Lilliworm: Adventures with Worms

2 Great Articles from Treehugger

2011-11-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

Recent worm news from Treehugger:

International Airport Building Huge Worm Composting Facility

and
Worm Composting Becomes Big Business

I'm thrilled worm composting is catching on with larger corporations/organizations.
Inspiring news!

Old Habits Die Hard!

2011-09-06T18:56:00.000-06:00

I can't help it! I tried to start another blog at Lilliworld, but deleted it because I thought the topic range was too broad and I couldn't focus. Then I started FindingUpDog in an effort to chronicle my yoga training and got bored with that (not yoga- just writing about my training!).

And all this time...I'm still feeding the worms and using the compost on our plants! I tried the castings on two tropical plants that are ENORMOUS now. I'm still using the worm wigwam and feeding them about three large full Tupperware containers every other week. I have a huge bin of castings drying out a little and ready to be sifted.

So maybe my adventures with worms aren't over. MAYBE. Maybe I still <3 worms. MAYBE.

Almost Ready to Sign Off

2010-08-27T10:19:00.000-06:00

Before I start blogging at Lilliworld, I wanted to update you on some of the vermicompost projects from this past season at my house:

Despite a freeze out in February, one of my tropical plants that was planted in 1/4 of worm casting lived through the catastrophe and is now residing happily on my deck during these tropical-like conditions in Pittsburgh- I haven't read any studies about castings providing additional protection during frosts, but you never know!
My cherry tomato and regular tomato plants planted in 1/3 worm castings had a great showing- probably about 20 little cherry tomatoes and so far about 10 regular tomatoes (4 more still green)- research shows that castings cause plants to have higher yields.
The other shrubs around my house got a dose of castings and have almost made it through their hottest summer yet...don't forget, the castings are able to retain more water than regular soil!

Delicious delicacies I've included the harvest in:

Spanish rice (DO NOT confuse green chilies with jalapenos! BIG MISTAKE!)
Chicken fajitas
Breakfast wraps (scrambled egg, cheese, and tomatoes)
Tomato sauce and marinara sauce
Grilled chicken and steak salads
Tomato and cucumber salad

Also, side note- a friend of mine's parents had a huge crop of cucumbers, and they introduced me to the easiest cucumber salad EVER: slice up the cucumbers in a big bowl, add some finely chopped onions, sea salt, and drizzle with raspberry vinaigrette. Let it refrigerate over night, and get ready for the taste explosion!
Happy harvesting!

You say TOMATO, I say LILLIWORLD!

2010-07-21T11:27:00.008-06:00

Before transitioning to Lilliworld, I had to throw in one last wormy post about the tomato plants I have growing on my deck in...you guessed it...worm castings!

A great neighbor gave me three tomato and four cherry tomato plants, and I re-potted them in castings and (clay-like) dirt from under my steps. They are doing magnificently with a million little tomatoes everywhere, and any day now I will be mixing up some delish tomato & mozzarella salad.

Worms are doing well and have been getting fed like crazy with the scraps from the great selection of fresh produce around this time of year. I have stepped up my culinary endeavors by making fruit salad, pasta salad, wraps, dips, and even some souped up sauces.

How did I know the tomatoes would flourish in the worm poo? Remember this pic from the past:
Here's the corresponding post in case you forgot or are a new reader.

Oh, and one more update from the Paddle at the Point- here is a great time lapse of the record breaking attempt that shows the whole event in a minute or so. Pay special attention when the monsoon arrives, about :35 seconds in...

See you at Lilliworld!

Record Breakers on the Water

2010-06-06T16:01:00.006-06:00

Mission Accomplished!

Even though it will take a few weeks to be 'OFFICIAL', it seems Pittsburgh was able to break the record for most kayaks and canoes in a flotilla at one time. The estimate was 1800, but a helicopter photo will have to confirm.

Above was the line to get into the water. Here was the view from my kayak before the downpour:One last photo before the pod broke up and paddled back to shore in a complete monsoon:Just another record-breaking day in the 'Burgh!

Paddle at the Point

2010-05-31T19:02:00.003-06:00

In the first of my not-necessarily-wormy topics, Paddle at the Poin t is June 5!

Did you ever pour over the Guinness Book of World Records to see which one you and your friends had the best chance of breaking, only to be let down when none of you could stand on one leg for 76 hours and 40 minutes?

If you live in Pittsburgh and have a canoe or kayak, you have the chance to redeem your childhood dream and get your name on the record roll call this Saturday at Point State Park, when the 'burgh tries to join over 1,200 canoes and kayaks in the world's longest flotilla.

Have a canoe or kayak? Click here to go to the Registration Page. It's f-r-double-e.

Just a landlubber who wants to get a look at what 1,200 canoes and kayaks will look like floating around the three rivers? Great views can be had from Point State Park, Station Square, or North Shore Riverfront Park.

Has anyone seen the weather for Saturday? Having just completed the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in an absolute monsoon, I have much higher hopes for the Paddle...
Also, it wouldn't hurt if the weather is above, say, 75 degrees and sunny, since myself and [insert lucky person's name here!] will be pulling this off in ocean kayaks, sitting majestically on top of the water and not-so-majestically in a little bit of the river (given the holes in the bottom).

