On July 15, MRN members visited
ECO City’s Bladensburg Farm, where Farm Manager Thomas Fazio gave an up-close look at the facility’s composting system.
From prep to finished product, Thomas walked the group through how the farm turns food scraps and organic materials into rich, high-quality vermicompost—thanks in part to a hardworking population of red wiggler worms. That nutrient-packed compost plays a key role in growing ECO’s wide variety of fresh, chemical-free table crops right on-site.
ECO City Farms, based in Prince George’s County, Maryland, is a nonprofit urban teaching farm system focused on bringing fresh and nutritious produce to neighborhoods where access is limited, while also training the next generation of growers in sustainable, environmentally friendly practices. The Bladensburg Farm includes the
Compost Output, which produces all the compost used on the farms.
The composting system consists of a two-stage process that turns food scraps and organic waste into nutrient-rich soil. First, materials are chopped and placed into static piles, where they begin to break down through traditional composting. The material is then transferred into large worm bins, where red wiggler worms continue the process through vermicomposting, further breaking down the organic matter into a high-quality, humus-rich compost.
Throughout the process, the team carefully monitors moisture and airflow to ensure optimal conditions for both microbes and worms. The end product is a rich, fertile compost used to nourish crops on the farm and support sustainable growing practices.
A huge thank you to Thomas Fazio and ECO City Farms for hosting us. We enjoyed learning about the composting process and seeing the great work being done to grow healthy food and build strong communities.
Visitors to the farm can also experience the farm’s wormhouse, Beginning Farmer Training Program growing tunnel, community growing plots, beehives; and an orchard and food forest.
➡
Check out these videos for more on farm features and educational programs.
➡ Sign up for a tour.