Department of Public Worms/Compost and Gardening Program
This fee increase will support the Associated Students Department of Public Worms (DPW), which was founded in 2004. DPW grows fresh produce for students, manages on-campus composting programs, develops and maintains the Student Farm, and educates students about gardening, composting, and food waste reduction. Funding will be used to expand programs and services, hire more student employees, purchase supplies, and conduct educational programming.
DPW contributes to food production on campus. Through the implementation of a sustainable, closed-loop food-system, DPW grows food that is donated to on-campus food pantries (including the AS Food Bank). The newly built Student Farm located near West Campus is an educational space to learn and practice agricultural techniques. These practices demonstrate, economic, and environmental sustainability through, student leadership, employment opportunities, and community partnerships. The Student Farm also provides opportunities for primary scientific research through interdisciplinary academic programs.
Do you approve of a fee increase of $1.40 per undergraduate (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer quarters). $0.97 is for the UCSB Community Financial Fund, $0.35 is for Return to Aid, an administrative assessment of $0.07 will be charged to all non-capital expenditures, and $0.01 is for the Associated Students recharge fee)?
This new fee increase is an addition to the:
$1.29 per undergraduate for Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer quarters already collected to support the AS Department of Public Worms.
Additionally, if approved, the entire Department of Public Worms/Compost and Gardening Program fee of $2.69 ($1.29 current fee plus $1.40 increase to the existing fee) per undergraduate student for Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer quarter will be placed on the same reaffirmation cycle.
Pro Statements
This year marks the 16th anniversary of the Associated Students Department of Public Worms (DPW), UCSB’s composting and gardening program. DPW cultivates compost by utilizing food waste collected from the Dining Commons to supplement the growth of fresh produce at the Edible Campus Program (ECP) Student Farm, which is donated to the AS Food Bank. DPW aims to create a space where students and community members can empower themselves and their environment.
DPW enables students to expand their educational opportunities by partnering with academic departments that involve the ECP Student Farm in their curriculum, such as the Computer Science department (who built a weather station at the farm) and the Environmental Studies department (who volunteered and continue to host courses at the farm).
DPW harvests food year round and constantly adds more raised beds to bolster production, but once the ECP Student Farm is fully complete, DPW will need more student staff, hired at a living wage, in order to keep all operations running. This fee increase will accommodate these needs and will allow DPW to continue growing.
A “yes” vote means:
● The AS Food Bank and other campus food pantries could continue to get fresh fruits and vegetables directly from the ECP Student Farm.
● DPW can continue to hold educational workshops that allow students and community members to learn about at-home composting and other subjects.
● Enable more UCSB students looking for educational and leadership opportunities to be hired and help support our efforts.
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