The next time I blog, I will be a Guinness World Record holder!

Lilliworm or Lilliworld?

2010-05-19T18:47:00.003-06:00

So my wormy blogs are getting fewer and farther between. It's not that the worms aren't alive and well- because they are- and it's not that they aren't producing loads of castings- because they are- it's just that now that I have the hang of this and they do just fine with little intervention from me, I'm kinda...well...bored!

I know, I know! I bred these little critters up from one small pound, worked tirelessly on a business plan and website, had a great logo designed, and planned an entire worm empire! I bought special bags and little worm tea bags and wrote brochures and postcards! I have a huge worm colony and work area in my basement! I know! Maybe there is more to learn, but I think I know enough to know I'm kinda wormed out. My real job takes up so much time right now that worms are starting to seem like work, too.

So, Lilliworm is at a crossroad. My first idea was to change the blog name to Lilliworld so I can talk about other interesting organic-y and healthy topics, yet still include some wormy updates.

What to do, what to do?

Sharing the Worm Love!

2010-03-27T15:45:00.003-06:00

This morning, I attended a small craft and garden show and distributed some free lilliworm vermicompost to the guests and residents at Arrowwood. Packaging the samples went quickly- I lined the small cotton bags with a wax paper bag and dumped about one and half cups of castings in each. I could fit about twenty bags into a medium size box, and I gave out about thirty-five to forty samples.

It was a great day, and I think I said the word "compost" about a million times! I hope everyone liked their samples and it makes their plants grow like weeds!

With my real job taking up so much of my time, I have been feeding the worms less often but with more per feeding. Whereas I used to feed them maybe once a week with one bowl, I have dropped back to maybe once every two weeks with two bowls and whatever else works that's going bad in the fridge. I turned the crank on the bin a bunch more times and have a lot of vermicompost drying out in the bottom- which is good- 'tis the season for planting!

Wormsicles

2010-02-15T15:21:00.002-07:00

Our area has been in a deep freeze, and we had a power outage here at worm central for 3 days. When we returned, the thermometer said 41 degrees- INSIDE THE HOUSE! So...how did the worms fare?

I went down for a feeding today fearing the worst- a bin full of wormsicles. I mean, if it was 41 degrees upstairs, it probably went below 40 downstairs.

I opened the bin and stuck in my gloved hand, and guess what? WORMS! Although they did seem a little sparser than usual, there were worms squirming around and they sure looked happy to see the funky scraps headed their way.

I have read different articles and sites saying that their environment should not go below 50 degrees. That might be true for the masses, but I have some serious SURVIVOR WORMS!

YAY to the hardy wormies for surviving snowmegeddon, snowpocolypse, blizzard extrordinaire of 2010!

The Bottom Dwellers

2009-12-21T16:25:00.004-07:00

Remember the escapees from way back when? And the more recent migration?

I can no longer refer to those times as "the good old days" anymore:
I took that pic yesterday when I was clearing out some castings from the bottom of the wigwam. That's right: the BOTTOM of the wigwam. Not INSIDE the wigwam, where I faithfully water and feed them, but in the BOTTOM.

WHAT IS GOING ON? I feel like Happy Gilmore when he gives his speech to the golf ball to go HOME, just GO HOME, GO TO YOUR HOME.

I carefully put the "bottom dwellers" back into the bin where they belonged. It will be a far merrier Christmas for this motley crew of worms now that they'll be back where food and family is..HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Worm Bin Under Arrest!

2009-12-13T15:18:00.004-07:00

When I was growing up, my Mom would get real angry when people would leave up holiday decorations past their time. Because of this, I called her the holiday police.

The problem happens a lot between Halloween and Thanksgiving...you see all kinds of people with their jack-o-lanterns on their porches like, right up until the day before Thanksgiving. At least turn their faces around! Another rush (or lack of it!) occurs after Christmas, when some aren't inclined to put away the lights until the Easter bunny hops up and snatches them down.

The holiday police would have a major arrest on the worm bin this week, as I noticed the Halloween pumpkins I put inside continue to sprout and grow no matter how deep I bury them and no matter how far past their season it is. Here's the recent sprout collection:
I just pull them out and rebury them so they rot and the worms can just eat them. That's the only problem with unloading Halloween pumpkins into the Wigwam- the never-ending growing season with the seeds!

I haven't been using peat moss at the top of the bin lately, and I've noticed the bin is a lot drier. The peat moss must hold a significant amount of water and keep it at the top of the bin longer than just with scraps and castings. Looks like I will be giving the wormies a healthy gift of peat moss this year for Christmas!

Where, Oh Where, Have My Little Worms Been?

2009-10-17T17:15:00.006-06:00

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!

Do Fireworks Scare the Worms?

2009-07-05T18:26:00.002-06:00

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!

Slow Progress

2009-06-10T16:09:00.003-06:00

Current berry plant count: 4
Total 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!

Baby Berry Plants!

2009-05-17T17:15:00.005-06:00

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!

Run, Worms, Run!

2009-05-03T15:27:00.004-06:00

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.

