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Post by ivyplus on Apr 19, 2007 9:00:14 GMT 12
This morning I read the monthly news paper from our local council. There is an interview with the people from Rudolf Steiner School in Motueka: The children and teacher separate all their rubbish. Each classroom has three bins, clearly labelled "Food scraps", "Paper" and "Landfill". To complete the circle, students plant seeds, seedlings and cuttings in the potting mix they have made and sell the plants. They also plant the school garden und cook the vegetables they have grown for a shared lunch.
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Post by mpg1 on Apr 19, 2007 9:31:17 GMT 12
Brilliant. It's a pity more adults were not as receptive to such initiatives as those kids and teachers. Just think if what they are doing was adopted in schools nation-wide as a co-ordinated policy. I only hope that by exposing kids to the recyling mantra the schools are also highlighting the reduce and re-use side of the equation, as I don't feel recycling alone is all it's cracked up to be.
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Post by OasisNZ on Apr 19, 2007 10:03:56 GMT 12
Yes, brilliant initiative by the Rudolf Steiner Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Steinerteaching the children to recycle, reuse and grow their own vegetables which they then eat for lunch is a great idea.
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Post by mpg1 on Apr 19, 2007 14:33:35 GMT 12
Has anyone in NZ tried a massive worm farm for the disposal of food waste and the like? I mean, are the worms going to be OK with all green waste so it doesn't have to be separated, but can easily go through the process and turn out great garden/potting mix as well as a liquid fertiliser? I just wonder if there is a business case for a large scale worm farm and what sorts of volume conversions they can achieve: eg. for 100m3 of waste, it takes, say, one month to turn that into 40m3 of potting mix, 10m3 that HAS to go to landfill, 200ltrs liquid fertiliser, etc.
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Post by OasisNZ on Apr 19, 2007 14:40:19 GMT 12
Has anyone in NZ tried a massive worm farm for the disposal of food waste and the like? I mean, are the worms going to be OK with all green waste so it doesn't have to be separated, but can easily go through the process and turn out great garden/potting mix as well as a liquid fertiliser? I just wonder if there is a business case for a large scale worm farm and what sorts of volume conversions they can achieve: eg. for 100m3 of waste, it takes, say, one month to turn that into 40m3 of potting mix, 10m3 that HAS to go to landfill, 200ltrs liquid fertiliser, etc. We are doing it on a small scale, not sure if you've seen this thread yet... optimusnz.proboards83.com/index.cgi?board=gard&action=display&thread=1172732146It's actually amazing what worms will chomp through, old paper, clothes, the dust from your vaccuum cleaner bag! It is becoming more and more popular, Ivyplus went and saw quite a large one at the Tahunanui Camp grounds... Also, it's very easy to do on small scales, and the worms, if well fed, about double in population every three months or so. You want us to post you a handful ;D
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Post by mpg1 on Apr 19, 2007 20:24:21 GMT 12
Cheers for the link.
Have you guys done any survey of what volumes go in, what comes out, who much time/$ you spend for every, say m3 of raw material going in? Would be facinating to know if it's something that could hold it's own on both large and small scales.
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Post by OasisNZ on Apr 19, 2007 21:12:53 GMT 12
Cheers for the link. Have you guys done any survey of what volumes go in, what comes out, who much time/$ you spend for every, say m3 of raw material going in? Would be facinating to know if it's something that could hold it's own on both large and small scales. It certainly holds it's own on a small scale, every Kiwi home should have one. The Nelson/Tasman region is currently running a promotion for such projects.
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Post by ladypenelope on Apr 21, 2007 16:58:03 GMT 12
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Post by snooka on Apr 21, 2007 19:29:19 GMT 12
I have worms... Big ones and they do a great job... To get them you have to compost correctly... You have to compost in layers... Soil... Green rubbish... This includes Lawn Clippings and especially mown Leaves at this time of the year... News Paper.... Soil again... Continue the cycle ad infintum... A compost pit should smell sweet... Not unpleasant... As the 1st compost pit breaks down you should have an alternative pit... Use one and supply the other...
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Post by meandog on May 1, 2007 11:41:45 GMT 12
Used to be an excellent program on TV3 on Tues nights called Wasted, it covered all types of recycling and saving energy. Knowing the history of TV it will be repeated and well worth looking at.
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Post by luxuryflake on May 1, 2007 11:54:37 GMT 12
Yes but you also have gorgeous Horowhenua earth too snooka, headstart.
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Post by shaaabear on May 23, 2007 10:33:37 GMT 12
Great!!! Fantastic!!!
I know of centres and schools that do this as well, but the fact that this particular school follows through and completes the cycle is wonderful.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by bossybitch on May 23, 2007 18:58:12 GMT 12
Lakeview School children are Friends of the Lake and help to keep it tidy be picking up rubbish that people leave behind. We love our recycling bin, saves on the costly District Council bags. I agree shaabear... awesome to hear Motueka Steiner doing such a good contribution to our environment and promoting healthy nutrition. Far too many children have packet lunches and miss out on the nutrients they need. Good for them.
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