Super Bloom!

The rains finally arrived in California. After dry year upon dry year, Santa Clara’s home state sloshed in snow, rain, and occasional flooding through the winter of 2022-23.

Gray and damp days held the promise of something new upon our long dry and dusty hills—wildflowers springing to bloom. Fields painted poppy-orange with the help of water and dirt.

Yet, these sweet spring flowers might never have bloomed without their underground helper, the earthworm. Often no bigger than a finger, these humble wrigglers carry the secret to Earth’s rebirth by breaking down food waste and dead plants to leave rich soil behind. Worms also help divert food waste from landfills through composting.

At SCU, students get a hands-on experiences with the mighty earthworm. The Center for Sustainability hosts quarterly events to allow students to see what goes to the dump. They have also teamed up with the housing office to give students composting pails at the start of each school year. Our trash is a potential resource, an effective sidekick to winter rains to ensure flowers bloom each spring. Broncos get that.