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{{Gallery
|width=350
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|Image:IMAG0065.jpg|A complete worm bin without bedding
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==Abstract==
==Abstract==
[[Locally Delicious]] and Humboldt State Universities [[Engr215 Introduction to Design]] 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.
The project outlined in this page is a small and manageable worm bin designed so that kids ages eight to twelve can recreate it, without the help of their parents, following the [[Locally_Delicious_Kids_Worm_Bin_inst|instructions]]. Giving a child the opportunity to build a worm bin enables them to get hands-on experience with composting and sustainable living, and allows them to see waste transformed into something useful!
 
After the projects have been finished and released, material regarding the details of the various projects will be compiled and published tentatively due out Fall 2011. The design outlined below is a product of [[Onycophora]], a group of the Introduction to Design [[Engr215]] students.


==Background==
==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 [[Engr215]] 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 [[Engr215]] students.
[[Locally Delicious]] is an organization based in Humboldt County with a commitment to raising awareness of the importance of community and sustainable living. [[Locally Delicious]] and Humboldt State University's [[Engr215 Introduction to Design]] class collaborated on a series of projects in the Spring of 2011. These projects are geared to help raise awareness of the importance of living and eating healthy, especially among children, and will be published in Locally Delicious' upcoming book, "Lunch box Envy."
The worm bin described in this page was engineered by the Engineering 215 design team Onycophora.


==Problem statement and criteria==
The "Wormland" worm bin is specifically designed for children ages eight to twelve, and therefore follows a unique set of considerations. In the design of this bin size, cost, and the ability of the child were all taken into account. The final design consists of various materials found in every home and drugstore. Old milk cartons and tape make up the design, and scissors and a pencil are the only tools required for assembly. The finished design will be able to process roughly a handful of organic material per week with proper maintenance, as described in our building instructions.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
|-
 
! Criteria
== Problem Statement and Criteria==
! Weights
 
! Description
The problem statement addressed by the "Wormland" bin project was to engineer a small and manageable worm bin that can be recreated and used by children between the ages of 8 and 12 years old based on the criteria of Locally Delicious. A table further discussing our criteria is outlined below.
 
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border:#A3BFA3; background:#F5FFF5"
|- style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold; background:#CEF2CE;"
| Criteria
| Weights
| Description
|-
|-
| Cost
| Cost
| 10
| 10
| 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.
| 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 little to no cost to the child.
|-
|-
| Maintenance
| Maintenance
| 4
| 4
| 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.
| 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
| 7
| 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
| Efficiency
| 9
| 9
| 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.  
| Efficiency is defined as the amount of worm castings produced within a certain amount of area in the worm bin.
|-
|-
| Build Time
| Build Time
| 8
| 8
| Build time should be minimal, i.e. able to be completed over the course of one weekend by the targeted age group.
| The time it takes to build and implement the worm bin.  
|-
|-
| Educational Value
| Educational Value
| 5
| 5
| 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.
| The worm bin design will enable kids ages 8-12 years old to both learn about the general design of a worm bin and to help them understand the concepts of waste and consumption.  
|-
|-
| Durability
| Durability
Line 41: Line 62:
|-
|-
| Safety
| Safety
| 5
| 10
| The materials used in the design of the worm bin will not be harmful to the targeted age group’s health or well being.
| The materials and construction methods used in the design of the worm bin will not be harmful to the kids ages 8-12 years old age group’s health or well being.  
|-
|-
|Reproducibility
|Reproducibility
| 10
| 10
| The design of the worm bin will be easily reproducible by the targeted age group, given adequate parental help and supervision.
| The ability of children, age 8-12 years old, to reproduce the worm bin.
|}
|}


==Description of final project==
==Description of final project==
Our Project is composed of empty milk cartons.
The design is composed of empty half gallon milk or juice cartons. Inside of the cartons is a migration hole that allows worms the access to both cartons. Worms are fed on one side of the bin while castings can be removed from the other carton. This process will be repeated as the worms will migrate towards the food and leave castings behind. Each time the food is digested new bedding is inserted. In addition, this [[Locally_Delicious_Kids_Worm_Bin_inst#Modular_Design|modular design]] allows for expansion of the worm bin to meet the needs for digestion of larger quantities of food.
===Photos and descriptions===
[[File:Worm bin materials.jpg|thumb|Breakdown of the materials needed and associated costs.]]


==Costs==
==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
{{Gallery
|width=350
|height=375
|lines=2
|align=right
|File:Cost_breakdown_ony1.png|Breakdown of the materials needed and associated costs.
}}
Our cost was very minimal because most the materials were reused materials, the table to the right shows of our costs and total for the project. The worms are the highest expense for the project. The total cost of the project was free. The project had worms donated from another worm bin. The total cost of the project without donations is less than twenty dollars.


