Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005
More than 110 Christmas trees were recycled at the Westminster College chipping party held at the College's Field Station.
Westminster College faculty and students joined members of the New Wilmington Kiwanis Club to feed the trees into an industrial chipper provided by JEEMCO.
"Westminster has been composting a variety of materials for the past 21 years," said Dr. Clarence Harms, director of the Westminster College Field Station and professor of biology emeritus. "Seven years ago the pondweed harvested from Brittain Lake was added, and this past fall several truckloads of leaves from the Borough of New Wilmington made their way to the compost windrows at the Field Station. The wood chips will be mixed with the other wastes, and in six to 12 months, the compost will be ready for use at the Field station for planting and mulching trees."
For the past eight years, Harms has collected Christmas trees from local residents, and recycled them to the Westminster College Biology Field Station, affectionately called the Outdoor Laboratory on campus.
Harms, who has been with Westminster College since 1969, earned his undergraduate degree from Tabor College, his master's from the University of Kansas, and his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.
For more information about Westminster College's Field Station, contact Harms at (724) 946-8520 or e-mail harmsc@westminster.edu.
