PROJECT (FOOD) WASTE
Donation protected
In 2015, the G20 (via the United Nations) estimated that 1.3 billion tons of food, or roughly 30 percent of global production , is lost or wasted annually.
In the United States alone, it is estimated that between 30% and 60% of all landfill waste is organic waste—including food. And, while we throw away massive quantities of food, the World Hunger Organization reports that there are currently over 45.3 million American people living in poverty . In addition, food banks and food pantries are struggling to feed the growing numbers of people who rely on them .
The time to look at new ideas and find better solutions is now.
Here are the problems we need to solve:
1. Reducing the amount of organic waste entering our landfills.
2. Feeding the edible food portion to those in need
3. Producing more environmentally friendly byproducts, including a possible 'green' energy source.
We can solve these problems! And you can help by getting this campaign off the ground.
Here’s how we solve them:
1. Divert edible food to food banks for the hungry.
2. Divert inedible food to be composted by worms (vermiculture).
3. This creates a nutrient-rich soil additive that will improve future crops.
Here’s how we propose to make this happen. Our project is straightforward and based upon a set of simple Steps:
Step 1: Develop a free website that will serve as an interactive online hub for all food repositories (food banks and pantries), businesses, religious organizations, and consumers to use simultaneously in order to help streamline and improve the current process flow of how edible food gets from its source to local food banks and food pantries.
Purpose: No all-inclusive network exists today. What does exist is piecemeal, and no clear leader stands out with information for an online user to learn how and where to donate edible food.
Step 2: Network with food repositories in order to establish our presence as well as notify them of our services to collect non-edible organic matter for vermiculture processing.
Purpose: It is easier to begin collection of material with sources who are already working to solve problems.
Step 3: Target businesses outside of the network both to notify the hub and to collect any non-edible food and/or organic waste for processing.
Purpose: By using a twofold approach, the end result is a 'win-win' solution: a process to attract new entities into the world of donating edible food to the needy and to gain entry into the organic waste collection market.
Step 4: Process the organic waste with the use of Red Wiggler Worms in order to produce a highly-prized byproduct, worm castings, to sell to both local consumers and businesses.
Purpose: An organic, all natural solution soil additive that is much richer in nutrient value than typical 'hot' composted material.
Step 5: Educate others about the benefits of recycling organic waste, including how it helps the environment, how they can participate, and offer free tips (being 'green,' organic gardening, etc.) via our website.
Purpose: Education is the easiest and best solution.
Step 6: Repeat Steps 3-5, and continually improve the process as we grow the operation.
Purpose: Efficiency. Improving our operation will improve our ability to make a larger impact.
How Worms Can Solve Our Problems
Now that you know our plan, here’s some background on how worms can turn tons of organic waste from a burden to a boon. Then you'll see why this project makes a whole lot of sense and why you should support it.
Here’s what Charles Darwin, known for his 'Theory of Evolution,’ had this to say about the worms:
“Without the work of this humble creature, who knows nothing of the benefits he confers upon mankind, agriculture, as we know it, would be very difficult, if not wholly impossible.”
He also said:
“Worms are more powerful than the African elephant and more important to the economy than the cow.” - Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin was correct.
Here are the 3 top reasons worms are the answer to our millions of tons of organic waste material:
1. Red Wiggler Worms (eisenia feticia) - can consume up to the equivalent of their body weight each and every day, 365 days a year.
2. Worms self-regulate their population: More Organic Waste = More Worms = More Worm Castings. Little intervention is required.
3. Worms can work together, don’t need direction, pay, or benefits, and need no incentives to do their job every day of the year.
To illustrate how remarkable this is, consider this:
100,000 pounds of worms can consume up to 100,000 pounds of organic waste material in a 24-hour period!
There is no other natural process on this planet that can compete with worms when it comes to the removal of a wide range of organic waste material and produce a byproduct that has so many benefits to it.
(Nature's Creatures Hard @ Work)
By replicating nature and placing worms together with their partners in crime (bacteria, fungi, etc.) on an industrial scale, and by feeding those worms (and organisms) organic matter, we can not only help reduce landfill waste such as sites like this one...
(Those birds are eating organic matter, what we propose to divert from landfills and benefit from.)
...but also help reduce its negative byproduct, methane gas emissions, from those landfills, which we all know contribute to 'greenhouse gases,' or their sister component of environmental issues such as potential seepage (aka: leachate) into waterways or aquifers.
This is our present situation as landfill liners, the required underbelly of all of today's landfills, mature and their vulnerabilities get exposed.
Instead, we can create one of the most nutritious, all natural, chemical-free plant fertilizers known to man: worm castings.
(Mother Nature and worms together create this rich material, full of plant-soluble vitamins and minerals.)
