Turning food waste into fertilizer and creating jobs for people with special needs.
Food waste does not sit for long inside Barnstable High School; instead, it goes into a food dehydrator. “We bring the food waste from both cafeterias directly to the dehydrator after both lunches to become the main ingredient in a special fertilizer,” explains senior Liam Bouagard, who is measuring the environmental impact for a science project. Collaborating with doing the daily task are students from the special education program who are learning life skills and growing personally.
The fertilizer gets formulated, mixed, and packaged in Hyannis, Massachusetts. So far, they have recycled over 100,000 lbs. of food waste with the hydrangea fertilizer being their best seller. Inclusion is the focus when it comes to hiring staff. Two part-time employees and five more students with special needs help in every step of production and order fulfillment.
There are three varieties of Cape Cod Challenger Green Fertilizer. Which helps grow tomatoes, vegetables, hydrangeas, and programs for the special needs community. That is because the fertilizer funds the Cape Cod Challenger Club. Since 2004, they have been providing FREE athletic, social, and recreational activities for people with disabilities.
The students gathering the food waste from the high school participated in the activities, as well as over 1,400 other people last year ranging in age from 4 to 67 years young.
The Cape Cod Challenger Club receives no state or federal funding. It operates its programs through private grants, donations, and the success of the unique fertilizers and formula they created to grow gardens and people into something beautiful.
