Abstract Revised

My senior project will be researching and developing an experimental cold climate vermicomposting system. The project will provide extensive and in-depth research on vermicomposting and its benefits, specifically to local farmers, gardeners, and the ASU farm, over general composting techniques. The second part of my project will be the construction of a vermicomposting system specifically designed for cold climate functionality. The vermicomposting bin will double as a hotbed for active composting or as a coldframe for growing tropical plant varieties during the warm season. As stated on the ASU SD web site the goal of the SD and Research Farm in Valle Crucis is to educate, “students in agroecology, agroforestry, and sustainable, organic and alterative farming practices. Experimentation and information facilitates exchange with the local community in an effort to help local farmers and entrepreneurs better build and foster alternative, sustainable agricultural practices in the region” (www.susdev.appstate.edu). It is with these goals in mind that I will be further developing these alternative and organic gardening/farming practices. The general intention of this project is to enhance local organic food production capacity through the facilitation and exchange of innovative, locally specific farming techniques. Reducing local reliance upon foreign external inputs, i.e. commercial fertilizers, is an integral factor in increasing our regions capacity to consistently produce organic foods in the current and future markets of increasingly expensive petroleum based products. It is my objective through the research and development of this project to provide local farmers and entrepreneurs with progressive locally specific information to aid in this regions organic agricultural production capacity.