Strawberry Fields Forever

2009-04-19T16:48:00.006-06:00

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!

What Goes Around...

2009-04-15T17:24:00.004-06:00

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.

Moving Day

2009-04-06T17:36:00.005-06:00

Remember Moving Day for the worms? I was so excited to uproot thousands of small lives for the promise of a better tomorrow. I didn't consider they might miss the close quarters of their mini-bins.

My new workplace had the same feeling of anticipation about our new building as I did about the wigwam, and this past week was Moving Day for the casino offices. I now have sympathy for my little friends. How alone and lost they must have felt those first few days! Not that the wigwam is a labyrinth of corridors like my new building...I have been lost trying to find the stairs twice and walked by my office four times!

All of our stuff was marked and boxed for the movers, however not all of it showed up where it was supposed to. I was chairless for two days even though I super-taped a post-it with my name to it. Today I was able to find a new chair, though not as good or cushy as my first.

It is my hope that the worms will also find peace, because I now know how stressful a big move can be!

Managing Worms and People

2009-03-29T17:53:00.007-06:00

I've been at my current job for a few weeks, and I think I am starting to get the hang of it. There's a lot to learn going from the amusement park industry to the casino industry, even though they are both entertainment-oriented.

One part that is new for me and has given me the most anxiety is managing a large group of employees while at the same time trying to set better processes and procedures for my department.

And mastering new software and reports. And remembering where on the network things are stored. And learning how to order stuff and from who. And constructing the "perfect" work schedule for the supervisors and reps (does such a thing exist?).

I think I have a classic case of overwhelmed-ness.

In another instance of life imitating the worm operation, I recall when the worms arrived and I was so concerned about their environment: Was it the right temperature? Was the bin damp enough? How will I ever stop them from escaping? How much should I feed them? Where in the basement should I put them? It all worked itself out and I'm a pro now!

So, this too shall pass.

Worm Slacker

2009-03-17T20:27:00.007-06:00

That's me. A worm slacker. You know how I used to say how painfully slow the worms did everything- i.e., eat, multiply, etc.?

I've got news for you. Right now, my worm herd is downstairs saying the same thing about me!

I have become a worm slacker. I fed them loads of scraps this weekend, finished up the screening, and then...well, then...Then I went shopping, went to yoga, walked my dog, and cleaned my house. Then I helped with laundry and went to dinner with friends. The next day, back to work again.

I find myself in a worm slump. I want to do worm things, I do. I just haven't been able to carve out the time to make it happen.

The weather started getting nice, the marathon is getting closer (YIKES), I got a new job, and all the sudden I don't have the extra worm hours I need!

Have you ever been in a funk and needed some motivation to KEEP MOVING on a project? That's me right now. Feel free to share how you were able to kick yourself into action!

Slow Going

2009-03-08T16:37:00.004-06:00

A month and half after introducing whole apples to the bin, there are finally some noticeable signs of decay. Most of the apples have large mushy spots or thick cracks through them that are full of worms. Since worms cannot live on apples alone (at least I don't think so), I fed them four whole bowls today of fruit and veggie scraps. Which leads me to my next piece of news...

My finest and most loyal worm bowl contributor ever worked with me at America's Finest and Favorite Traditional Amusement Park. Over the last month, I left my position for the glitz and glamour of the gaming world, but I am hopeful her valuable scraps will continue to be an integral part of my worms' diet. (I have to return her worm bowl for fill up after the most recent feeding...)

She's also one heck of a writer and very creative....do I hear "guest post"?

I continued to screen castings- they are pretty dry now- and only have a few scoops left to finish. I should finish just in time for growing season...sheesh, I don't know who is slower: me or the worms?

An Apple a Day

2009-02-22T20:08:00.006-07:00

The latest installment in the apple experiment finds one apple with a worm trying to squirm into the stem and another with a mushy crack down the side with a few worms crawling around.

And that's it! The remaining apples have been in the bin for OVER A MONTH, and show zero signs of decomposing and are impenetrable by worms. They look like the day I put them in!

However, one interesting change in the bin is the absence of escapees over the past few weeks. I'm not sure if the suspense and anticipation of the apples rotting make the worms stay in the bin with baited breath (LOL! Worm joke!), but the number of ones flying the coop has dropped dramatically to almost none. (Sorry the first pic is so fuzzy- I was so overcome with excitement I guess I couldn't hold the camera steady?)

In yoga news, only one week of teacher training left before I'm a certified yoga instructor! One of the things we discussed this weekend is being able to give inspirational quotes or "gems" to your students during class.

It's only appropriate that I come up with a worm-related gem to share with my beginner yoga students: "When you just start yoga, you'll feel like a worm in a bin with an apple that just won't go mushy. You visualize the prize- a better, healthier you; you can smell success- by seeing others around you who have been practicing for a longer time. You only have to be patient until you can enjoy your own mushy apple reward- an energetic, life-changing practice."

Worms + yoga = inner peace? I'll let you know.

Worm Friendly Jackson Hole

2009-02-15T17:28:00.005-07:00

Update on the apples: still whole. No change. Moving on.

