations from Modern Steader
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