Vermiculture at the Mill Casino

Transcription

1 Vermiculture at the Mill Casino Tribal Lands Forum Presentation August Presented by Richard Rudder, Director of Facilities Management

2 First inspired to reduce pollution and waste in Keep America Green began their anti-littering campaign featuring Iron Eyes Cody with a tear running down his face, as trash was thrown from a moving car landing at his feet.

3 The Going Green Mantra Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, was created to establish a hierarchy of waste management practices for individuals and businesses. Reduction is the first and most important step in the hierarchy. Take a proactive stance in purchasing and using only what is necessary. The idea is to be conscientious of one s supply stream if we buy less we create less waste. Reuse, the step following reduction, focuses on finding an alternative use for materials that would otherwise be considered waste and ultimately disposed of. Recycling, the final step in the traditional hierarchy emphasizes on properly separating and distributing those materials that cannot be reduced or reused, to the appropriate facilities so the items can be applied to the production of new products and goods. The Mill Casino has practiced waste management since our opening in 1995, in 2009 we expanded our recycling/reuse program and reduced our waste disposal cost by $25,000.

4 95% of total energy used and pollution generated Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for almost four hours or run your television for three hours.

5 VERMICULTURE (composting with worms) In 2010 we embarked on our first adventures in vermiculture. After several months of research and studying the techniques and systems used to compost with worms, we started with a simple pilot project using recycled material. We built worm bins using 5 gallon buckets and purchased 1 lb. of red wigglers.

6 We have processed about 2,600 pounds of kitchen waste since 2010 This worm farm was built using recycled material, and was started with 15 lbs of red wigglers, we now have an estimated 1 million worms working for us.

7 We harvested the first worm castings (worm poop) in January 2012, 60 gallons. The worm castings will be used in our organic garden. 1 gallon of worm castings is valued at $20.00 plus shipping and handling. Eisenia Fetida Aka; red wiggler, brandling, manure worm, red worm, tiger worm, California super red, stink worm, etc. Red Wigglers cost $15 to $25 per lb

8 What is needed to make Vermicompost Air oxygen/structure Water moisture and drainage 65% to 80% soil moisture Food and Bedding (Carbon/ Nitrogen mix) Temperature (warmer than freezing cooler than 85 degrees) Red Wigglers you can start with 1 pound. In a healthy environment red wigglers will double their population every 6 weeks.

9 Healthy soil is between 60% and 80% moisture with a balanced PH ( ) Moisture tester- $8-$12 PH Tester - $8-$12

10 Bedding Usually Carbon Sources Shredded Newspaper or Junk mail (remove the plastic window) Dead Leaves Shredded Cardboard (remove box tape) Rotting Straw Aged manure

11 Feed your bin in one section at a time Good Food Apple Cores Onion Peels Tea Bags Coffee Grounds with Filter Spoiled Vegetables and leftovers Hair Finger nails Tissues and Paper Towels Food Citrus* in smaller quantities and monitor the PH level If it rots they will eat it Bad food Salty Foods Oily Foods or Nut Butters Pet Wastes Meat Rock dust- worms have gizzards and need rock dust to help digest food.

12 Worm Facts Worms can eat their weight each day. Baby worms are not born. They hatch from cocoons smaller than a grain of rice. Worm are Hermaphrodites- they have both male and female reproductive organs

13 Worm Bins Worm Casting Harvester

14 Everwood Farm Continuous flow reactor Capable of processing 2000 tons of organic waste per year. Windrow vermicomposting is large scale low maintenance. If you interested in learning more visit the Happy D Ranch website look for the K.I.S.S. Plan

15 Space saver Why Vermicompost? Little or no odor Forgiving Process Vermicompost is more biologically active than other composts A worm s digestive track naturally selects beneficial microbes Will not burn plants, it s organic

16 Resources Lot s more information available on the internetsearch vermiculture, red wigglers or composting with worms Worm Digest- Uncle Jim s worm farm- Lane County Master Recycler Programhttp:// aspx Or Google search Lane County Master Recycler