Worm farm empowers community
LANSERIA – Vermiscast is sold to the public as a soil enhancer, in order to raise funds for the Refilwe Community Project.
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Earth Probiotic Recycling Solutions is an organisation that assists households, companies and communities to recycle their food waste into compost.
The organisation that is based in Randpark Ridge, is in partnership with Refilwe Community Project’s worm farm that is located in their premises in Lanseria. Refilwe also runs a nursery and orphanage.
Manager of the worm farm, nursery and skills development at Refilwe Community Project, Sue Frye said she has been in the worm farm industry for nine years and has been part of Refilwe for the past two years.
“We get compost from farms around us who donate agricultural waste for our worm farm. We do not believe that we make traditional compost but rather ‘Vermicast’. This is a product that is produced by worms processing organic matter to feed the soil. Our second source of waste is food waste that has been donated by Earth Probiotic called ‘Bokashi’, that makes food waste safe to compost. We then use Vermicast to grow our plants in our nursery that we also sell to raise funds,” explained Frye.
Frye described how there is no procreation between the worms but instead them rubbing next to each other creates a serum. The serum creates potassium and nitrogen which are key elements to creating healthy soil.
Earth Probiotic Recycling Solutions head of business development Rebecca Henderson said that the organisation admires the great work that Refilwe does to uplift the community and wanted to be involved with their worm farm.
“We see the value in taking food waste and turning it into a tangible resource. Through this project we teach agricultural skills that create job opportunities and empower members in the community. Enhancing the quality our soil goes back to providing food security, in our drought-affected country. Vermicast, vermi liquid and vermi potting soil are sold at Refilwe,” said Henderson.
Details: Refilwe office 082 465 6972, admin@refilwe.org
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