Locally Delicious Kids Worm Bin: Difference between revisions

Abstract

Locally Delicious and Humboldt State Universities Engineering Design (215) class came up with a worm bin design that utilizes a small scale worm bin system to allow children of ages 8-12. The bin can be constructed by kids without the help of their parents following the instructions we developed. This bin enables kids to get hands-on experience with composting and sustainable living. The final design consists of small water-resistant milk cartons that are easily accessible, recycled, and cheap.

Background

Locally Delicious is an organization run through Humboldt County, California, designed to better the community as well as raise awareness on certain issues. The design of the Kids only worm bin is a branch of this group's work with Humboldt State University's Engineering 215 students, designing sustainable and easily reproducible project for a system of schools in the area. After the projects have been finished and released, material regarding the details of the various projects will be published as a compilation in a book tentatively due out in the fall of 2011. The design outlined below is a product of Onycophora, a group of the aforementioned Engineering 215 students.

Problem statement and criteria

In order to come up with a solution we took the following criteria into consideration throughout or design process. The need for a small Worm Bin made by children with minimal safe tools and easily accessible materials; can be assembled by fallowing simple instructions.

• Cost

The cost of the project was geared towards being very minimal to fit the budget of kids. Most of the material to be used can be acquired at no cost to the child.

• Maintenance

The amount of time related to upkeep of the worm bin will be minimal and sustainable for an estimated time of six to twelve months.

• Materials

Materials apart from the worms themselves will not be difficult to obtain for the targeted age group or their parents, i.e. outside of the home, local hardware stores, or local grocery stores.

• Efficiency

Within two months the worm bin will be able to produce castings provided that the worm bin is properly cared for and is given an adequate amount of food waste.

• Time

Build time should be minimal, i.e. able to be completed over the course of one weekend by the targeted age group.

• Educational

The worm bin design will enable the targeted age group to both learn about the general design of a worm bin and to help them understand the concepts of waste and consumption.

• Durability

The worm bin design will be able to withstand the effects of child contact and weather for six to twelve months provided that the worm bin is being properly maintained.

• Safety

The materials used in the design of the worm bin will not be harmful to the targeted age group’s health or well being.

• Reproducibility

The design of the worm bin will be easily reproducible by the targeted age group, given adequate parental help and supervision.

Description of final project

Our Project is composed of empty milk cartons.

Photos and descriptions

Costs

Our cost was very minimal because most the materials were recycled materials, this is a table of our costs and total for the project

Testing Results

How to build

Steps to Making Cooler Worm Bin

1. Get a Styrofoam cooler the size you would like your worm bin to be. Be sure it also has a lid
2. Put 10-12 holes in the top of the cooler lid with a pencil, stick, or pen.
3. Flip lid over and remove any crumbs of foam left from punching the holes
4. Poke more holes in the bottom side of the cooler for drainage.
5. Shred newspaper (unlamented) into thin strips and make a pile.
6. Place pile in cooler to around the half way point, if not high enough shread some more until its half full.
7. Sparingly wet the newspaper (be sure to stir the newspaper to get the paper at the bottom wet)
8. Add some dirt and dead plant matter to get the bin started
9. Let sit for **insert time here**
10. Add worms
11. ……..
12. Profit?

Discussion and next steps

The overall design of the kid's worm bin is such a simple one that it allows for various small changes of material and location. The "bin" itself could be constructed of any waterproof, easily accessible material, not just soy milk or cow milk cartons. The design works well both inside and outside, and can be easily placed in any area due to its small size. Though working for a variety of ages, testing results led us to believe

Once implemented, it would therefore be important to take into account

The next steps of the project will be the publishing of the designs and findings and the implementation for students. It will be interesting see what new innovations are made with school byproducts.

Reference