Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Help?

We are a closed organization in Associated Students, meaning you need to apply to be a Worm Wrangler. We open our applications in the Spring of each year! However, we hold monthly volunteer events and workshops, and attending these is always a great help to us. Please follow our Instagram for updates on this!

 

Does DPW Sell Worm Castings or Worm Tea?

We do not sell our worm tea or worm castings. We suggest looking for local folks who sell castings or tea in your area. We also encourage people to start their own bins or stalls at home. Please go to our home composting page for more info!

 

Does DPW Sell Red Wriggler Worms?

Unfortunately, we do not sell worms because previous worm sales led to a population crash in our worm bins. In order to continue to compost at UCSB and to continue to provide worm tea, we are unable to distribute worms. 

Some good worm sources online or in the Santa Barbara area:
Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm – We originally bought our worms here!
Goleta Island Seed & Feed – Our favorite local garden supply shop.
La Sumida Nursery – One of the largest nurseries in our area.

 

Where Can I Drop Off Scraps?

There are multiple waste bins on campus that can take food scraps which will be industrially composted. If you want to give scraps to us our only drop off bins are at Family Student Housing West Campus and Storke Community Gardens. Check out the FSH page if you are resident at these communities for drop off locations. If you aren’t a resident of these housing communities dropping scraps off in UCSB bins are still a great help towards our goal. We also encourage people to set up composting at home. Check out our home composting page.

 

What Can I Put in the Bins?

If on campus please go to Associated Students Recycling website to see what they allow in their UCSB bins on campus. If you are a resident at either Storke or West Family Student Housing please check out our FSH page for info on drop off locations and what is allowed in the bins.

 

Does DPW Sell Finished Compost?

DPW does not sell any finished compost as it’s used at the ECP Student Farm to grow produce. However, if you live in Family Student Housing Storke or Family Student Housing West Campus, we do leave two bins of compost near our stalls in the community gardens for residents to use in their garden plots. 

 

Where Does Your Food Go?

The food we grow is sent directly to the AS Food Bank after being washed to the Environmental Health & Safety compliance standards. The AS Food Bank is located in the University Center and is free for all students at UCSB. We highly recommend using this resource on campus! Follow this link here to see their page.