University of the Free State’s Worm Farming Project Expands to New Heights
Dr Karen Venter, Head of the Division: Service Learning in the Directorate Community Engagement at the University of the Free State (UFS), is involved in an innovative worm farming project alongside Gernus Terblanche, an assistant researcher who heads the Engaged Scholarship Office in the Directorate Student Affairs. In the Active Community Citizens through Engaged Scholarship for Sustainability (ACCESS) student organisation, they are taking the project to new heights.
The worm farming initiative has recently expanded from small bins to a larger space. The worms – nature’s little compost factories – now live in a vast bed, affectionately named ‘the best ever worm farm’ by the students, located at the vegetable tunnels on the Bloemfontein Campus.
Koketso Mashego is a key figure in this initiative. According to Dr Venter, he is the champion behind the effort, successfully training students across 19 residences on the Bloemfontein Campus and two on the South Campus. In addition to his role as a community engagement volunteer, Mashego is a student at the UFS, studying for a BSocSci degree.
Dr Venter highlights the impressive growth of the worm farming project. What started out as an initial investment in training for just four students has led to the training of a remarkable 600 individuals from both the student body and the wider community.
First order for worm tea
Worms play a vital role in transforming organic waste such as food scraps and paper into nutrient-rich compost, or vermicompost, which is ideal for garden soil. Worm tea, the liquid byproduct of the composting process, is also a valuable resource for gardeners. The microbes in worm tea enhance plant immunity, making plants more resilient against pests and diseases.
This growing project recently received its first major order – 20 litres of worm tea destined for cannabis cultivation by Tala Growers, an exciting milestone for the team. “This is our first sale,” says Dr Venter proudly.
To market their products, the students are working closely with Dr Ekaete Benedict from the Department of Business Management at the UFS. Dr Benedict, who presents the EBUS 2714 module focusing on entrepreneurship and small business management, regularly invites social entrepreneurs to her class to mentor students. Dr Venter highlights that ACCESS has partnered with these students to assist with the marketing of the products.
The students are also promoting the initiative on Instagram. What’s more, the profits generated from sales will be reinvested into ACCESS to support workshops and educational activities. “We have partnered with Greenside and Pretty Gardens to host workshops on worm farming, offering starter kits so people can begin their own worm farms,” Dr Venter adds.
A blend of education and entertainment
Through these efforts, the project is not only about creating a business, but also about teaching entrepreneurship, blending education with entertainment.
The students presented their work at a recent Community Engagement Indaba, sharing the benefits of worm farming with members of the community.
Worm farming is a win-win for both people and the environment, aligning with the UFS’ Vision 130 Sustainability value, encouraging biodiversity in garden soil and supporting a healthy ecosystem while providing valuable learning opportunities for students.