I just got back from one of the coolest (literally!) places ever: Jackson, Wyoming. We skied the longest steepest mountains I've ever seen at Jackson Hole resort- check out their mountain cams.

We stayed at the comfortable and friendly Wyoming Inn. Free continental breakfast in the morning, soup and sandwiches in the afternoon, and fresh-baked cookies every night- plus super comfortable pillow-topped beds to die for.

We snowmobiled with our guide Mike (listed first in the Guide page of the link) through the Tetons to the hot springs. The changing rooms had no heat (yikes!), and I broke my vegetarian ways for one day to eat the most delicious steak EVER (please don't revoke my membership, PETA!)

We hung out on the saddles at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and ate Mexican at the The Merry Piglets.

You are asking yourself: what does this have to do with worms?
What is your problem with sticking to the topic, Lilliworm?

I got news for you: Jackson is one of the greenest vacation towns I've ever visited- I bet they would love my herd of worms to gobble up their organic scraps! Not only does Jackson Hole love public transportation and have shuttles full of people darting all over, many of the hotels are quite eco-friendly and way into recycling, and the restaurants love to brag about their local naturally raised meat (sorry again, PETA!).

Winter vacations rule!

How Do You Like Them Apples?

2009-02-02T15:46:00.003-07:00

This image may look familiar if you frequently read this blog, but it shouldn't. These apples have been in the bin for over a week now and, unfortunately for my big experiment, look just like the day I put them in. Apples are quite the hardy food it turns out. I would say if you are going on a long journey and are looking for a food that will hold up without refrigeration or heating, go with the apple!

In other news, yoga teacher training is going great- we spent this weekend philosophizing about yoga thoughts. One thing I found way interesting was chakras. We learned that if you or your students are having problems in a certain pose or with a certain part of the body that each pose is linked to a specific chakra that relates to a certain part of the body and a life balance or attribute that might need to flow better. The best online comparison chart I found was here.

Back to the worms soon...

A Bushel and a Peck

2009-01-20T15:21:00.007-07:00

Experiment time! My favorite worm-loving co-worker generously donated a bag of bruised apples to the bin today. I thought it would be cool to put them in whole (pictured above) and see how long it takes them to get eaten. I gently covered them with some peat moss so they don't attract any other "friends", but I'm gonna uncover and snap another photo in a few days.

Did you know:

--- Apples are grown in all fifty states.

--- A bushel of apples equals forty-two pounds, and a peck is 10.5 pounds.

--- One gallon of apple cider takes 36 apples to create.

--- One apple contains only around 80 calories and has no sodium, fat, or cholesterol.

If you liked reading these, visit Apples & More Apple Facts.

BTW, I am STILL sifting the castings from the big crank. I have to keep waiting for the layers to dry out a little- the damper the castings the more they clog up the colander/strainer. And my basement isn't the warmest place to hang out with damp hands!

New Year, New Worm Goals

2009-01-11T18:42:00.003-07:00

This New Year, I not only resolved to be a vegetarian (I've lived to Day 11) but also to continue my efforts with Lilliworm. So, in addition to my full time job, yoga teacher training, homemaking, skiing, and dog walking- I know, call the WAAAHMBULANCE!- I do plan to keep the worm dreams alive!

Some of the challenges I've had are:

-PATIENCE- Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was a super productive worm wigwam. I've always had problems with patience- I had my worm empire built and producing before the first pound of worms ever even arrived! It really has been an adventure with worms because I've had to learn to move at their pace, not my own personal breakneck speed.

-PACKAGING- Packaging is expensive and it takes time to test which might work best. The trick is coming up with a creative packaging idea that is efficient, cost-effective, and totally environmentally freindly (EF). Anyone can toss some castings into a plastic bag for sale, but how EF is that?

-LABELS- Sheesh, the information out there about labeling and making claims and wording guarantees is endless. If I use the word "fertilizer" I have to get a certain license and pay for certifications, if I call it "soil conditioner" the state can ask for another type of fee, and on and on and on. Remember the saying "Ask forgiveness instead of permission?" Eventually, I am going to have to just go with that, because I know I'll miss some rule or regulation somewhere!

-TIME- You know what I mean. Job, exercise, dog, husband, ski season... I have tried to carve out a few hours each week for worms, but its been difficult over the last month or so.

Hopefully the resolution will give me a sense of responsibility to fulfill my promises to myself in 2009!

Screen Til Your Fingers Bleed

2008-12-31T14:25:00.002-07:00

With the recent wigwam harvest comes a whole new issue: how to efficiently screen the volume of castings collected. My original method of an oversized colander into a tall bucket worked for one or two shoebox-sized Rubbermaid containers, but not so great for the giant heaps the wigwam produced.

Today I loaded the castings and shook and shimmied and scooped around then dumped the scrappy stuff- again and again and again and again- only to find I had done about a fifth to a quarter of the pile. I was starting to get blisters from screening!

Certainly there is a better way- HELP! Keep in mind I currently operate out of my basement, so the new method has to be not only efficient but somewhat CLEAN. I can't have castings flying all over and about, so I have to find a way or system that can do more volume with minimal mess and space.

Please leave any suggestions or creative ideas for a clean, space saving method of screening by leaving a comment below. All ideas welcome!

