Nothing like waking up to food scraps on your porch!

Things that make me and my wormies happy!!!

1 week and over 7 pounds of food taken out of our landfills.

I think it's time for the outdoor garbage disposal to break the scraps down quicker, and more worms!

The seed money will help to create some raised Continuous Flow Vermiculture bins, as I found that within a very close distance, there are literally tons of food scraps going into the general waste that could be used to make inexpensive organic fertilizer. Castings, and Worm tea could help a new gardener in an income depressed area like this, save money on the family's grocery bill, and iliminate food insecurities by growing their own nutrient rich foods. It could also lead to career opportunities as Iowa becomes more aware of the problems with methane gas in our landfills.

When the Food Scrap Conposting Program of Valley Junction is up and running it will help educate families in how to help illiminate food waste by showing residents how to pre plan shopping trips, and classes on how to prepare food scraps for vermacomposting in their homes, offices and community gardens, and more.

Because our area is opening up Covis 19 restrictions on restaurants and public gatherings, we had several events this week to promote the creation and opening of this community composting program. We have met with a large bank with 1500 employees who will recieve paid days off to donate time to community projects, and also met the a representative who works for the Department of Natural Resources, who mentioned that there is a 10 year forgivable loan for similar projects, and will work with me to write grants for more continues funding.

Next week, I have secured volunteers to help set up 2 in ground bins and have access to some fencing to protect area, and wood to make lids to keep critters out. Tools have been purchased, as I have made a couple of demo bins. This will allow us to start collecting scraps from residents and nearby businesses, as local covid advertisements allow.

We would like to use some of the money to purchase compost counter containers for residents that will have stickers with our contact info, logo and tips for collecting food scraps and what is accepted.

These buckets will be collected via bicycle and brought back to the composting area where volunteers will weigh and log donated food waste, and feed to worms, or put through proposed outdoor garbage disposal to break down food further for faster processing. (Volunteer and $ pending).

Our next event will be to show different DYI bins so people can have then in their homes, or under desks.

We donated a counter composter for a fundraiser and 200 bags to Nine Square Feet Gardening Club as they let us set up to promote the Food Scrap Composting Program of Valley Junction.

Not bad progress for the first month!

TONIGHT!
Kick-off Meet and greet
Big Acai in Valley Junction
5/5/21 @ 6pm