Closing the Loop Group

Isabelle Torossian, Nathan Molloster, John Jansen

Welcome to the Closing the Loop Group,

We are here to close the loop between the GVSU Campus and the Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP). We wanted to close the loop between the SAP and GVSU's campus because both are close to our hearts. We care about the Food Pantry located on campus and wanted a way to make it more sustainable for the SAP to give to and easy to access for students. We created a few ways to make it easier for the SAP to be able to give to the Food Pantry.

We wanted to start with Campus Dining because the loop starts there. They can train their employee's to learn easily how and what to compost and then use the Campus Dining trucks to bring it to the SAP to compost. With our grant we could buy a composter that can handle the waste from Campus Dining and give it to the SAP.

PROTOTYPE 1

A PAMPHLET ABOUT OUR MISSION

Prototype 2

Compost Stall

Compost stall in closed position

Adjustable side door to allow easier acess

Sturdy sides

Airflow tubes protruding from compost stall

With the help of a medium sized compost bin the SAP will be able to compost pre-consumer products like never before. The bin could have an easily adjustable side that would make access easier for adding in new compost as well as maintenance on the compost already within the bin. The Airflow tubes are placed strategically throughout the bin to allow proper aeration to the bin. This would increase the rate at which the products are composted as well as decreasing the need to turning the compost to add oxygen.

Prototype 3

COMPOST TUMBLER

smaller version

Industrial Tumbler

This prototype is designed to scale up the composting system at the SAP while also lowering the labor load for the workers there. We looked at the location and decided that the best way to do this is through the use of a couple of compost tumblers which will not only cut down on the time that it takes to turn the compost and it will have the added consequence of giving the volunteers more time to do other things on the farm. This solution has relatively low starting cost with the added benefit of being a one time cost. There are many different options for where we could place the units in the property depending not the size that we settle on.

AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT

Clearly there is enough space for many different options. For example, the smaller units could be placed in different places where they get the most use out of fresh compost. The larger industrial unit, although more expensive this system gives the option to make compost much more constantly but forces us to pick a spot. Both options can either be fabricated out of old things at a much lower cost or there are already built models that have instructional guides for building and use.

The use of these tumblers will allow us to use the extra raw materials from campus while also not causing extra strain on the SAP employees.

Contact:

Isabelle Torossian: torossii@mail.gvsu.edu

Nathan Molloster: mostollin@mail.gvsu.edu

John Jansen: jansjohn@mail.gvsu.edu

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