I've got worms!
1000 Red Squigglers were delivered to my house yesterday.
Here they are!
Red Wigglers or Eisenia foetida for you Latin nuts out there are wonderful composters. They can eat more than their own weight in food every day. 1 lb. of organic food scraps will keep these little guys very happy.
I've created a worm bin out of an old plastic storage tote. I drilled plenty of holes along the bottom and sides for ventilation. You don't want your little guys to suffocate - they have work to do. I lined the bottom with about 4 inches of shredded paper/newspaper/cardboard that is moist. Don't over water it, it just needs to be the consistancy of a wrung out sponge. I also added some dead leaves and some grass clippings and a bit of dirt for the grit they need to help them digest.
These little guys will create compost that is wonderful for house plants or gardens and it's a natural way to get rid of food scraps that is environmentally friendly.
If you want to know a little bit more about vermiculture here are some great articles I found helpful:
http://earth911.com/blog/2007/04/02/composting-with-worms/
http://www.cityfarmer.org/wormcomp61.html
http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Easywormbin.htm
The only bad thing about my little worm friends is M hate them! She doesn't like ANY kind of bug. To her the only good bug is a dead bug! So I've been warned to keep an eye out on my new little pets because if she sees any worms crawling across our garage floor she's gonna let me have it!
Happy composting!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Worms
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6 comments:
I have a whole family of students who have a worm farming business! I think it is pretty cool. I don't think worms are "bugs". I believe they are in another class altogether. "Invertebrates" maybe?
Oh...god...shuddering.
Neetz - Whatever they are bugs or invertebrates I think worms are pretty cool. You won't see me handling centipedes or earwigs or crickets - those things totally creep me out.
Maria - oops - sorry.
I don't mind a single, solitary little wiggly thing...but a bucket load? Jeeeepers!
That said, looks like a wonderful project and fun (for you). Cool.
Geez, I hope Nancy doesn't see this. She wanted to put worms in a container under our kitchen sink for this very reason.
M and I have a lot in common.
Earwigs eww. Worms are kinda cuddly.
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