Patience is a Virtue

2008-12-26T13:49:00.005-07:00

I am still waiting patiently for the worm castings/vermicompost to dry that I recently harvested...zzzzzzzzzzz...I've read two different points on this matter:

1. The vermicompost shouldn't be allowed to dry out all the way because retaining a little of the moisture keeps the beneficial bacteria active in it

2. It doesn't matter if the vermicompost dries out because the beneficial bacteria is reactivated once it gets wet.

Both places I read these things seemed to be reputable sources. If anyone has any insight or a good answer to that, please let me know!

In the meantime I had a great Christmas Eve & Christmas Day- which resulted in a whole bunch of worm bowls ready for feeding. I plan to do some screening either Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, depending on how my gift returning schedule pans out.

Tomorrow, it is time for twisting and bending adventures at an afternoon AcroYoga workshop. I have to keep in shape for all this harvesting!

The Moment We've All Been Waiting For.....

2008-12-16T17:05:00.012-07:00

FINALLY it's the day I give the wigwam its first crank!

Before I get to the good stuff, you need some background and lead up info. First, the pic of the multitude of escapees I talked about in my last post:EEWWW! See what I mean? Soooo gross, even for a worm lover!!!

Next up is a before pic of the area where the long-awaited organic fertilizer would soon be falling. After all this time, I finally got to open the trap door! The stuff already there must have fizzled down:

Newsflash: cranking the wigwam is a lot of work! The crank moves real easy, that's not the issue. It's just that only a little falls at a time so I was cranking like a maniac for five straight minutes. In the end, I had a humongous pile of scrumptious vermicomposty worm castings:
I put the castings in a large plastic bin so they could dry out before being screened (notice all the worm related equipment! I never thought I'd have a whole little workshop for worm poo!):
The level inside (where the worms are) fell about five to six inches with that cranking, and I didn't have enough room in the plastic container pictured above for all that dropped, happy day!

Of course, you all know about my penchant for saving small lives and even potential lives. I couldn't leave this post about the first crank without showing the valiant effort to save the extreme bottom dwellers of the wigwam:
I rescued about 10-15 worms out of the castings I cranked out. ANOTHER MYTH DEBUNKED- all the worms don't live in the top few inches where the food is. Some live in the very bottom layers and have to be forcefully relocated!

This made me wonder: what if I could tag the worms that I found so the next time I cranked I could see if the same ones were at the bottom again? This would also be helpful in the case of the escapees- I could tell if recent escapees were repeat offenders. Hmmm.....

ANYWAY, stay tuned for information on drying, screening, and packaging. Lilliworm rolls on!

The Uncalm Before The Turn

2008-12-13T16:32:00.003-07:00

Just a quick note before the first turn--- the word must be out in the wigwam that big things are about to happen. I have more escapees than ever!

Perhaps you may remember from an earlier post that some wanderers have seen fit to explore beyond the normal boundaries of their home and wedge themselves in between the outer wall and insulation piece. My usual response is to yank the side back and quickly scoop the 10-20 defectors and return them to the middle of the bin.

Well, my past few look-sees have proven to be quite the rescue mission, as in HANDFULS of worms have begun to congregate in between. I don't understand it: I haven't changed the conditions inside the bin, and the area they are congregated in has none of the benefits of being inside the bin- no food, no warmth, no moisture- yet the exodus continues.

Now maybe I am over-estimating how much of the herd is really migrating, because hopefully I have around 15-20 pounds of worms by now- maybe a few handfuls is nothing.

But, I'm not gonna lie- the problem of rescuing handfuls of worms is more of a mental issue than an operational one. Handfuls of worms are kinda gross and when grabbed, extremely active- ew! My hope is that the turn of the handle will lower the level and make the worms' supposed promised land between the walls a little more difficult to reach!

Pumpkin Shell Discovery

2008-11-28T15:24:00.006-07:00

Despite my bragging about the worms loving pumpkins, it seems they only love the insides. Here's the small bucket of pumpkin shells I extracted from the bin today that were cleaned of their insides and starting to harden:But far more interesting (and photo worthy) were the pumpkin shells they hadn't quite finished just yet:When I lifted up some of the shells, the worms were congregated in the goo inside and kind of flopped out all together:
This is almost too gross even for me!

ANYWAY, the final feeding before the first turn of the wigwam just took place. It was an extravagant post-Thanksgiving Day feast for the squirmers before a part of their world is cranked out and readjusted. This feeding brought everything up to within a few inches of the top of the bin. Bin cranking countdown is T minus 7 days!

How Do The Pumpkins Grow?

2008-11-12T19:51:00.005-07:00

FAST, that's how. In a matter of only a week and a half, all the pumpkin insides are eaten and pumpkin plants are sprouting!I mixed them back in real quick so the wormies could finish them off, too. As you can see from this pic, I am mere INCHES away from the top of wigwam FINALLY!

At this near momentous occasion, I would like to highlight some important things I've learned about worms in the past year or so that contradict what I had read to be true:

1. Worms don't eat their body weight, or even half their body weight, every day. Not even close.

2. Worms don't necessarily need their bedding to be sopping wet, or as some put it "able to squeeze a teaspoon of water out of handful of bedding". Baloney. They do just fine with it damp.

