Newsroom – California State University, Northridge

CSUN Gardening Series to Explore the World of Worm Composting

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., May. 16th, 2012) ―

Worm composting, otherwise known as vermicomposting, is the process of using soil-dwelling worms to digest kitchen scraps such as coffee grounds, tea bags, fruits and vegetables to produce a highly nutritious soil amendment.

On June 16, California State University, Northridge’s CSUN-al Gardening Series’ workshop will explore ways to get the most out of worm composting for your garden.

Garden designer Stephen Baldonado will explain the process of selecting and setting up an efficient worm composter bin, how to obtain the most productive worm species and which kitchen scraps to put in the worm bin. He also will discuss the benefits of using worm compost and worm tea.

“Worm composting is a guilt-free way to use up the fresh fruits and veggies you bought and didn’t find time to eat,” said Brenda Kanno, manager of Cal State Northridge’s Botanic Garden, which hosts the CSUN-al Gardening Series. “Turning kitchen scraps into garden-nurturing compost is easy if you follow Stephen’s advice.”

Baldonado is a graduate of Cal Poly Pomona’s plant science program. In addition to his garden-design business, I Garden, he gives presentations at local garden events and maintains a garden-themed blog, http://howigarden.blogspot.com, which includes practical gardening advice.

Registration for the free class begins May 16 and is required. To request a space in the class or for more information, email botanicgarden@csun.edu. Driving and parking instructions, as well as the class meeting location, will be sent upon registration.

California State University, Northridge’s Botanic Garden is operated by the university’s Department of Biology and serves as a field site for botany, entomology, photography, painting and other classes. In addition to outdoor landscapes and natural botanic environments, the garden also features greenhouses where noteworthy botanical specimens are grown. The garden is open to the community.

Visit the website www.csun.edu/botanicgarden/ for more information about the Botanic Garden.

 

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