Empowering Old Orchard Beach Students: How Composting is Cutting Food Waste

Students at Loranger Memorial School in Old Orchard Beach are learning to turn their food scraps into nutritious compost. This effort, driven by Caroline Trinder, the district’s Director of Food and Nutrition Services, aims to reduce food waste while enriching the environment.

The project received a boost from a grant through Learning Ecosystems Northeast, a partnership supported by NASA and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Since the school year began, students in grades three through eight have been separating their food waste into specific bins. Diggers Cooperative from Acton collects this waste and turns it into compost.

Recently, Scott Guzman from Diggers Cooperative visited the school to deliver an impressive six tons of compost made from the students’ food scraps. "That’s a significant amount diverted from landfills," Trinder noted. She emphasized that each small action, like tossing an apple core into the compost bin, contributes to a larger goal.

Guzman shared some eye-opening statistics: Maine wastes about 361,000 tons of food each year. He encouraged students, saying, “You’re part of a movement to help reduce food waste." His enthusiasm resonated with the kids as they engaged in hands-on activities outside, experimenting with soil and gardening.

During the session, students helped spread the compost into a garden bin. “It’s fun. I like gardening,” said student Everly Bugaj, who enjoyed finding worms in the soil.

Mary Pat Donnellon, a member of the Old Orchard Beach Conservation Commission, joined the class to teach them about gardening. She highlighted the importance of understanding plants, like identifying bee balm and oregano, and praised the students for their eagerness to learn.

This initiative not only fosters environmental awareness but also cultivates a sense of community among the students. With a growing focus on sustainability, educating young people about composting and gardening is crucial. As more school programs adopt similar practices, we may see a shift in attitudes towards food waste and the environment.

For more insights on composting’s impact and sustainability efforts, check out resources from the USDA and other environmental organizations.

Source link

Diggers Cooperative, student composting, Loranger school, Maine food waste