Kimbriki Eco House and Garden has been working with Harbour View Children’s Centre since January last year and it has been inspiring to see what they have achieved in such a short time.
The journey began when one of the centre’s educators, Cecilia, attended our Early Childhood Centre Waste & Sustainability PD day in 2025 and won the worm farm lucky door prize for her centre. Following this, the centre manager Natalie got in touch to explore if the Kimbriki Eco House and Garden could provide help setting up a food waste system at their centre.
During our first visit in January 2025, a worm cafe worm farm was set up and staff were taught how to use and maintain it. Over the following couple of months, we visited regularly, provided support, answered questions and helped staff troubleshoot any challenges. With each visit, we noticed that the staff became increasingly confident and more comfortable with the worm farm and using it into daily routines.
The children’s enthusiasm blossomed as well. They eagerly gathered around to observe the worms, often asking to hold one during our visits. Feeding the worms quickly became a favourite activity, helping the children understand the connection between food scraps, soil health and sustainability.
We were soon introduced to Sam, the centre’s cook and began discussions with Natalie about expanding the initiative to include a composting system. This would allow even more of the centre’s food waste to be diverted from landfill, further strengthening their commitment to sustainable practice.
We introduced a two-bin compost system consisting of one green lid bin and one red lid bin.
It took approximately 6 months to fill the green lid bin and then we swapped over the lids to make it into a red lid bin to rest and started a new green lid bin. This meant that the centre had a system that could manage a continuous supply of food scraps and not have to wait the 6-8 weeks for the 1st bin to mature before composting again.
The compost allows more food waste to be composted as the worm farm was only coping with the fruit waste. Sam now adds lunchtime food scraps to the compost. Mature compost has been added to the centre’s garden beds and also given away to families and staff.
Once the compost system and rectangular worm farm were operating smoothly, the staff in the babies’ room expressed interest in having their own worm farm. Later in the year, we installed a small cube worm farm in their room to support this enthusiasm.
The cube was placed in an accessible area so the children could observe and engage with it. Unsurprisingly, there were a few early challenges, with curious little hands attempting to lift the lid to check on the worms! This was easily resolved by securing a strap around the cube so that only adults could open it, while still allowing the children to observe and participate safely.
Initially we would meet with Cecilia each time we visited, but now when we visit a different staff member joins us to check the system. They are engaged, they ask curious questions and are eager to learn. It has been a heartwarming journey to support.
The staff appear to work between other Council-owned centre’s and the program’s success has spread. Belrose Childcare Centre is already operating a highly successful system following the Eco House and Garden’s support over recent years. North Harbour Children’s Centre have also reached out for guidance with their set up and more recently Roundhouse Children’s Centre has got in contact and are hoping to expand the system in their centre.
It’s the beginning of something truly wonderful!
Angie
2026 WASTE & SUSTAINABILITY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRES PD DAY
