Kompakt is pleased to welcome Anna de la Vega from The Urban Worm
Hi Anna, would you like to introduce yourself and The Urban Worm?
I am a keen organic gardener from Nottingham. The Urban Worm is an environmental enterprise that provides small scale solutions for organic waste management and organic gardening. I have developed components to transform wheelie bins into wormeries, providing an alternative to throwing food waste into landfill, whilst providing a readily available supply of nature’s finest organic fertiliser; worm castings.
What can you tell us about the history of The Urban Worm?
My MA was in Human Security & Environmental Change. Specialising in Urban Agriculture and Food Security led me to consider finding solutions to the challenges of peak oil, peak phosphorus and climate change.
In December 2013 I was selected as a finalist for Women in Social & Environmental Enterprise (WISEE) funded by RBS and Change Agents, which provided a small start-up grant and a 3 day business boot camp. More than anything this experience gave me the confidence to pursue my vision, having the support and belief from others, and I had the opportunity to meet many other inspiring women who wanted to change the status quo of business.
What makes worms so great for composting and how long has this idea been around?
Worm composting is an efficient, odourless process that is perfectly suited to the urban environment where space is often scarce. They can consume up to their body weight a day in organic waste and double their population every 60 days. Unlike regular composting, cooked food can be fed to the worms as can pasta and bread, and your old socks too.
Darwin was the first to recognise the value of the earthworm, he said ‘worms are more powerful than the African Elephant and more important to the economy than the cow’. Before Darwin, many people thought earthworms were harmful to plants. Their manure is rich in nutrients that are essential for healthy plant growth and disease suppression, essentially providing a steady supply of superior fertiliser. Before Darwin, Cleopatra knew the value of the earthworm and declared them sacred, and forbid their export. India, the US and in particular Cuba are worm composting on large scale, in prisons, hospitals and schools.
Where do you stand on the nature versus technology debate?
Do you mean GM? Nature knows best. GM giants are destroying the livelihoods of farmers worldwide, leading to increasing incidents of suicide, generally by consuming glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup Ready. Our biodiversity has been destroyed along with the soil. We must learn to nourish and protect the soil again. Our future depends on it.
Could worms be more effective than food recycling equipment?
They both have their place. Nitrogen and other beneficial gases are lost at temperatures over 55 degrees; worm composting provides a nutrient rich organic fertiliser reducing the need for harmful synthetic fertilisers. With peak phosphorus ahead we must be producing significant volumes of worm castings to grow our own produce.
Worms slow down in winter however they are able to consume up to their body weight a day in organic waste in the perfect environment.
How do you feel about the food waste issue in this country?
Our food system is broken. In the UK we throw away over 25 million tonnes of food waste a year, destroying our economy and the earth. The UK needs to be following in the footsteps of France who have made it compulsory for supermarkets to give food away to those who need it, rather than send it to landfill. There is a great project in the UK called Fareshare which distributes supermarket surplus to communities In Nottingham. We have a thriving social eating movement called Super Kitchen which provides affordable meals using supermarket food waste. The Urban Worm are looking at working in partnership with Super Kitchen, closing the loop on food waste.
Can you tell us about some of the more abstract uses for worms you have discovered?
Worms are a great livestock feed for poultry, and aquaponics. They are very high in protein, amino acids and b vitamins. Medicinal benefits of earthworms include treating asthma, reducing cholesterol and increasing endurance. The ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese have long recognised the health benefits of earthworms.
You recently received a £4,000 grant from Nottinghamshire Community Foundation, tell us a little bit about this?
It’s funny actually, I originally applied for a £3,000 grant which was part of NCF’s Nottingham Dragons Den where I pitched to the ‘Dragons’ (local businessmen) with hope of receiving the grant plus potential investment. The all male den were not interested in The Urban Worm, they were corporate caterpillars! However NCF loved The Urban Worm, and surprised me with a gift of £4,000. This grant will enable me to insure the electric milk float that I have recently acquired the guardianship of. The vehicle will be used to collect food waste from the local community to feed my worms to produce nature’s finest organic fertiliser. The grant will also go towards building infrastructure at the worm farm which is based in St Anns Allotments, Nottingham. I am working in partnership with a charity called Ecoworks who recently lost their funding and in exchange for the use of the site, 20 % of my profits will go back to the charity.
Where would you like to see The Urban Worm in 5 years time?
I would like to see domestic food waste being composted by worms as a mainstream practice, swapping rubbish for wheelie bin wormeries.
I would also wish to see governments supporting on site worm farms for farmers, replacing the costly synthetic fertilizers with worm castings, closing the loop. It takes 500-1000 years to develop 1 inch of top soil, worms can do this in 5 years, we must get worm composting!
Thanks Anna!