They've been right inside their bin since I last left you on JULY 5th! Ugh! What a terrible blogger I've been and I haven't been winning any awards in the worm-farming department, either....but lucky for me, the worm wigwam doesn't require much. So, despite my mild neglect, my worm herd is still flourishing and multiplying!
In recent worm news, I fed the bin a head of funky lettuce and a worm-bowl full of rotting fruit and cucumbers today. I keep a watering can nearby so I can also give them a little sprinkle once I've buried the scraps. I had to give up on the spray bottle a while back, as I was getting carpal tunnel syndrome from the number of spritzes required to keep the bin moist.
For those following the strawberry planter saga and plant/berry count, you won't want to read this next part. I ended up with ONE berry plant that grew to about an inch and a half and ZERO berries! I finally dumped out the whole conglomeration and kept the snappy white planter for next year. Reuse and recycle!
Recommended seasonal sites to visit in honor of the autumn season:
What Tree Is It? Click through their basic photos, and they'll help you figure it out.
What's That Bug? With all the spiders and wooly-willies that fall brings, What's That Bug? makes it easy to identify any creepy-crawly. You can even submit your own pics for identification.
What To Do With Leaves? This Philadelphia Inquirer article has tons ideas with links about what to do with fall leaves, including drying and pressing, mulching, and even painting.
Pics promised for next time!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Do Fireworks Scare the Worms?
Who knows? I thought of that watching the AMAZING 1 1/2 hour display our neighborhood puts on every year. We have a big open field in the middle of our plan and the families GO TO TOWN competing for the title of who sets off the best fireworks.
Terrible news. Don't blame the worms or their poo.
Current berry plant count: 3- CASUALTY!
Total berries harvested: 0
Joining the recent ranks of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcet, and Steve McNair, one of my teeny tiny berry plants has died. It was not an overdose, cancer, or gunshot wound to the stem. I believe this small plant was a victim of an infrequent waterer (AKA, me).
There is no reason to post a photo, because the plants are the same dang size. And I just watered them, so no worries.
In other news, I bought new kayaks and took them on the Yough today. These are not your wild-water-rapid, flipping-over-and-around, wearing-a-helmet-to-ride type of kayaks. They are more the paddle-up, place-a-frosty-beverage-in-cup-holder, coast-down, jump-out, frolic-around, get-back-in, take-your-small-dog-with-you kind of kayaks.
In worm news, I finished screening. At this rate, I should actually have some worm tea bags for watering cans around 2011. JUST KIDDING! I really did finish screening and hope to have some worm tea bags ready SOON. I am just not ready to commit to exactly WHEN!
Terrible news. Don't blame the worms or their poo.
Current berry plant count: 3- CASUALTY!
Total berries harvested: 0
Joining the recent ranks of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcet, and Steve McNair, one of my teeny tiny berry plants has died. It was not an overdose, cancer, or gunshot wound to the stem. I believe this small plant was a victim of an infrequent waterer (AKA, me).
There is no reason to post a photo, because the plants are the same dang size. And I just watered them, so no worries.
In other news, I bought new kayaks and took them on the Yough today. These are not your wild-water-rapid, flipping-over-and-around, wearing-a-helmet-to-ride type of kayaks. They are more the paddle-up, place-a-frosty-beverage-in-cup-holder, coast-down, jump-out, frolic-around, get-back-in, take-your-small-dog-with-you kind of kayaks.
In worm news, I finished screening. At this rate, I should actually have some worm tea bags for watering cans around 2011. JUST KIDDING! I really did finish screening and hope to have some worm tea bags ready SOON. I am just not ready to commit to exactly WHEN!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Slow Progress
Current berry plant count: 4Total berries harvested: 0
CLOSE UP of my best berry plant so far!
Berry growing, like worms, requires patience.
I have to feed the worms tonight and the bin is almost ready for another cranking. Unfortunately, as I have been moving slower than a worm's pace, I am barely done screening and doing something constructive with the first batch.
