CORNWALL, Ontario – All 258 students from junior kindergarten to grade six at St. Anne Catholic School will be developing their green thumb and reducing their carbon footprint.
The school has recently embarked on a vermicomposting initiative, with plans to develop a planting and pollinator garden in the spring using their nutrient rich soil.
Stephanie Charbeneau, a teacher at the school, said that the students are very excited about the program.
“We are going to teach students how to care for and look after the vermicomposts,” she said. “Students will put any compost, like apple cores, banana peels in the bins and then turn it over in the soil…each have an odorless bin in their classroom to do this.”
Vermicomposting involves various species of worms breaking down organic matter.
Charbeneau said the idea grew when students from grades three to five went on a fieldtrip to the Green For Live (GFL) Environment Inc. landfill site in Moose Creek last year to learn about reducing waste. Brian King, Director of Operations at GFL, granted $500 to the school to start the initiative.
Kristen Campbell of Radical Roots attended the school on Oct. 12 to better inform students about the process and benefits of composting. Campbell will routinely assist with the program and hold presentations throughout the year.
“Our goal is to reduce the amount of garbage in our school and hopefully reduce the amount in our landfill,” said Charbeneau.