Moreover, since worm castings are generated day-in and day-out, and their castings are considered so healthy that they are safe to use with virtually all living plants, they are one of the few known natural plant fertilizers where you can add as much as you want and it will only benefit the plant, the soil, and the surrounding environment. It is one of Mother Nature's special gifts to us – but only if we take advantage of its special properties.
Can we say the same with petrol- or synthetic-based fertilizers being used today? NO. In many cases, plants can die within 24 hours if too much synthetic fertilizer is applied.
So, in summary, here is a small but growing list of benefits that this byproduct (worm castings) can produce through the addition into any soil, anywhere on the planet, and its longer-term effects.
Benefits of Worm Castings in Soil:
1. Non-toxic.
2. Provides soil structure, aeration, and reduces soil erosion. Castings keep the soil loose and prevent compaction, thus allowing oxygen and water to reach the root system.
3. Contains natural growth hormones for bigger and more fibrous roots.
4. Will not harm plants; it is a slow-release fertilizer.
5. Long lasting.
6. Can be used on any type of plant – trees, shrubs, and even seedlings.
7. Excellent source of nitrogen, phosphorous, and calcium.
8. Worm casting are naturally organic and odor free. Can be used indoors or outdoors.
9. Promotes a healthy soil environment through beneficial microbial and bacterial activity.
10. Improves soil water retention.
11. Attracts any existing worms, whether nearby or from surrounding areas, helping to restore and/or build the overall health of the soil.
...and more
In conclusion, we feel this project is a thorough approach to solving a growing and demanding problem of our food supply system. Through this model, we can feed the hungry and recycle our wasted food products in a way that creates new, valuable resources rather than more waste to fill our landfills.
Yes, good work has already been done to fight these problems, but they have not been solved; indeed they are growing worse. It’s time for new and better solutions, and we think this model is sustainable, responsible, and can be profitable.
There is a growing awareness of these problems in the general public, and yet many people don't have an idea of the best way to change this situation and participate in the solution because the solution hasn’t been clearly articulated or networked. We feel that this project, especially our first step of diverting edible food to food pantries, can target those efforts and produce big results.
This project will require hard work to set up, and we have no issue with that. It provides a solution to several very pressing problems, and that’s what we’re after.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the project in more detail or join us in this cause, feel free to contact me.
If you’re ready to join the cause and pledge your support, please do it now.
And please SHARE or POST this via your social networks - it's appreciated and all efforts will help us.
Thank you for your support.
Project (Food) Waste
-----------
UPDATE: If you or someone you know would be interested in helping us get started, feel free to reach out to me.
In the United States alone, it is estimated that between 30% and 60% of all landfill waste is organic waste—including food. And, while we throw away massive quantities of food, the World Hunger Organization reports that there are currently over 45.3 million American people living in poverty . In addition, food banks and food pantries are struggling to feed the growing numbers of people who rely on them .
The time to look at new ideas and find better solutions is now.
Here are the problems we need to solve:
1. Reducing the amount of organic waste entering our landfills.
2. Feeding the edible food portion to those in need
3. Producing more environmentally friendly byproducts, including a possible 'green' energy source.
We can solve these problems! And you can help by getting this campaign off the ground.
Here’s how we solve them:
1. Divert edible food to food banks for the hungry.
2. Divert inedible food to be composted by worms (vermiculture).
3. This creates a nutrient-rich soil additive that will improve future crops.
Here’s how we propose to make this happen. Our project is straightforward and based upon a set of simple Steps:
Step 1: Develop a free website that will serve as an interactive online hub for all food repositories (food banks and pantries), businesses, religious organizations, and consumers to use simultaneously in order to help streamline and improve the current process flow of how edible food gets from its source to local food banks and food pantries.
Purpose: No all-inclusive network exists today. What does exist is piecemeal, and no clear leader stands out with information for an online user to learn how and where to donate edible food.
Step 2: Network with food repositories in order to establish our presence as well as notify them of our services to collect non-edible organic matter for vermiculture processing.
Purpose: It is easier to begin collection of material with sources who are already working to solve problems.
Step 3: Target businesses outside of the network both to notify the hub and to collect any non-edible food and/or organic waste for processing.
Purpose: By using a twofold approach, the end result is a 'win-win' solution: a process to attract new entities into the world of donating edible food to the needy and to gain entry into the organic waste collection market.
Step 4: Process the organic waste with the use of Red Wiggler Worms in order to produce a highly-prized byproduct, worm castings, to sell to both local consumers and businesses.
Purpose: An organic, all natural solution soil additive that is much richer in nutrient value than typical 'hot' composted material.
Step 5: Educate others about the benefits of recycling organic waste, including how it helps the environment, how they can participate, and offer free tips (being 'green,' organic gardening, etc.) via our website.
Purpose: Education is the easiest and best solution.
Step 6: Repeat Steps 3-5, and continually improve the process as we grow the operation.
