Title
Composting at Boise State University
Document Type
Student Presentation
Presentation Date
4-15-2013
Faculty Sponsor
Scott Lowe
Abstract
A major aspect of the Environmental sustainability of Boise State University Campus is the harmony of the recycling program, roof top garden (with bee boxes), and an offsite community garden on Juanita. We propose a vermiculture project, which presents another aspect to our sustainability program. Vermicomposting is the use of earthworms to convert organic waste into fertilizer. We believe that integrating vermicomposting at Boise State University will complete the cyclical process of connecting the rooftop gardens and waste stream of the campus community. Community stakeholders, current students and future students can influence the input of materials and see the beneficial results of organic material as it is converted to fertilizer. This vermiculture project will have an initial, start up cost of approximately $4,000. After a few years of growth and equilibrium, the splitting of the worm colony will create sales and eventually profits. This leads to a self-sustaining project that could eventually pay for itself through the selling the worms and the worm castings as fertilizer. Labor will not have any associated cost since interns will participate in this program and facilitate campus environment sustainability. This project will educate and demonstrate the sustainability and promote Boise State’s President Bob Kustra’s campus vision, “our turf is blue, but our campus is green”.