Story 3

At the vermiculture farm
















It was a hot, sunny day when we arrived at the vermiculture farm in Nalbandyan village. The kids were already waiting for us. Having finished the work for the day they were resting under the trees. The “little farmers” were impatient to show what they accomplished. They managed to collect 30 tons of manure, wash it and mix it with all kinds of food and yard wastes, vegetable and fruit scraps, alum, garden refuse, manure – they knew what to gather to make compost.
The training they received both at school and out in the farm equipped them with knowledge about Californian worms and the fact that those tiny red creatures could be a part of rather complex biological process of transforming organic matter into clean organic fertilizer that could be used or sold later.
Children are usually fascinated at the sight of worms and the neatly planned science project for the children educated not only the youngsters but the whole community as well.
There was a healthy hubbub among the parents, running around to collect and prepare all the necessary ingredients for the arrival of “dear red friends” – Californian worms.
The compost was ready, laid on the ground waiting for the final “guests” that arrived at last. Bedding (compost) has a major role in worm composting process since it is the environment where the worms live and eat. Like children that were relaxing under the tree after the day of hard work, so would do the worms in the bedding prepared by the kids. As soon as the worms arrived the children hurried to place them on top of the bedding and could not hold their thrill while observing how the worms were disappearing in the bedding.
The children knew that worms dislike light and if some of them stay on the surface, they are either unhealthy or dead and should be removed. Thus, the kids were anxious to see whether the worms would disappear in the compost, which they eagerly did giving the young “biologists” the sign that they had a perfect “shelter”. Numerous child hands were enthusiastically placing the rest of the worms on the pile - their “red friends” had to work hard as well. Now they needed to do the last thing to make the “guests” even more comfortable: they watered the bedding and then sighed with a feeling of deep fulfillment. All the young members of the club were both amused and content as they were a part of creating something really significant – “home” for their “friends” and a source of income for the community.
By Karina Matevosova, Development Principles NGO Expert

Story 2.

Waiting for the worms to arrive…

Starting April 20, 2007 Nalbandyan community members collected around 30 tons of manure in the beforehand prepared barn area. The community group finished preparation of 1 meter thick compound of compost layer by mixing manure, bio wastes and green mass. All conditions for releasing the Californian worms into the mass have been prepared. The members of the Ecology Direction of the YES rural community youth club participated very actively in this work and are very inspired by the project.
The children’s rejoice was even more evident as simultaneously with this very important event for the whole community they get knowledge on how to produce fertile bio-humus. Everyone is interested in the bio-humus production of and is very proud that they are part of this initiative.
It is remarkable that the Ecology Direction members organized regular guarding of the compost and already recorded the first innocent ‘crime’ – some local children made a slight digging in the layer hoping to find famous worms. After being stopped by the young ecology group activists’ condemning faces the unfortunate ‘thieves’ answered:
- You know guys, we can make wonderful fishing by using these worms! We heard that the worms are just excellent…
The Youth Club Members had to disappoint these local youngsters telling them that the worms did not ‘arrive’ to Nalbandyan village yet…
By Khachik Margaryan
Nalbandyan Community LeaderYES Youth Club Ecology Direction Trainer

Story 1.

Visit to Nalbandyan Community on May 21, 2007
The community group prepared compost consisting of 1 m thick layer in the barn area. The area was carefully washed.
In the beginning the YES Club Ecology group children washed the manure, then after slight drying, mixed it with branches, hay, vegetable waste, weeds, alum as the bio-humus production module instructs. Now the compost is ready to receive the worms. Not only members of the Ecology Direction of the YES Club, but also their parents and just adults are interested in the initiative participated in organization of the bio-humus production.
To enhance the incentive for education, ripe bio-humus from Spitak was distributed to the children to use it in their gardens. The trainer explained the children how to apply it. Their introduction with the project the Ecology Direction members began from practical lessons by preparing the compost. The Trainer was also instructed to organize theoretical classes to explain importance of the bio-humus in agriculture and what organic agriculture is. For this purpose the Trainer received module for theoretical classes.
A container was prepared for water, but the community plans to fill a big ditch with water and to pomp it from there to water the compost.

By Karine Matevosova, DP NGO expert

Vermiculture project initiation in Nalbandyan village

Vermiculture farming and biohumus production at rural youth club in Nalbandyan village in Armenia

Major activities during the reporting period

1. On 7 February, 2007 Development Principles NGO management conducted on site visit to Nalbandyan community where an introductory meeting was held with the YES (Youth Empowered for Self-reliance) club adult leaders and young club members to inform about the approval of the project and discuss the necessary steps towards the launching of the project. All meeting participants were excited to learn about the new project opportunity and expressed their readiness to follow the experts instructions for project inception preparations.
2. During February-March the following was accomplished:
· Modules for the Training to the Trainers on vermiculture and biohumus production were developed by Artashes Karapetyan, Development principles NGO Expert and reviewed by DP Senior Advisor;
· Appropriate space was allocated in Nalbandyan village to host vermiculture farm;
· Necessary quantity of 4-6 months old stored manure (30) was collected and secured in the place nearby the farm facilities.
3. On April 20, 2007 Development Principles NGO experts inspected a farm in Nalbandyan community, where it is anticipated to produce biohumus through cultivation of Californian worms. The choice of the farm was satisfactory, and the site intended for biohumus production was rather spacious and capable to host concurrent cycles of biohumus production. The ground was concrete and there was a trap for excess water drainage.
4. On April 30, 2007 a trip was arranged to the farm to discuss important details of the project and to inspect the finished compost (30 tons), gathered and washed by the children and their parents.
5. 21 May, 2007 there was an inspection of the finished compost made from manure, fruit and vegetable scraps, shredded stems, garden refuse and alum, laid on the concrete 1 meter high ground.
6. Artashes Karapetyan, Development Principles NGO Expert and Vice-President of Spitak Farmer’s Association, eagerly provided finished biohumus to be distributed to the children. At the scene, the trainer introduced the basics on what is biohumus, how to make and use it. The training fascinated the kids greatly. The compost was not finished, thus the worms were not placed yet. Even though there was no container for water yet, it was planned use the neighboring ditch. It could serve as a reservoir from where they could pump water for sprinkling the compost.
7. On 30 May, 2007 the Californian worms were imported. A small test was carried out to check compost condition: several worms were placed on the compost and within 5-10 minutes they penetrated deep into the bedding, which indicated that the compost is ready, thus the rest of the worms could be placed as well.
8. On June 6, 2007 the worm compost was inspected and its condition was evaluated as adequate. The worms were active, and there was already biohumus produced. However, not all of the compost was converted into biohumus. It is expected to collect the fist cycle of biohumus in September.

Plan for future activities
Regular on-site and in-class training sessions to the children.
Publishing of educational materials developed for this project (negotiations are held with Heifer Project International Armenian Branch regarding publishing the materials to be used in joint projects as well) – September-October, 2007.
Community YES club celebration event dedicated to the launching of first vermiculture project in the village and Armavir marz of Armenia – planned for one day in September, 2007.
Separation of worms and biohumus, moving worms to new bedding – September, 2007.
Marketing of biohumus – October, 2007.