Worms Can't Get Enough

Thousand and thousands of hungry worms chow down on every last spent grain. Apparently, they can't get enough, so Mikey says. He's built up a hefty supply of red wigglers, and would love to sell you a pound if you like.

They are a thinner cousin of the basic sidewalkin-after-a-big-rainfall earthworm, but possess a much larger appetite. Vermicomosting is what he does. I'm happy to have someone willing to haul my weekly sac of spent grains far away, especially because it will be turned into something as great as the beer it originally made...black gold. Worm castings/compost is a nitrogen rich soil enhancer (at about 20-30%), and perfect in potting soils or for rejuvenating old garden earth.

It's Earth Day today. I figured this was an important subject to bring up. Brewing is hard physical and mental work. It takes hours of concentration, lifting, pouring, stirring, crushing, cleaning, etc. At the end of the day, lets face it, its difficult to imagine doing anything more besides downing a few brews during the whole process. But in fact, there is more work to be done to minimize the resulting environmental stress. There is a lot of waste when brewing beer like combustion-fuel/gas, water, spent grains & hops, yeast, CO2, sanitizing & sterilizing agents, bottle caps and old plastic hoses, plastic bags, and more. There are ways to reduce, and/or eliminate, most of these, but it takes thoughtfulness and action.

The Bearded Brewer in Minnesota has been writing about some of these issues, and has helped increase sustainable awareness in brewing. After reading about his efforts with water conservation, I decided to take action in some areas too. It's very important to take care of our small and fragile planet, and if I can't reduce and/or eliminate most of my brewing waste, then I'll have to find some other hobby that isn't so wasteful. The beer is tasting so darn good, so I'm pretty sure I will.

Take a look at other green ambitions
in a post earlier this year...

Sustainability 2008

Excess Water: Collection and Dispersal

After reading a blog post from the Bearded Brewing Co. about water conservation, and having a little dialog about it, I got inspired and decided it was time for action. The Bearded Brewer has been taking measures to be an environmentally responsible brewer, and I highly encourage a visit to his site.

Roughly 25 gallons flows through the immersion chiller to get 5-6 gallons of scalding hot wort down to fermentation temperatures. At my residence, a 6-unit 1920's building, there are many ways I can reuse this excess water.

I like how the Bearded Brewer collects his in large 7 gallon jugs, which can then be used at a later date. Living on the 2nd floor, and having a parking spot directly outside the back porch, I could easily fill a large jug and run a long hose out the window to wash the car or water the surrounding plants. There is also a garden along the west side of the building, and my next door neighbor would be able to utilize a collection jug from his 2nd story porch for watering the vegetables, herbs and flowers. Also, my top floor neighbor already collects numerous 2-3 gallon jugs for hydrating some 300+ plants, and perhaps I could make her chore a little easier.

As a way to get started I have been utilizing all of the excess water to run a load of laundry. So far it has been working great. I collect it with a 6 gallon bucket, and walk it over to the machine. Its a cold load of laundry, but I'm so excited to be using every last drop.

The best way to limit the total amount is to decrease the water pressure going through the coil. No matter how fast the flow, near boiling wort will transfer its heat into the running water within a few inches of coil. The flow only needs to be about half as strong as we think. Until I get collection jugs, I will use this method of reuse.

There are many ways we can lighten our impact on global destruction from excess waste. I would love to believe that most home brewers eventually take action in reducing their environmental footstep within their home brewing process. I highly encourage everyone to give it some thought, and to give those thoughts a try.

Sustainability 2008

Upcoming Planet Saving Projects

1. Carbon dioxide harvesting, compressing
2. Plant growth in carbon dioxide bubble
3. Grain waste mgt: compost, fertilizer, animal feed, etc.
4. Saving and recirculating cleaning/sterilizing solutions
5. Additional coolant water reuse
6. Buy organic/local ingredients
7. Grow brewing herbs, spices and hops
8. Yeast mgt: reuse, disposal

Let me know if this topic interests you.
I'll post more as these projects are completed.
I'd love to hear more ideas for home brewery sustainability.