I Got Worms
Once again, Back again, after a long hiatus. Who knows for how long.
Today's subject is worms.
I have thought for a few years that it might be a good idea to farm my own worms. The idea for me started nearly 12 years ago after an episode of ER. The brief synopsis; an elderly woman who was a patient became so overwhelmingly concerned with her worms which were in trash bins in the back of the van she lived in, that when she was admitted to the hospital she kept trying to leave at great risk to herself to get to her worms that were in below freezing temperatures. In the end everything worked out, the worms moved to the center of the bin and created a giant worm ball of warmth to survive. Worms behave a lot like 12-16 year old people, they love the dark, they eat nothing but junk, and they will use any excuse they can to crawl all over each other.
Aside from a few brief thoughts through the year of having a worm farm for one reason or another, (feed turtles, bait, boredom) I haven't really spent to much time think about worms, specifically earth worms.
A few months ago, Julianne and I purchased our own home. We were given a tiller and have tilled up a large section of sun soaked lawn, the only part where grass grows properly, to plant a garden. At the end of a long row is a large enough compost area for just about everything we need. Near by is a stable that is happy to let us load up all the horse manure we could ask for at no charge, and we have started the seedlings in our basement now still in February.
We have been intentionally doing things to reduce our waste, reduce our living costs and increase our health in any area that we can. so the other day while researching ideas for heating the seedling table, I came across Vermicomposting. I had never heard the term, but after just a few short days I can share lots and lots of info about it.
Now currently we take our food waste and drop it into a previously used 1 gallon Zip-Lock bag and place it in the freezer untill it's time to dump it. Admittedly the waste sometimes fills up 3 bags in the freezer before it gets dumped. No big deal , in the freezer it doesn't stick or rot and the process helps to aid decomposition once it hits the compost pile outside.
The new endeavor is to see just how well Vermicomposting will work. I have invested a decent amount of money into this venture that I have been saving from birthday/Christmas gifts for sometime.
Now I have 2000 earth worms in a bin in my basement. No they can't get out, yes they are slimy. Really really slimy. But so far now during this first week there are no stinky smells, but I can't say I have seen any major progress in decomposing the materials. I have to be patient, it'll take a week for the worms to get used to their new environment, and another week before they really start eating anything other than the dirt in the bin.
The benefit as it is sold is that worm castings are fantastic for your garden and or house plants. The Organic community is growing stronger and stronger. Although I am far to poor to participate fully in organic eating and or gardening, I am a friend to the movement and an overall supporter of the local farmer/ garden for food with the exception of having feathers in my beard and chanting while I dance naked around a campfire.
Confession: I purchased worms from Pennsylvania.
As we walked through the hardware store this afternoon, I said within the course of conversation that we were not hippies. She responded...
" I don't know Joses, we are pretty granola."
Hmm.
Today's subject is worms.
I have thought for a few years that it might be a good idea to farm my own worms. The idea for me started nearly 12 years ago after an episode of ER. The brief synopsis; an elderly woman who was a patient became so overwhelmingly concerned with her worms which were in trash bins in the back of the van she lived in, that when she was admitted to the hospital she kept trying to leave at great risk to herself to get to her worms that were in below freezing temperatures. In the end everything worked out, the worms moved to the center of the bin and created a giant worm ball of warmth to survive. Worms behave a lot like 12-16 year old people, they love the dark, they eat nothing but junk, and they will use any excuse they can to crawl all over each other.
Aside from a few brief thoughts through the year of having a worm farm for one reason or another, (feed turtles, bait, boredom) I haven't really spent to much time think about worms, specifically earth worms.
A few months ago, Julianne and I purchased our own home. We were given a tiller and have tilled up a large section of sun soaked lawn, the only part where grass grows properly, to plant a garden. At the end of a long row is a large enough compost area for just about everything we need. Near by is a stable that is happy to let us load up all the horse manure we could ask for at no charge, and we have started the seedlings in our basement now still in February.
We have been intentionally doing things to reduce our waste, reduce our living costs and increase our health in any area that we can. so the other day while researching ideas for heating the seedling table, I came across Vermicomposting. I had never heard the term, but after just a few short days I can share lots and lots of info about it.
Now currently we take our food waste and drop it into a previously used 1 gallon Zip-Lock bag and place it in the freezer untill it's time to dump it. Admittedly the waste sometimes fills up 3 bags in the freezer before it gets dumped. No big deal , in the freezer it doesn't stick or rot and the process helps to aid decomposition once it hits the compost pile outside.
The new endeavor is to see just how well Vermicomposting will work. I have invested a decent amount of money into this venture that I have been saving from birthday/Christmas gifts for sometime.
Now I have 2000 earth worms in a bin in my basement. No they can't get out, yes they are slimy. Really really slimy. But so far now during this first week there are no stinky smells, but I can't say I have seen any major progress in decomposing the materials. I have to be patient, it'll take a week for the worms to get used to their new environment, and another week before they really start eating anything other than the dirt in the bin.
The benefit as it is sold is that worm castings are fantastic for your garden and or house plants. The Organic community is growing stronger and stronger. Although I am far to poor to participate fully in organic eating and or gardening, I am a friend to the movement and an overall supporter of the local farmer/ garden for food with the exception of having feathers in my beard and chanting while I dance naked around a campfire.
Confession: I purchased worms from Pennsylvania.
As we walked through the hardware store this afternoon, I said within the course of conversation that we were not hippies. She responded...
" I don't know Joses, we are pretty granola."
Hmm.
posted by Joses @ 5:45 PM
What 0 Of You Made Up