In direct contrast, my new job is going great. People gamble a ridiculous amount of money, and I get to work on reports, planning, and promotions to convince them spend even more. All that work and concentration makes me want to come home, walk my dog, and do some yoga or take a run. See what's missing from that list? You got it- worms.
HOWEVER, now that the new facility has opened and things are dying down a little, I have been less busy and the wheels in mind have been turning back to the squirmers.
Onward and upward!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Baby Berry Plants!
Current berry plant count: 3!
Total berries harvested: 0
The strawberry planter kit has sprouted THREE little berry plants! Look see!
I'm a little nervous now that there are three plants, because how they will get germinated? Thinking back to my elementary school science days- don't the flowers need to get "bee'd", or pollinated, so they'll actually grow berries?
If anyone has any knowledge about this, please share in the comments section. I can always put the planter outside for a few days and hope my flowers get lucky with the bee traffic.
So let's say the berries do grow, I will need to relocate them to an out-of-cockapoo-reach space. At my old house I grew strawberries and raspberries outside, but when we would let the dog out at night to go to the bathroom he would eat them! These ones are inside, which will make it even easier for him to grab a quick treat.
Even small gardens take lots of planning!
Total berries harvested: 0
The strawberry planter kit has sprouted THREE little berry plants! Look see!
I'm a little nervous now that there are three plants, because how they will get germinated? Thinking back to my elementary school science days- don't the flowers need to get "bee'd", or pollinated, so they'll actually grow berries? If anyone has any knowledge about this, please share in the comments section. I can always put the planter outside for a few days and hope my flowers get lucky with the bee traffic.
So let's say the berries do grow, I will need to relocate them to an out-of-cockapoo-reach space. At my old house I grew strawberries and raspberries outside, but when we would let the dog out at night to go to the bathroom he would eat them! These ones are inside, which will make it even easier for him to grab a quick treat.
Even small gardens take lots of planning!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Run, Worms, Run!
I ran the half marathon today in the Pittsburgh Marathon. How cool!
I picked up my race stuff yesterday at the Convention Center- black drawstring bag, lots of samples, dry-weave marathon t-shirt, white Nike socks, coupons, plus race bib and shoe monitor thingee.
I had to get up at 4:50AM and be at the starting area for 6AM. Starting time was actually 7:30AM. I began the race with the nine minute ten second pace person, but lost him pretty quick in the mix because there were tons of runners.
I saw so much of Pittsburgh in one run, I was sure I had ran WAY further than 13.1 miles. We started near the Convention Center, ran through the Strip District, Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, West End, South Side, and back through the middle of downtown to the finish line in front of the Convention Center through cool and cloudy conditions, and it even rained the last 4-5 miles.
The best part was the first 4-5 miles- bands, fun, cheering, music- I even slapped hands with Mayor Ravenstahl! The hardest part was the ramp up to the West End Bridge and the mile or so through the South Side towards the end. UGH.
I finished in a little over two hours and got a special medal and picked up a race poster.
I developed my own way to down a styrofoam cup (gasp! I hate styrofoam) of water while running: put a hole in the bottom side with your finger then slap it to your mouth real fast and suck down the water. A little messy, but better than choking or stopping! I was determined NOT TO STOP RUNNING for any reason WHATSOEVER, and I didn't- YAY FOR ME!
What does this have to do with worms?
I have a great answer!
Worms eventually become so maintenance-free that you are able to train for a half-marathon.
I picked up my race stuff yesterday at the Convention Center- black drawstring bag, lots of samples, dry-weave marathon t-shirt, white Nike socks, coupons, plus race bib and shoe monitor thingee.
I had to get up at 4:50AM and be at the starting area for 6AM. Starting time was actually 7:30AM. I began the race with the nine minute ten second pace person, but lost him pretty quick in the mix because there were tons of runners.
