Growing Together: Open Forum

Good Morning!

I am wondering about your composting styles? One of our schools doesn't have a ton of space and is in a little nicer part of town. They're wanting to start composting but I don't believe they will want to used recycled pallets or DIY types. I've used a number of different tumblers in the past with mixed success. Our garden is in the same area that the students have recess. So I am a little concerned about the durability of the tumblers.

What do you all use? Do you have a good recommendation for a nice compost tumbler that isn't over $500?

Thank you!

------------------------------
Kendall Slaughter
Farm to School Specialist
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Mo
keslaughter@spsmail.org
------------------------------

I am composting in my STEM classroom inside the building with a WormFactory 360. My students collect lunch scraps and I toss it in the bin... The worms do most of the work! Here is a link to the site: WormFactory 360. We have a few expansion trays, too.
I have harvested compost 2x and it's gold! Reach out if you have questions or want more info on what we are doing.
Best,
Lori

------------------------------
Lori Princiotto
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2022 08:35:34 AM
From: Kendall Slaughter
Subject: Compost Tumblers

Good Morning!

I am wondering about your composting styles? One of our schools doesn't have a ton of space and is in a little nicer part of town. They're wanting to start composting but I don't believe they will want to used recycled pallets or DIY types. I've used a number of different tumblers in the past with mixed success. Our garden is in the same area that the students have recess. So I am a little concerned about the durability of the tumblers.

What do you all use? Do you have a good recommendation for a nice compost tumbler that isn't over $500?

Thank you!

------------------------------
Kendall Slaughter
Farm to School Specialist
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Mo
keslaughter@spsmail.org
------------------------------

That's great! Thank you very much. We utilize the WormFactory at a different school site. I will see what this school thinks about worm farming.

Thank you!

------------------------------
Kendall Slaughter
Farm to School Specialist
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Mo
keslaughter@spsmail.org
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2022 02:42:07 PM
From: Lori Princiotto
Subject: Compost Tumblers

I am composting in my STEM classroom inside the building with a WormFactory 360. My students collect lunch scraps and I toss it in the bin... The worms do most of the work! Here is a link to the site: WormFactory 360. We have a few expansion trays, too.
I have harvested compost 2x and it's gold! Reach out if you have questions or want more info on what we are doing.
Best,
Lori

------------------------------
Lori Princiotto

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2022 08:35:34 AM
From: Kendall Slaughter
Subject: Compost Tumblers

Good Morning!

I am wondering about your composting styles? One of our schools doesn't have a ton of space and is in a little nicer part of town. They're wanting to start composting but I don't believe they will want to used recycled pallets or DIY types. I've used a number of different tumblers in the past with mixed success. Our garden is in the same area that the students have recess. So I am a little concerned about the durability of the tumblers.

What do you all use? Do you have a good recommendation for a nice compost tumbler that isn't over $500?

Thank you!

------------------------------
Kendall Slaughter
Farm to School Specialist
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Mo
keslaughter@spsmail.org
------------------------------

Worm bins can be installed outdoors also.  You may want to check out the Subpod educator page: https://subpod.com/pages/kids-gardening-compost-guide-for-educators  and in another string John Fisher from Life Lab also shared a great video they have at: https://lifelab.org/2011/09/worms/.

------------------------------
Sarah Pounders
Senior Education Specialist
The Woodlands TX
832-418-6540
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-25-2022 09:02:01 AM
From: Kendall Slaughter
Subject: Compost Tumblers

That's great! Thank you very much. We utilize the WormFactory at a different school site. I will see what this school thinks about worm farming.

Thank you!

------------------------------
Kendall Slaughter
Farm to School Specialist
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Mo
keslaughter@spsmail.org

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2022 02:42:07 PM
From: Lori Princiotto
Subject: Compost Tumblers

I am composting in my STEM classroom inside the building with a WormFactory 360. My students collect lunch scraps and I toss it in the bin... The worms do most of the work! Here is a link to the site: WormFactory 360. We have a few expansion trays, too.
I have harvested compost 2x and it's gold! Reach out if you have questions or want more info on what we are doing.
Best,
Lori

------------------------------
Lori Princiotto

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2022 08:35:34 AM
From: Kendall Slaughter
Subject: Compost Tumblers

Good Morning!

I am wondering about your composting styles? One of our schools doesn't have a ton of space and is in a little nicer part of town. They're wanting to start composting but I don't believe they will want to used recycled pallets or DIY types. I've used a number of different tumblers in the past with mixed success. Our garden is in the same area that the students have recess. So I am a little concerned about the durability of the tumblers.

What do you all use? Do you have a good recommendation for a nice compost tumbler that isn't over $500?

Thank you!

