Project Overview
Commodities
- Animals: swine
Practices
- Animal Production: manure management
- Education and Training: extension, farmer to farmer
- Farm Business Management: whole farm planning
- Soil Management: composting, organic matter, soil quality/health
- Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures, quality of life
Proposal summary:
Careless management of pig manure and vegetative waste is degrading water and air quality on Tutuila, American Samoa’s main island. Futi Semanu plans to use his Western SARE Farmer/Rancher grant to turn these two waste streams into a useful product through earthworm composting, or vermiculture. This sustainable technology optimizes the natural soil-building biology and properties of earthworms to convert raw wastes into stable and valuable commercial products called vermicompost and earthworm castings. Semanu grows beans and cucumbers on 2 acres and is clearing 20 acres for increased vegetable production. He also plans to start a small pig farm. By both marketing the vermicompost and applying it to his land he can show others how to turn pollutants into profit.