==Testing Results==
==Testing Results==
To test the cardboard milk/silk/juice carton worm bin, we placed a cut off strip of the carton in a glass of water. This test was meant to determine how well the material of the carton would react to extreme weather conditions over a period of time when cut. We also placed a cut up strip of the carton which we had taped back together in the glass of water to determine how well the tape would hold up. After leaving both tests in the glass of water for two weeks now, the strips of carton and tape have taken on little to no damage. Because of these promising results, we have determined that cardboard milk, silk, or juice cartons are a good material to use for the Kids Worm Bin design.
To test the cardboard milk carton worm bin, we placed a cut off strip of the carton in a glass of water. This test was meant to determine how well the material of the carton would react to extreme weather conditions over a period of time when cut. We also placed a cut up strip of the carton which we had taped back together in the glass of water to determine how well the tape would hold up. After leaving both tests in the glass of water for two weeks, the strips of carton and tape have little to no damage. Because of these promising results, we have determined that cardboard milk cartons are a good material to use for the Kids Worm Bin design.
 


==How to build==
When testing with children at Alice Birney School in Eureka, California, the results were positive. Three nine year old children constructed the bins with the help of two Onycophora team members, and appeared to enjoy the process. The most difficult steps for the children were those involving poking holes. It was found that not only do pencils work better than pens, but milk cartons are easier to penetrate than the provided Dole brand juice cartons. In addition, the cartons became structurally unsound after the cutting of the migration holes, making it more difficult to poke holes for aeration and for the top flaps.The favorite part of the project for the children we tested with was filling the bins with bedding. They enjoyed shredding the newspaper and picking grass and leaves to make a comfortable "home" for their worms.
Steps to Making a Cooler Worm Bin
# Get a Styrofoam cooler the size you would like your worm bin to be. Be sure it also has a lid
# Put 10-12 holes in the top of the cooler lid with a pencil, stick, or pen.
# Flip lid over and remove any crumbs of foam left from punching the holes
# Poke more holes in the bottom side of the cooler for drainage.
# Shred newspaper (unlamented) into thin strips and make a pile.
# Place pile in cooler to around the half way point, if not high enough shread some more until its half full.
# Sparingly wet the newspaper (be sure to stir the newspaper to get the paper at the bottom wet)
# Add some dirt and dead plant matter to get the bin started
# Let sit for **insert time here**
# Add worms  
# ……..
# Profit?


Steps to Making a Carton Worm Bin
==Instructions for Making The Worm Bin==
# Get two milk, silk, or juice cartons, a pair of scissors or a kitchen knife, and a roll of duct tape.
The following link provides instructions for replicating our design:
# Poke 5-6 holes in the bottom of each carton with your scissors or kitchen knife.
[[Locally_Delicious_Kids_Worm_Bin_inst|Instructions for Making The Worm Bin]]
# Cut out one side of one of the cartons, and cut out just a small hole on the bottom of the side of the other carton.
# Cut the tops of the cartons, creating a door-like structure.
# Tape the two cartons together, open side and hole side facing each other.
# Shred a small amount of newspaper into thin strips, creating a small pile.
# Place some newspaper into each side of your structure, and lightly spray water on it to dampen it.
# Add a mall amount of dirt and dead leaves to get the bin started.
# Let sit for a few days for the habitat to settle.
# Add worms and close the pre-made lid to give your worms a dark habitat.
# You're done!


==Discussion and next steps==
==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--------
{{Gallery
|width=450
|height=190
|lines=1
|align=right
|Image:215 Team.jpg|Team Onychophora
}}
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 milk or juice 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 that children eight to twelve years of age will be fully capable of building a "Wormland" bin if provided with adequate instruction.
 
Once implemented, it would therefore be important to take into account not only age and ability but adult supervision and help. Though this is a kid's project, it is recommended an adult assists with implementation and instructions to ensure proper building and safety.


The next steps of the project will be the publishing of the designs and findings in the book compiled by the organization Locally Delicious, and the implementation for students. It will be interesting see what new innovations are made with school byproducts.
The next steps of the project will be the publishing of the designs and findings in the book compiled by the organization Locally Delicious, and its implementation by students. We hope that anyone who attempts this project is satisfied with their results and learns something about red worms and waste in the process.


==Reference==


[[Category:Engr215 Introduction to Design]]
[[Category:Engr215 Introduction to Design]]
[[Category:Locally Delicious]]
[[Category:Locally Delicious]]
[[Category:Vermiculture]]

Revision as of 07:08, 11 December 2012

Template:Status-prototype




Abstract

The project outlined in this page is a small and manageable worm bin designed so that kids ages eight to twelve can recreate it, without the help of their parents, following the instructions. Giving a child the opportunity to build a worm bin enables them to get hands-on experience with composting and sustainable living, and allows them to see waste transformed into something useful!

