Submitted
2025 Global Climate Challenge

Worm Works in Action

Team Leader
Alyssia Richardson
Worm Works is a community-based environmental education and composting initiative that uses nature’s own decomposers—worms and microbes—to fight climate change. We teach people of all ages how to turn food scraps and organic waste into nutrient-rich compost using vermicomposting, a natural process where worms break down waste into healthy soil. Through hands-on workshops, school programs, and local partnerships, we install...
What is the name of your organization?
Princess Gardens Worm Farm
What is the name of your solution?
Worm Works in Action
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Worm Works combats climate change by regenerating soil through composting, education, and community-driven environmental action.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Denver, CO, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
USA
What type of organization is your solution team?
Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Worm Works addresses the urgent issue of soil degradation and organic waste mismanagement, which are major contributors to climate change. Globally, an estimated 33% of soils are degraded, and over 1.3 billion tons of food waste are generated annually, producing 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In many underserved communities, including the ones we work with, access to sustainable waste solutions, climate education, and regenerative practices is limited or nonexistent. In our local context, landfills are overburdened, and community members often lack the tools and knowledge to manage organic waste or enrich depleted soils. This contributes not only to carbon emissions but also to reduced food security, environmental injustice, and lost economic opportunities. Our solution tackles multiple root causes: lack of environmental literacy, broken waste systems, and poor soil health. By introducing accessible composting systems, microbe-based soil regeneration, and hands-on education, Worm Works empowers individuals and communities to actively reverse environmental harm. Our model strengthens local resilience while contributing to global climate goals.
What is your solution?
Worm Works is a community-based environmental education and composting initiative that uses nature’s own decomposers—worms and microbes—to fight climate change. We teach people of all ages how to turn food scraps and organic waste into nutrient-rich compost using vermicomposting, a natural process where worms break down waste into healthy soil. Through hands-on workshops, school programs, and local partnerships, we install and maintain worm composting systems, offer soil regeneration training, and provide tools to support sustainable living at home, at school, and in community spaces. Our program also integrates climate science, microbial education, and low-tech regenerative practices to make environmental stewardship both accessible and actionable. We combine traditional ecological knowledge with emerging soil science to help communities reduce waste, enrich soil, grow food, and lower greenhouse gas emissions—all starting from the ground up.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Worm Works serves communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change, food insecurity, and environmental neglect—especially in urban and semi-rural areas lacking access to sustainable waste systems or healthy soil. Our target population includes residents in low-income neighborhoods, schools without environmental programs, community gardeners, farmers, and local organizations seeking practical climate solutions. Many of these communities face systemic barriers: limited environmental education, poor soil quality, rising landfill costs, and few opportunities to engage in regenerative practices. They are often left out of climate conversations and solutions, despite being deeply impacted. Worm Works meets these needs by providing accessible composting systems, hands-on education, and culturally relevant training that empowers people to manage waste, regenerate soil, grow food, and build local resilience. We use low-cost, nature based solutions that are easy to adopt and scale within homes, schools, and community spaces. By equipping people with the tools and knowledge to care for the earth beneath their feet, we create real, lasting environmental impact—led by the people most affected.
Solution Team:
Alyssia Richardson
Alyssia Richardson
Owner/Educator/Farmer