Purpose: Efficiency. Improving our operation will improve our ability to make a larger impact.
How Worms Can Solve Our Problems
Now that you know our plan, here’s some background on how worms can turn tons of organic waste from a burden to a boon. Then you'll see why this project makes a whole lot of sense and why you should support it.
Here’s what Charles Darwin, known for his 'Theory of Evolution,’ had this to say about the worms:
“Without the work of this humble creature, who knows nothing of the benefits he confers upon mankind, agriculture, as we know it, would be very difficult, if not wholly impossible.”
He also said:
“Worms are more powerful than the African elephant and more important to the economy than the cow.” - Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin was correct.
Here are the 3 top reasons worms are the answer to our millions of tons of organic waste material:
1. Red Wiggler Worms (eisenia feticia) - can consume up to the equivalent of their body weight each and every day, 365 days a year.
2. Worms self-regulate their population: More Organic Waste = More Worms = More Worm Castings. Little intervention is required.
3. Worms can work together, don’t need direction, pay, or benefits, and need no incentives to do their job every day of the year.
To illustrate how remarkable this is, consider this:
100,000 pounds of worms can consume up to 100,000 pounds of organic waste material in a 24-hour period!
There is no other natural process on this planet that can compete with worms when it comes to the removal of a wide range of organic waste material and produce a byproduct that has so many benefits to it.
(Nature's Creatures Hard @ Work)By replicating nature and placing worms together with their partners in crime (bacteria, fungi, etc.) on an industrial scale, and by feeding those worms (and organisms) organic matter, we can not only help reduce landfill waste such as sites like this one...
(Those birds are eating organic matter, what we propose to divert from landfills and benefit from.)
...but also help reduce its negative byproduct, methane gas emissions, from those landfills, which we all know contribute to 'greenhouse gases,' or their sister component of environmental issues such as potential seepage (aka: leachate) into waterways or aquifers.
This is our present situation as landfill liners, the required underbelly of all of today's landfills, mature and their vulnerabilities get exposed.
Instead, we can create one of the most nutritious, all natural, chemical-free plant fertilizers known to man: worm castings.
(Mother Nature and worms together create this rich material, full of plant-soluble vitamins and minerals.)Moreover, since worm castings are generated day-in and day-out, and their castings are considered so healthy that they are safe to use with virtually all living plants, they are one of the few known natural plant fertilizers where you can add as much as you want and it will only benefit the plant, the soil, and the surrounding environment. It is one of Mother Nature's special gifts to us – but only if we take advantage of its special properties.
Can we say the same with petrol- or synthetic-based fertilizers being used today? NO. In many cases, plants can die within 24 hours if too much synthetic fertilizer is applied.
So, in summary, here is a small but growing list of benefits that this byproduct (worm castings) can produce through the addition into any soil, anywhere on the planet, and its longer-term effects.
Benefits of Worm Castings in Soil:
1. Non-toxic.
2. Provides soil structure, aeration, and reduces soil erosion. Castings keep the soil loose and prevent compaction, thus allowing oxygen and water to reach the root system.
3. Contains natural growth hormones for bigger and more fibrous roots.
4. Will not harm plants; it is a slow-release fertilizer.
5. Long lasting.
6. Can be used on any type of plant – trees, shrubs, and even seedlings.
7. Excellent source of nitrogen, phosphorous, and calcium.
8. Worm casting are naturally organic and odor free. Can be used indoors or outdoors.
9. Promotes a healthy soil environment through beneficial microbial and bacterial activity.
10. Improves soil water retention.
11. Attracts any existing worms, whether nearby or from surrounding areas, helping to restore and/or build the overall health of the soil.
...and more
In conclusion, we feel this project is a thorough approach to solving a growing and demanding problem of our food supply system. Through this model, we can feed the hungry and recycle our wasted food products in a way that creates new, valuable resources rather than more waste to fill our landfills.
Yes, good work has already been done to fight these problems, but they have not been solved; indeed they are growing worse. It’s time for new and better solutions, and we think this model is sustainable, responsible, and can be profitable.
There is a growing awareness of these problems in the general public, and yet many people don't have an idea of the best way to change this situation and participate in the solution because the solution hasn’t been clearly articulated or networked. We feel that this project, especially our first step of diverting edible food to food pantries, can target those efforts and produce big results.
This project will require hard work to set up, and we have no issue with that. It provides a solution to several very pressing problems, and that’s what we’re after.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the project in more detail or join us in this cause, feel free to contact me.
If you’re ready to join the cause and pledge your support, please do it now.
And please SHARE or POST this via your social networks - it's appreciated and all efforts will help us.
Thank you for your support.
Project (Food) Waste
-----------
UPDATE: If you or someone you know would be interested in helping us get started, feel free to reach out to me.
Organizer
Glen Fejdasz
Organizer
Woodstock, IL