3. Worms will try to escape no matter how wonderful their environment. When I first got my worms, I used a lamp hooked to an outdoor Christmas light timer in my basement to keep them in. I was feeding them all sorts of wonderful scraps and some were still bent on creeping out- light/no light, delicious scraps/crappy scraps. It didn't matter. Just like people, some just need to get away! Whatever!

4. Worms don't go sterile if you touch them too much. Believe you me, I am always mixing them around, picking them up and examining them, plucking them off the top of the bin and tossing them back in, removing them briefly from the bin to take photos, and they seem to be multiplying just dandy. I estimate I now have about 15 pounds worth, although it is impossible to know exactly.

Those are the most significant that I can think of right now. If you need any worm myths proven or debunked, let me know!

Useful Jack-O-Lanterns

2008-11-03T16:00:00.007-07:00

These pumpkins were artfully carved for Halloween this year (mine has the tongue sticking out a la Gene Simmons style). Their artfully carved parts and gooey insides ended up in the latest worm bowl (along with some strawberry tops):

Then, we roasted the pumpkin seeds with some EVOO and steak seasoning. Essentially we were able to make use of the whole pumpkin- very environmentally friendly.

I have no idea how long it takes pumpkin parts to rot, so before I go gangbusters and toss in entire pumpkins for the worms to devour, I am going to see how long it takes them to finish these small pumpkin parts.

Did you know that pumpkins were first carved back in the 1700's to welcome back dead relatives and scare off evil spirits? I learned all kinds of interesting stuff at the Pumpkin Patch.

If I find out pumpkins rot fast enough, I am going to cut the jack-o-lanterns into pieces and drop them in. Hopefully, this Halloween symbol will symbolize the last feeding before the big crank of the Wigwam!!!

Rolling on the River

2008-10-26T19:22:00.003-06:00

I was so caught up with feeding the worms before I left for vacation, I forgot the camera. Luckily, the same co-worker that has supplied my worms with an endless supply of scraps also remembers to take her camera when she goes on fun trips! While the worms were safe, sound, and well fed in PA, we were kayaking down the Colorado River somewhere in Arizona. This is right near Emerald Cave- which turned out to be way smaller but much more emerald than I anticipated.

The trip included a hike mostly downhill through some interesting rock mountains and formations, a soak in the natural hot springs, and kayaking. I was disappointed- no encounters with any rattlesnakes or scorpions (too cold this time of year the guide said), but we did get to see some big horned sheep.

The most death-defying part of the trip was when the guide picked us/drove us back to the hotel. We weaved in & out of Las Vegas rush hour traffic like a bat out of Hades and passed vehicles at mach-speed in a 10 passenger van!

Secrets of Worm Grunters!

2008-10-20T11:47:00.006-06:00

Are you grossed out yet intrigued by the term "worm grunters"?

I found a "Worm Grunting Mystery Solved" article in the Animal section of my Google homepage, and fortunately it has nothing to do with snorting worms AT ALL.

I was not aware such a puzzle existed or that a community at large was pondering a hypothesis to its solution, but here's to hoping grunters and moles steer clear of my herd!

Worms on Vacation

2008-10-19T14:20:00.004-06:00

Really, I was the one on vacation- but the worms got a vacation from me and my prying eyes! Although there was no chance of my verminophobic mom feeding or checking in on my herd while I was away, that was NO PROBLEM.

One of the great things about worms and organic recycling is the tiny amount of time and attention it takes. Make the bin, put in the worms, save up and throw in the scraps, give a few sprays of water to keep it moist, and you are pretty much done for the week.

Right before we left to go away, I fed the squirmers a bunch of rotten bananas and a huge bowl of fruit and veggie scraps, including their favorite- cantaloupe rinds. For this particular time, I did not puree it because I wanted it to break down slowly while we were away, kind of a controlled time-release feeding. Then I gave them a quick dousing with the watering can.

And that was the end of "pre-vacation" prep.

I packed my bags, left, had a ball, and returned to find a super-productive worm wigwam, and a very happy mother that didn't have to get involved with the family business while I was away.

Worms for All Seasons

2008-10-03T07:21:00.012-06:00

It's been getting colder and stormier this autumn season, and we even had a double rainbow a few days ago. However, you can see from all those green trees no leaves have started changing.

With the worms mere inches from the top of the wigwam, I am about to fly into overdrive with Lilliworm. I'm on the search for some good organic-y, recycled, earth-friendly labels to attach to the drawstring cotton bags for the castings. I'm not sure how large to make the label, because I want to include short instructions and info about the castings. I also have all the stuff to make the teabags and smaller drawstring bags for them, too, and they'll need different labels.

Once you've used up the castings or teabags from the drawstring bag, you can turn it inside out and throw it in the washing machine for a good cleaning. Then, the possibilities to reuse it are endless: store seeds or bulbs, beads, screws, nails, nuts & bolts; separate jewelery; use as a camera, cellphone, or blackberry pouch; throw in some dog treats and keep it in the car for dog adventure days; use as a small makeup bag; and on and on and on!

