TV personality Costa surprised kids at Alexandria Child Care Centre this week by turning up with a new worm farm to show them how food scraps can help create new life in urban gardens.
The worm farm is one of a limited number being delivered to childcare centres across the City of Sydney area to teach children the importance of making good waste and recycling choices.
Costa Georgiadis joined the kids to talk to them about how worms play an important role in turning food waste into a valuable organic fertilizer, and diverting waste from landfill.
“It’s all about knowing that the worms are our friends,” Costa said. “They’re not yucky – they’re our valuable life partners that help us in everything we do.
“We want these children to share the knowledge that food scraps shouldn’t go in the bin and should be used in worm farms instead. The kids’ simple task is to get their families to compost and help us spread the word around.
“My biggest message to our young people is that they are our biggest change makers and they are powerful to bring about some really big differences.”
As much as 30 per cent of household waste can be composted. For those living in apartments, worm farms are perfect for balconies and a great natural way to reduce organic waste that might otherwise end up in household bins. The worm juice produced is liquid gold for gardens and the castings are a nutrient-rich soil builder that help gardens flourish.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the one-off initiative was designed to encourage children to think about nature.
“Children are naturally curious and open to learning about nature,” the Lord Mayor said.
“It’s important to help children prepare for the future by talking about nature and sustainable living. Young people can play a vital role in learning practical skills to be more environmentally-friendly and sharing this information with their families.”
The childcare centres are also receiving teaching materials from the ABC’s dirtgirlworld Get Grubby program to help the kids learn about the importance of green living.
Green Villages offers free workshops and online support to teach locals how to set up and run worm farms. For more information go to: www.greenvillages.com.au
For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Claire Thompson, phone 02 9265 9582 or email cthompson1@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Matt Levinson on 0499 319 385 or email mlevinson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au