Project Partners:
Agua Fria-New River Natural Resource Conservation District
Duncan Family Farms
&
Arizona Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society
Funded by
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
The Agua Fria-New River Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD), Duncan Family Farms, and the Arizona Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) constructed an Earthworm Tunnel to promote composting and provide information on soils and use of compost on soils. The project was funded by Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) through the Waste Reduction Initiative Through Education (WRITE) grant program.
The project was started in September 1997. The grand opening was on
October 2, 1998.
Left to right:
Kathy Killian,
Kathleen Duncan, Cara DelVecchio,
Kris Johnson
Design:
The structure was designed by Les Roe, Roe Exhibits. The Earthworm Tunnel is a walk-through structure. Outside of the tunnel are three composting bins where worms will decompose organic matter (primarily office paper). The composting bins can be observed at a birds-eye view and visitors can add organic matter to the bins.
Inside the tunnel is a simulated soil wall. The soil surface of the wall begins on the ground and gradually rises, to give the visitor the feeling that s/he is walking underground. As the soil surface rises, the visitor can observe soil horizons, plant roots, and burrowing animals. A root view window is located at the end of the simulated soil wall. It illustrates how carrots, radishes, potatoes, and onions appear underground. The next display is the soil monolith. The soil monolith is of Casa Grande soil series. The monolith was taken by Natural Resources Conservation Service employees. The SWCS is working with students from University High School in Tucson to make this soil the state soil.
Construction
The Tunnel has a rebar and wire frame.
Les Roe and volunteers painted the structure.
For more information on composting and vermicomposting:
A great guide for teachers is "Earthworm Empire: The living soil", published by the Soil and Water Conservation Society (1-800-THE-SOIL).
The book, "Recycle With Earthworms: The Red Wiggler Connection" by Shelly C. Grossman and Toby Weitzel; Sheilds Publications, Eagle River, WI, 1997, is a guide for anyone who wants to start a vermicomposting program. It is applicable for school projects and home projects. It includes a trouble shooting guide. The book comes with a videotape, also called "The Red Wiggler Connection". These can be ordered by calling The Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County at 760-745-2061.
Also:
- A Book, A Bin, and A Bag of Worms-Into a Backyard Bonanza
- Hall, Sherrel
- PO Box 904
- Alpine, CO. 91903
- Backyard Composting in the Desert
- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Solid Waste Program
- 602-350-8145
- Avant Garden Vermicomposting Systems
- P.O. Box 1047
- Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
- 415-663-1975
- Earthworms: Nature's Recyclers
- Breckenridge, J.
- Harmony Foundation - 1992
- Ottowa Canada
- Squirmy Wormy Composters
- Kalman, B. and J. Schaub
- New York: Crabtree Publishing Company - 1992
- Worm Farming in the Elementary Classroom
- Dunne, Gerry
- PO Box 904
- Alpine, CO 91903
- Worms in the Classroom
- Beaver River Associates
- PO Box 94
- West Kingston, RI 02892