I can't wait to launch the new Lilliworm website, and hope to have it up and running by the end of the month so I can begin to take some orders- hooray! The timing of the Lilliworm project has gone extremely well considering the other responsibilities I have, and it's exciting to see it coming together. I'll finally be able to get some recycled organic goodness out into the world, courtesy of my small, hard-working herd! Even though at times it was moving painfully slow, I've tried to keep in mind that the tortoise beat the hare.

Halloween is right around the bend, and as I was decorating this week I snapped this cool semi-scary photo of Benj laying on the floor. Remember "Bat-Boy" from the Weekly World News?

Flower MASTER Thanks to the Worms

2008-09-26T11:02:00.003-06:00

I have been raising some mean cana lilies this past growing season. Their bulbs looked like purple radishes with thin tan tentacles and a thick stem piece in the center. When I planted them in May, I mixed the dirt with worm castings because the soil was kind of a clay/gravelly combo. (I didn't have all that many castings then, so I wasn't overly generous.)

Even though the weather is getting cold, my canas think it's the middle of July:
That worm poo made them look like a MASTER gardener was shacking up at my house (for those of you approaching my house from the correct side, of course) instead of a MASTER worm farmer.

I have been advised that because of the climate in my part of the world, I'll need to cut them down after the first frost and pull out the bulbs. They'll need stored in a cool dry place, but not too cold and not too dry. If they get too moist, they'll sprout or grow a nasty mold, and if they get too cold I guess they just die. These canas require quite the balancing act.

Wait til next growing season! Not only will I have ample worm castings to nurture fantastic flowers, but I have dreams of a berry garden of epic proportions in my head. If you have any berry growing advice, let me know.

As the Bin Turns

2008-09-12T10:30:00.006-06:00

The concept of the worm wigwam bin is to feed in layers, and then cover each layer of food with a few inches of peat moss and shredded newspaper or cardboard. By the time all of the layers reach the top of the bin, you can give the handle on the side of the bin a few turns and all the good, soil conditioning poo will get sifted out to the bottom. You lift off the "door" and collect the poo. The pile consequently goes down in the bin, and you continue the feeding/covering/sifting cycle.

The time needed to get to that first handle crank is kind of a mystery since I didn't begin with the prescribed pounds of worms. They suggested 30, I started with around 10 and probably have a little more now- we'll say 15 to 20. With their suggested amount, they estimated the first crank should occur at 90 days. I estimated mine would take about 120 days- I started in mid-May, so that puts me around.....right about soon.

You can see the crank on the side and the trap door where you can get the goods out:
Here's the height inside when I started:
Currently, my herd is about a foot from the top:
I estimate the first crank in about a month, which puts me a few weeks behind- but, whatever! I guess worms aren't an exact science!

In other news, a friend forwarded me a really cool blog written by her friend's little brother, Jake. He is also environmentally friendly, and sells some nifty handmade stuff, too. Enjoy!

The Last Splash of Summer!

2008-09-06T18:40:00.007-06:00

Please excuse this mostly non-worm entry today about one of my dogs favorite days of the year!

Animal Friends held their Last Splash of Summer today at Sandcastle. I don't like to brag, but I mooched the idea for this event a few years ago from The Beach Waterpark in Cincinnati and pitched it to an event person for Animal Friends while attending their Mutt Strut. They totally went for it, and now it is in its fourth year, hooray!

I love love love seeing the waterpark being taken over by dogs- especially mine. Benj adores swimming in the pools, but even more, he loves tearing around the deck and checking out the whole scene.

Here's another of him getting in some serious lap time.

If you didn't make it to the Last Splash of Summer, be sure to check out their other animal events, gatherings, classes, etc., or drop them a donation so they can continue their compassionate no-kill mission.

In creepier news, the worms are less than a foot from the top of the Wigwam, I am so geeked! As soon as the feeding/casting pile gets to the top, I can give that special handle a crank and the good stuff will fall to the bottom for collection. Then I can I finally begin production on what will be the most wonderful organic soil conditioner items in the WORLD.

Until then, patience is key and it's more feeding and watering.

Here's to hoping you got your LAST SPLASH of the summer, too!

Just Peachy

2008-08-28T18:00:00.006-06:00

If you ever wondered what happens when you put a whole nectarine (with a little bit of mold- ew!) in the wigwam, here it is:The worms seem to love it and got through about 1/3 of it in three days. But see what I mean about NOT eating half their body weight daily? There are tons of worms in that bin so that nectarine should be GONE. I just know putting their food in the processor speeds up consumption time by DAYS, and once Lilliworm is up and running full throttle it will be processing all the food all the time!

I've been working on a new Lilliworm website that's full of great graphics, snazzy sentences, and fantastic photos- thank goodness. My HTML and FrontPage skills are obviously at a third to fourth grade level, and I'm not going to lie: the current Lilliworm site is an travesty and embarrassment to my worms (and pretty much myself, as well).

Soon, with the creative mind of Gary Cekus Design, my worms will be able to stand (creep? crawl?) proud when the new site is revealed. He crafted the magnificent Lilliworm logo, so you can expect fantastical results!