After the projects have been finished and released, material regarding the details of the various projects will be compiled and published tentatively due out Fall 2011. The design outlined below is a product of Onycophora, a group of the Introduction to Design Engr215 students.

Background

Locally Delicious is an organization based in Humboldt County with a commitment to raising awareness of the importance of community and sustainable living. Locally Delicious and Humboldt State University's Engr215 Introduction to Design class collaborated on a series of projects in the Spring of 2011. These projects are geared to help raise awareness of the importance of living and eating healthy, especially among children, and will be published in Locally Delicious' upcoming book, "Lunch box Envy." The worm bin described in this page was engineered by the Engineering 215 design team Onycophora.

The "Wormland" worm bin is specifically designed for children ages eight to twelve, and therefore follows a unique set of considerations. In the design of this bin size, cost, and the ability of the child were all taken into account. The final design consists of various materials found in every home and drugstore. Old milk cartons and tape make up the design, and scissors and a pencil are the only tools required for assembly. The finished design will be able to process roughly a handful of organic material per week with proper maintenance, as described in our building instructions.


Problem Statement and Criteria

The problem statement addressed by the "Wormland" bin project was to engineer a small and manageable worm bin that can be recreated and used by children between the ages of 8 and 12 years old based on the criteria of Locally Delicious. A table further discussing our criteria is outlined below.


Criteria Weights Description
Cost 10 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 little to no cost to the child.
Maintenance 4 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.
Efficiency 9 Efficiency is defined as the amount of worm castings produced within a certain amount of area in the worm bin.
Build Time 8 The time it takes to build and implement the worm bin.
Educational Value 5 The worm bin design will enable kids ages 8-12 years old to both learn about the general design of a worm bin and to help them understand the concepts of waste and consumption.
Durability 8 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 10 The materials and construction methods used in the design of the worm bin will not be harmful to the kids ages 8-12 years old age group’s health or well being.
Reproducibility 10 The ability of children, age 8-12 years old, to reproduce the worm bin.

Description of final project

The design is composed of empty half gallon milk or juice cartons. Inside of the cartons is a migration hole that allows worms the access to both cartons. Worms are fed on one side of the bin while castings can be removed from the other carton. This process will be repeated as the worms will migrate towards the food and leave castings behind. Each time the food is digested new bedding is inserted. In addition, this modular design allows for expansion of the worm bin to meet the needs for digestion of larger quantities of food.

Costs

Our cost was very minimal because most the materials were reused materials, the table to the right shows of our costs and total for the project. The worms are the highest expense for the project. The total cost of the project was free. The project had worms donated from another worm bin. The total cost of the project without donations is less than twenty dollars.

Testing Results

To test the cardboard milk carton worm bin, we placed a cut off strip of the carton in a glass of water. This test was meant to determine how well the material of the carton would react to extreme weather conditions over a period of time when cut. We also placed a cut up strip of the carton which we had taped back together in the glass of water to determine how well the tape would hold up. After leaving both tests in the glass of water for two weeks, the strips of carton and tape have little to no damage. Because of these promising results, we have determined that cardboard milk cartons are a good material to use for the Kids Worm Bin design.


When testing with children at Alice Birney School in Eureka, California, the results were positive. Three nine year old children constructed the bins with the help of two Onycophora team members, and appeared to enjoy the process. The most difficult steps for the children were those involving poking holes. It was found that not only do pencils work better than pens, but milk cartons are easier to penetrate than the provided Dole brand juice cartons. In addition, the cartons became structurally unsound after the cutting of the migration holes, making it more difficult to poke holes for aeration and for the top flaps.The favorite part of the project for the children we tested with was filling the bins with bedding. They enjoyed shredding the newspaper and picking grass and leaves to make a comfortable "home" for their worms.

Instructions for Making The Worm Bin

The following link provides instructions for replicating our design: Instructions for Making The Worm Bin

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 milk or juice 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 that children eight to twelve years of age will be fully capable of building a "Wormland" bin if provided with adequate instruction.

Once implemented, it would therefore be important to take into account not only age and ability but adult supervision and help. Though this is a kid's project, it is recommended an adult assists with implementation and instructions to ensure proper building and safety.

The next steps of the project will be the publishing of the designs and findings in the book compiled by the organization Locally Delicious, and its implementation by students. We hope that anyone who attempts this project is satisfied with their results and learns something about red worms and waste in the process.

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