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Willowgrove Primary Sdiool kindergarten students Taylor Chan (from left), Jesse Black. Grace Whelnn, Sage Brady, Josef Kay and Alexander Dis- epolo check their red worms in a oomposter at the McGowang campus. Coth created is used in the plantin} ofmilkweed. BY SANDRA BOLAN Staff Writer Long gone are the days when the classroom pet is a fish. gerbil. hamster, budgie or even a bunny rabbit. Now, in at least one area school, the classroom pet is a bin full of400 worms Late last year, Willowgmve Pn- mary School decided it wanted to enhance its environmental edu- cational curriculum and added an indoor vermieomposter to its junior/ senior kindergarten class “We've surrounded by nature and it’s a very big part of our curricu- lum," said Gemlde Reesor-Grootets, the McGowan Road school's kin- dergarten teacher. “You can’t always cage nature, move it inside and look olo check their red worms in a composter at the McGowan Road campus. Compost created Is used 1n the plantm mukweea. Classroom pets teach en vironmentai lesson WINTER ITEMS AT SUN-TRIBUNE PEOPLE at it. With worms you can.” Vemlicomposting is compost- ing. which is the aerobic decom- positidn of biodegradable organic matter, but with the assistance of red wiggler worms “The resulting vermicompost. or worm cast. is rich in nutrients." according to Cathy Nesbitt. owner and operator of Cathy’s Crawly Composters, which supplied Wil- lowgrove with the worms and edu- cational material for the students “It’s more valuable to farmers. landscapers and home gardeners than raw manure or traditional compost. Worm castings conserve moisture and improve soil condi- fions" Vermicomposting is ideal for people who live in apartments and condos. as well as for classrooms, as it only tequimes a plastic bin with a lid and air holes at the top and botâ€" tom. bedding made of crushed egg shells. potting soil, shredded paper. waterandabunchofredwifler womns. “The type of worm is imponant. They’re not all composting worms." Ms Nesbitt noted. Everyday, Mrs Reesor-Grooters’ class adds their organic food scraps. such as apple cores and banana peels, into the bin. so the worms can start eating their way through it. About two pounds of red wig- giels will recycle about one pound of organic matter in 24 hours. Which means in about three or four > Do you have news from your school? E-mail jmasonébmnqcom Walk-5M months, Willowgmve’s worms will have created enough cast-offs, or compost, for the class to use in its planting of milkweed outside their “Because of the spraying. the milkweed is in decline and with it goes the population of the Mon- arch butterfly.” Mrs Reesor-Grootâ€" ers noted. “It’s nice to have a long- term (project)...instead of just the worms.” Educating children about the value of composting in this manner, not only teaches them about the environment, it also gets them eat- ing more fruits and vegetables “Some teachers have neported the kids will eat better because they want to feed the worms," Ms Nes- bitt said. “It's a nice hidden extra benefit." STAFF PHOTCNSUSIE KOCKERSCHEIDT WSun-Tfihdlc.1hrsdax Feb. 211-2009 Whitchurch-Stouffville News Digest loommllldogs upforadopflon About 1(1) Bichon, Pekingese, Papillon and Lhasa Apso-type dogs seized from a suSpected puppy mill are available for adoption. Some are at the Ontar- io SPCA York Region Branch in Whitchurdrâ€"Stoufiville. The dogs were left to roam in their own excrement, with dirty and seveme matted fur. They were found in the former Syden- ham Township on Dec 1, 2008. Many of the dogs were in need of immediate medical care. All/dogs have since received medical treatment and have recovered well. Criminal charges are pending against two Grey-Bruce counâ€" ty residents If convicted, the accused can face fine ranging from the prohibition of owning animals. up to 18 months in jail or a maximum fine of $10,000. The Ontario SPCA York Region Branch is at 16586Wood- bine Ave, just south of Vivian Road. Call 905-898-7122 ext. 306, www.yorkregion.ontan'ospca.ca Stouflvme Lenten dinners cooking for 14th year Dinner’s on again during Lent at Christ Church Stouffville. The Sunset Boulevard con- gregation has hosted the sup- pers for 14 years 7 - They'll be held on the next four Wednesdays, March 4 to April 1, from 5 to 7 pm. Have something to say about these or othet stovies? Email us at jmason®yrmg.com “As always the dinner is free, but most people feel more com- fortable leaving a donation in the basket," church spokesper- son GailWood said. The menu will include beef stew, ham and scalloped pota- toes. chicken pot pie, shepherd’s pie and pork chops, depending on the week For more information, call the church at 905â€"640-6659. Visit yorb'egion.oom for more on these and other stories SOUND OFF