I saw so much of Pittsburgh in one run, I was sure I had ran WAY further than 13.1 miles. We started near the Convention Center, ran through the Strip District, Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, West End, South Side, and back through the middle of downtown to the finish line in front of the Convention Center through cool and cloudy conditions, and it even rained the last 4-5 miles.
The best part was the first 4-5 miles- bands, fun, cheering, music- I even slapped hands with Mayor Ravenstahl! The hardest part was the ramp up to the West End Bridge and the mile or so through the South Side towards the end. UGH.
I finished in a little over two hours and got a special medal and picked up a race poster.
I developed my own way to down a styrofoam cup (gasp! I hate styrofoam) of water while running: put a hole in the bottom side with your finger then slap it to your mouth real fast and suck down the water. A little messy, but better than choking or stopping! I was determined NOT TO STOP RUNNING for any reason WHATSOEVER, and I didn't- YAY FOR ME!
What does this have to do with worms?
I have a great answer!
Worms eventually become so maintenance-free that you are able to train for a half-marathon.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Strawberry Fields Forever
I received an original Easter gift this year: a strawberry planter. What a great place to test my worm castings!
The kit came with these little compact dirt disks that swelled to five or six times their original size when I wet them. I mixed up the disk dirt with worm castings for a squishy enriched seed bed.
Then I placed the dirt about 3/4 of the way up the planter and sprinkled in the seeds in, and filled the rest in to the top. Strawberry seeds are about as big as specks of dirt or small fruit flies. Very small.
Have you ever noticed product photos can be kind of exaggerated? If this kit takes off like the picture on the left, I will be pretty dang impressed (and well-fed).
Current berry plant count:0
Total berries harvested: 0
Stay tuned!
The kit came with these little compact dirt disks that swelled to five or six times their original size when I wet them. I mixed up the disk dirt with worm castings for a squishy enriched seed bed.
Then I placed the dirt about 3/4 of the way up the planter and sprinkled in the seeds in, and filled the rest in to the top. Strawberry seeds are about as big as specks of dirt or small fruit flies. Very small.
Have you ever noticed product photos can be kind of exaggerated? If this kit takes off like the picture on the left, I will be pretty dang impressed (and well-fed). Current berry plant count:0
Total berries harvested: 0
Stay tuned!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
What Goes Around...
Comes back around! It is almost time to turn the crank on the wigwam again, and I haven't even finished up with the first batch of castings I cranked out. I have everything sitting in my worm-work area (worm tea bags, cotton drawstring bags, little scoopers) waiting patiently for me to spring into action. The Lilliworm site has been finished for a while now, also waiting patiently for me to get on with the show. I know....SLACKER!
Here's my current list of excuses:
-New casino opening- working like a crazy person!
-Training for the Pittsburgh Marathon- running like a crazy person!
-Eating and sleeping in between
Over the next two weekends, I am COMMITTED to devoting more time to my worm project! The casino is open, I can run lots of miles, and I have reverted back to being an omnivore and getting 7.5 hours of sleep per night. I have no excuse for not heading back to the worm-grind!
I fed the worms last week with four MASSIVE bowls of scraps and a bag of gross lettuce. I finally checked on them last night, and all is quite well- even without my peepers nosing in every other day. Even though I've been slacking, they have kept up the good work.
Here's my current list of excuses:
-New casino opening- working like a crazy person!
-Training for the Pittsburgh Marathon- running like a crazy person!
-Eating and sleeping in between
Over the next two weekends, I am COMMITTED to devoting more time to my worm project! The casino is open, I can run lots of miles, and I have reverted back to being an omnivore and getting 7.5 hours of sleep per night. I have no excuse for not heading back to the worm-grind!
I fed the worms last week with four MASSIVE bowls of scraps and a bag of gross lettuce. I finally checked on them last night, and all is quite well- even without my peepers nosing in every other day. Even though I've been slacking, they have kept up the good work.
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