Wilsonton State High School Ag students produce fantastic fertiliser

Wilsonton students are harvesting beautiful batches of worm wee tea, perfect for the veggie garden. But hurry – it’s selling out fast!

The year 12 agriculture students at Wilsonton State High School have been busy brewing up dozens of litres of wonderful worm wee as part of their certificate II in production horticulture, with the fertiliser already selling out at Rhonda’s Refits in the first week.

The small class is made up of six students with a mix of physical and intellectual disabilities who have worked together throughout year 11 to get their worm farm off the ground, and have recently started bottling the worm wee, more appropriately called vermicast or worm castings to sell to Toowoomba gardeners.

“We’ve learnt that worm castings are extremely beneficial to all types of gardens and because it’s completely organic, it’s a very safe fertiliser too,” Wilsonton State High School agriculture student Amber said.

Wilsonton State High School year 12 ag students harvesting their worm wee fertiliser (back from left) class teacher Chris Redfern, Kimberly Jamieson and Blaine Craig (front from left) Travis Larkin, Jaylene Baldry and Amber Gee-Gath. Picture: Nev Madsen

“As a class we worked together to develop a logo and information label for the worm wee containers and we organised to recycle the milk bottles from our school’s free breakfast program for the bottling process.

“Right now we can get about 10-15 two litre bottles a week and we take it in turns to collect the castings and make up the milk bottles then Mr Redfern takes the castings to Rhonda’s Refits where it’s sold for a gold coin donation.”

The entire class were rapt to learn their first batch of worm wee had sold out within the first week, with several orders for more already rolling in.

“It’s been really exciting to hear that it’s all sold out already, we’re now hoping we can get a second worm farm up and running so we can eventually double our harvest, but that will take a couple of months yet,” Amber said.

“For now, we are happy selling several bottles a week at Rhonda’s Refits and soon the castings will also be available at the Highfields Landscaping Supplies.”