Each month, we will highlight community heroes that are making a difference in their communities and working to make their local environments cleaner and healthier.
This month, we are taking a look at Adirondack Worm Farm in NY!
Based in Hudson Falls, New York, Adirondack Worm Farm is helping turn food scraps into a valuable resource through vermicomposting and curbside compost collection. Founded by self-described "chief composter and worm wrangler" Bill Richmond, the farm uses specialized composting worms along with traditional composting methods to transform food waste into nutrient-rich compost and vermicast. They also offer convenient curbside compost pickup services, making it easy for residents to reduce landfill waste and create a more sustainable community. Through their work, Adirondack Worm Farm is helping close the loop between food waste reduction and healthy soil, proving that even the smallest creatures can make a big environmental impact. The Biobag team connected with Bill Richmond, Chief Worm Wrangler at Adirondack Worm Farm, to learn more about the organization's journey and impact.
What led you to start your composting operation?
I have always disliked wasting things and started working with composting worms to manage our family fruit and vegetable scraps. The idea of composting more material and across a broader scale led to the start of our curbside composting service in 2019.
Who do you serve and how can people get in touch with you if they want to start composting?
We serve the Lake George - Glens Falls area, and all of Washington County in upstate NY (at the southeast corner of the Adirondack Park), about an hour north of Albany, NY. Our service is for both residential and commercial customers, with 5-gallon buckets and 64-gallon rolling containers. Folks can learn more and sign up at our website, www.adirondackwormfarm.com
How much organic material do you typically take in on a weekly basis?
Our weekly totals can vary, but on average, we collect about 2,500 pounds of food scraps and other compostable materials per week.
Feel free to add any additional information about your operation as you see fit.
Besides our regular customers, we do some annual events, and have composted for statewide conferences, a large outdoor dinner summer fundraising event, and the "Puppy Bowl" which is filmed in Glens Falls, NY.
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