Red wiggler worms are looking for new homes in elementary classrooms in Kitsap County! These worms are more than classroom pets, they are food waste reducers, environmental stewards, and science teachers. 

Composting Worms in your Classroom

 Why Adopt?

In the words of Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus, "Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!"

Worm composting recycles food scraps into a valuable fertilizer, known as vermicompost. The process reduces the amount of food waste sent to landfills and provides multiple benefits for your garden. Worm composting is all about learning through exploration. There is no single "right way" to worm compost. Your class will figure it out over time and the worms will be resilient to your mistakes along the way.

Worm composting connects the following concepts: sustainability, waste reduction, environmental stewardship, ecosystems, life cycles, habitats, food chains, decomposers, and responsibility.   

 Requirements and Considerations

• Monitor the bin regularly, providing food, water, and bedding as needed. Your worms will consume approximately 2 pounds of food per week.

  • Freezing or chopping food scraps increases the rate worms will consume their food, prevents unwanted bugs, and reduces possible odor.

  • Do not release red wiggler worms into the wild. This species is not suited to survive in garden habitats. 

  • If you are unable to maintain your bin over summer break, return it to the program. Your bin will be returned to your classroom the following school year if you choose.

 Supplies Needed

Classroom must provide:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps

• Food scraps storage container

• Measuring cup or food scale

• Freezer or cutting station, and a sink for cleanup

• Shredded paper for bedding. Do not use shiny paper, envelopes with plastic windows, or paper containing plastic.

Kitsap County will provide:

• One pound of Red Wiggler (Eisenia fetida) worms

• Worm composting bin

• Feeding guide
  

• A copy of Mary Applehof's "Worms Eat My Garbage: How to Set Up and Maintain a Worm Composting System", with accompanying activity book.
  

• On-call assistance, we are here to help!
  

 Request a Worm Bin

Fill out the online adoption application to request a worm bin for your classroom.

 Composting Resources

Learn more about Composting in Kitsap County.