------------------------------
Kendall Slaughter
Farm to School Specialist
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Mo
keslaughter@spsmail.org
------------------------------

Hi Kendall,
I am a Master Composter/Master Gardener here in Ct. This is something that I came up with that I think is practical and pragmatic and easy on the wallet, the Black Knight Composter. Here you can find these plastic 55 gallon barrels on craigslist under farm and garden. Here they are about $25 maybe more this year, just need to drill 3/8" or smaller holes. You should have two because as one is curing, you can begin filling the second one. Because it is a closed unit, you will need to occasionally add either a handful of healthy soil or finished compost to rev up and diversify your microbes. Every time you add new waste material, drop it down and roll it around, stand it back up and as it is composting there is hardly ever any noise. That is how you can tell it is working properly. That and no smell.
Dan 


------------------------------
Dan Gallagher
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2022 08:35:34 AM
From: Kendall Slaughter
Subject: Compost Tumblers

Good Morning!

I am wondering about your composting styles? One of our schools doesn't have a ton of space and is in a little nicer part of town. They're wanting to start composting but I don't believe they will want to used recycled pallets or DIY types. I've used a number of different tumblers in the past with mixed success. Our garden is in the same area that the students have recess. So I am a little concerned about the durability of the tumblers.

What do you all use? Do you have a good recommendation for a nice compost tumbler that isn't over $500?

Thank you!

------------------------------
Kendall Slaughter
Farm to School Specialist
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Mo
keslaughter@spsmail.org
------------------------------

What a great idea! And how simple!? Thank you very much for the information and suggestion.


------------------------------
Kendall Slaughter
Farm to School Specialist
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Mo
keslaughter@spsmail.org
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2022 04:24:40 PM
From: Dan Gallagher
Subject: Compost Tumblers

Hi Kendall,
I am a Master Composter/Master Gardener here in Ct. This is something that I came up with that I think is practical and pragmatic and easy on the wallet, the Black Knight Composter. Here you can find these plastic 55 gallon barrels on craigslist under farm and garden. Here they are about $25 maybe more this year, just need to drill 3/8" or smaller holes. You should have two because as one is curing, you can begin filling the second one. Because it is a closed unit, you will need to occasionally add either a handful of healthy soil or finished compost to rev up and diversify your microbes. Every time you add new waste material, drop it down and roll it around, stand it back up and as it is composting there is hardly ever any noise. That is how you can tell it is working properly. That and no smell.
Dan 

------------------------------
Dan Gallagher

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2022 08:35:34 AM
From: Kendall Slaughter
Subject: Compost Tumblers

Good Morning!

I am wondering about your composting styles? One of our schools doesn't have a ton of space and is in a little nicer part of town. They're wanting to start composting but I don't believe they will want to used recycled pallets or DIY types. I've used a number of different tumblers in the past with mixed success. Our garden is in the same area that the students have recess. So I am a little concerned about the durability of the tumblers.

What do you all use? Do you have a good recommendation for a nice compost tumbler that isn't over $500?

Thank you!

------------------------------
Kendall Slaughter
Farm to School Specialist
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Mo
keslaughter@spsmail.org
------------------------------

For small spaces, I also recommend worm composting whether for school gardens or apartments.  Check out the Urban Worm Bin, sometimes it is cheaper on Amazon.
https://shop.urbanwormcompany.com/products/urban-worm-bag-version-2

------------------------------
Sean Gustafson
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2022 08:35:34 AM
From: Kendall Slaughter
Subject: Compost Tumblers

Good Morning!

I am wondering about your composting styles? One of our schools doesn't have a ton of space and is in a little nicer part of town. They're wanting to start composting but I don't believe they will want to used recycled pallets or DIY types. I've used a number of different tumblers in the past with mixed success. Our garden is in the same area that the students have recess. So I am a little concerned about the durability of the tumblers.

What do you all use? Do you have a good recommendation for a nice compost tumbler that isn't over $500?

Thank you!

------------------------------
Kendall Slaughter
Farm to School Specialist
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Mo
keslaughter@spsmail.org
------------------------------

That's great! Thank you so much, Sean!

------------------------------
Kendall Slaughter
Farm to School Specialist
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Mo
keslaughter@spsmail.org
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2022 12:05:23 AM
From: Sean Gustafson
Subject: Compost Tumblers

For small spaces, I also recommend worm composting whether for school gardens or apartments.  Check out the Urban Worm Bin, sometimes it is cheaper on Amazon.
https://shop.urbanwormcompany.com/products/urban-worm-bag-version-2

------------------------------
Sean Gustafson

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2022 08:35:34 AM
From: Kendall Slaughter
Subject: Compost Tumblers

Good Morning!

I am wondering about your composting styles? One of our schools doesn't have a ton of space and is in a little nicer part of town. They're wanting to start composting but I don't believe they will want to used recycled pallets or DIY types. I've used a number of different tumblers in the past with mixed success. Our garden is in the same area that the students have recess. So I am a little concerned about the durability of the tumblers.

What do you all use? Do you have a good recommendation for a nice compost tumbler that isn't over $500?

Thank you!

------------------------------
Kendall Slaughter
Farm to School Specialist
Springfield Public Schools
Springfield, Mo
keslaughter@spsmail.org
------------------------------