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Anthro-vermi-ponics
We’re partnering with Dark Nectar Cooperative, a California-based worker-owned organization, to trial a vermiponics system with urine fertilizer at our Research Center. This system combines the principles of hydroponics and vermicompost. Food scraps are collected in a worm tap, feeding about 4,000 worms. Then a water system extracts their castings in liquid form, known as worm tea, which is rich in many micronutrients. Urine is rich in macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) as well as micronutrients, making it a great complement to the worm tea. The worm tea and Rich Earth’s pasteurized urine are combined and pumped throughout murals where plants are grown. We just planted our first seeds for leafy greens – stay tuned to hear how it goes!
Learn more about Dark Nectar’s system in this YouTube video.
2024 Update:
VermiPonics graphic co-designed by Research Assistant Gretchen Saveson and ECO AmeriCorps Jennifer Mynard.
