#protectthestream

Earthworms burrow into soil, which creates air pockets. These tunnels aerate the soil, allow water to drain and decrease the rate of erosion by up to 50 percent, which reduces runoff and prevents drought, flooding and other harmful effects of climate change.

(As part of Food Waste Prevention Week, today's MI Environment story looks at the issue of using food scraps to create value-added products for gardeners and farmers.

Bay City residents now have a pilot food waste collection program available to them that will turn food scraps into a nutrient-rich soil enhancer.

Thanks to a $194,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), Iris Waste Diversion Specialists of Birch Run will collect vegetable and fruit scraps in five-gallon buckets from the porch of subscribers using a Ford e-Transit van. The food scraps will be delivered to 5Heart Earthworm Farm where they will be processed to produce worm castings, a natural soil enhancer. Participants in the program will receive a bucket of worm castings for use in their gardens or they can designate it for use by the City of Bay City Parks Department.

"Iris Waste Diversion Specialists is offering this hyperlocal service in partnership with the City of Bay City that will collect food scraps in a zero-emission vehicle, deliver them to be processed using low-emission methods, to produce a product that will be returned to the soil where it will capture carbon to the benefit of all life on earth," says Tracy Purrenhage, a recycling specialist with EGLE.

"The program goals include increasing collection and processing capacity of recyclable food waste and increasing access to food waste composting programs, while supporting the Governor's climate change priorities through measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

"Reducing food waste and keeping it out of landfills is something we can all do to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to a warming climate. This program will provide a convenient way for residents to more responsibly manage their food scraps and reap the benefits of their efforts. They make an impact when diverting their food scraps from the landfill and when they use the worm castings to build healthier soil that helps remove and store carbon."

The collection is a subscription program that will serve 200 households during the 9-month pilot project.  Food scraps will be picked-up weekly at a cost of $20 per month.  Subscribers can also drop-off their food scraps at the Bay City Recycles Center.

Funding alert! Is your school doing awesome place-based education around the Great Lakes? Could you use some funding to help support and expand that work? The MiSTEM Network, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Office of the Great Lakes, and the Michigan Department of Education have released a request for proposals that will fund projects supporting Great Lakes and freshwater literacy, stewardship education, and innovative STEM education. Grants will range from $5,000-$20,000. Find out more and apply at www.gvsu.edu/studentstostewards

GOAL OF THE PROJECTSupport integration of Great Lakes and freshwater literacy principles into standards-based school curricula and continuous improvement plans. Use place-based approaches to improve stewardship behavior and provide an engaging context to improve school performance and address whole child needs. This project was made available through a multi-agency collaboration between the MiSTEM Network, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, Michigan Department of Education, and the Office of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECTThis project is intended to make progress toward closing the water literacy gap in Michigan and growing the next generation of water stewards, leaders, skilled workers, and decision-makers needed to solve complex water issues in a changing world.  This project places student voice and choice as the center of student learning. A water focus tied to STEM education, built over a child’s educational life and into adulthood, can serve as the basis for place-based learning and scientific knowledge. This place-based approach engages students through their socio-cultural contexts and brings their internal assets to the foreground. The field test opportunity will engage schools in reimagining their systems to support this pedagogical approach for learning focused on a central Great Lakes - Freshwater Vision. From Students to Stewards will close the water literacy gap and make critical steps to growing water stewardship in the State of Michigan.

DETAILS AT A GLANCEAward Amount: From $5,000 up to $20,000 Funding Period: June 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023 Online Application Submission Deadline: Applications are open until 5:00pm (ET) on April 12th, 2022 Award Notification & Disbursement: Award recipients will be notified of their selection approximately 30 days after the application deadline. For the full grant information visit the MiSTEM Network Grants Page