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==Karen's Garden __ Why is the garden named after Karen? __ ==

media type="custom" key="84117" Photos from our Earth Day 2007 Garden Work Day and the video below is from a work day where the gates were created and the gate was mounted.

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 * Project Highlights and FAQs**

Our composting project was initiated in November of 2006. Non-meat and non-dairy food scraps are collected in the school dining rooms and processed in our composting bins which are located out by the transportation barn. Work on creating "Karen's Garden" began on Earth Day 2007 (April 22nd).
 * Overview:**


 * How much food waste do you process?** We estimate that we process between 200-300 lbs of food waste on a weekly basis! We know this because we weighed the waste material on scales for a few weeks early on in the project.


 * What kind of food waste do you process?** Fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, and [|coffee] grounds are all processed in our compost bins.


 * What do you mix the food waste with?** The food waste is placed in the compost bins and we add some type of carbon material to the waste. We've added hay, leaves, cardboard boxes, and wood chips as our carbon material. We try to achieve a 75% carbon to 25% food waste ratio.


 * Who is involved?** The entire USM community participates in the project by dropping their food scraps in the compost receptacles which are located in both our Lower/Middle School and Upper School dining rooms. Our food service staff helps out greatly by collecting all of the food waste in larger containers located in the kitchens. They also help by collecting all of the [|coffee] grounds and filters from our [|coffee machines]. Students and teachers empty the large food waste containers in the compost bins on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the school year.

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 * What will you do with the compost?** The compost will be used to grow vegetables in our newly established vegetable garden. We will also feed the compost to red worms for further processing/vermicomposting. The processed vermicompost, also known as worm castings, is extremely rich in nutrients and will be used in the garden as an organic fertilizer.


 * Who are some of your project partners?** We're thankful for the support of our project partners. [|The Village of River Hills] has been kind enough to deliver several yards of wood chips that we use to line the walkway in the [|garden] and to keep weed growth down. [|Alterra Coffee] has helped us out by donating old burlap coffee sacks that we will use to cover our worm composting bins. They also recently began helping us make compost by saving coffee grounds for us. [|Sendik's] of Bayside assists our efforts by contributing vegetable and fruit scraps from their produce section to our compost. During the summer of 2007 Jim Scott of the [|Sterling Company] [|donated a wheel barrow] to Karen's Garden. Of course we can't forget to mention our awesome partner, [|Growing Power.] Growing Power has provided us with training and support every step of the way as we've launched this project. We're working hard to reach out to more members of our business community to help us build a sustainable school garden system. Contact Kip Jacobs, 414-540-3240 if you or your business would like to partner with us.