Lastly, to pay tribute to end of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing and salute Micheal Phelps, the Lilliworms will swim (read: burrow) around and around the watermelon ring of honor, devouring it all little by little in 17 short days. Well, hopefully much less than that!

The Words of Worms

2008-08-25T14:12:00.006-06:00

I found a fun site called Wordle that will let you make cool word collages with either words you come up with or ones it will pull automatically from a web address you enter. Here's the one I crafted for the Lilliworm blog.

Eat, Sleep, Work....Eat, Sleep, Work....

2008-08-17T20:00:00.002-06:00

Am I talking about me or the worms? Recently, I'm not so sure. As another season winds down at the world's favorite traditional amusement park, I realize I've spent another summer in a drone-like pattern: eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep, work.

My worms are pretty much in the same boat- but they have a lot more energy and look a heck of a lot more content about it!

Did you know red wigglers can eat about half their body weight each day? Yeah, right! That's what all the books and sites say- but I have to tell you, whether I chop their food, puree their food, or feed it to them on miniature spoons, my worms aren't eating anywhere near that much. If I feed them four or five pounds of food chopped up, it takes them at least three or four days to finish it. And if I puree eight pounds of strawberry tops, it takes about four or five days. Baloney half their body weight! Either all those sources are wrong, or I just happened to get the all worms with the petite super-model appetites.

ANYWAY, when the season is finally over, I need to locate a new food source. I am eying up a small fruit store near my home, hoping the owner is amenable to handing over old or damaged produce. I've been practicing my elevator pitch...

Canta Worm Love Cantaloupes?

2008-08-05T18:06:00.003-06:00

Unfortunately, not when he lives at my house. Neither myself nor my husband (or my cockapoo for that matter) ever buys any.

However, my fantastical fruit and veggie eating friend at work returned a worm bowl a few days ago with previously untried fruit for my little friends: cantaloupe rinds. No one could have guessed the absolute havoc that would ensue in the Wigwam when these rinds were added!

Cantaloupe rinds must be like a crazy drug for worms. When I checked up on them- I know, I can't stop looking at them, still!- I found a two by two inch piece that easily was housing fifty worms, and all of them were literally in a small squirming frenzy.

Did you know that cantaloupes are a super fruit? Me neither, but the worms did!

Fun with (Gummi) Worms

2008-08-01T12:08:00.007-06:00

My real worms are working hard on another batch of organic scraps, so I thought it might be fun to visit some sites that are also using worms- gummi worms, that is.

Cooks.com has an array of gummi worm inspired recipes- from the popular Dirt & Worms to the more ambitious version created in a real flowerpot. However, they didn't have any pics to enjoy.

I wish Ms. Brenda was my teacher in elementary school if this is what she was bringing in for snack time. I found her to be quite the creepy crawly creative culinary talent, as she is also credited with the PBJ Pizza recipe.

If you enjoy sushi, there's a new version in town. This mock sushi recipe using rice cereal, fruit leather, and gummi worms looks cool whether you love fishy rolls or not.

More daring worm lovers can try Pond Worms or Graveyard Pudding, and those with deep pockets can pony up $12 for this work of worm art.

I know what you are thinking- when will I be writing more serious posts about worms? Every time I start typing, I ask myself the same thing!

Start Your Worms...

2008-07-21T17:59:00.003-06:00

I just found a new potential career for my worms: professional racing!

Libraries like this one are using fun, interactive activities like worm races to get kids through the door this summer and hopefully keep them there to read and learn about all kinds of stuff. In this case, how bugs and worms benefit the earth.

Worm racing must be taking the elementary school and library world by storm, because I also found pics here and here of worm racing.

So if my wormies aren't too tired from eating and pooing amazing amounts of organic waste, you'll see them on the racing circuit come next summer. The training begins soon.

A Break from Worms

2008-07-20T19:30:00.005-06:00

WARNING! If you are looking for squirmy news, I'm taking a blog break from worms today to talk YOGA!

I participated in a training workshop yesterday at Amazing Yoga in Shadyside. I have only taken a few classes at AY so far- but WOW! They lead super- athletic yoga in a challenging, fast paced flow with the room temp jacked up to eighty five to ninety degrees - which their site's FAQs boast can burn up to 800 calories per class.

I enjoyed myself so much those few times that I signed up for the workshop. I wanted to see what the learning vibe was like, and confirm that I truly meshed with this yoga style.

So I spent three hours on my only day off this week wildly perspiring in a cozy studio above Ellsworth Avenue, and I'm happy to report that I can't even explain how good I felt when I left. I gained knowledge of postures, poses, and assisting no one can take away, and I sweat out the stress, anxiety, and frustration I've been holding in from working six days a week.

I'd like to complete the AY teacher training program that begins this fall, because I know first hand that yoga can help, heal, calm, relax, strengthen, and motivate. The workshop was the first (half) step towards my goal. Thankfully, the instructor was the perfect blend of yoga and athlete, and I felt very comfortable with her thoughtful teaching and demonstration techniques.

So now I'm patiently counting down the days until teacher training begins...

Namasté!

Jealous Worms?

2008-07-16T20:09:00.004-06:00

The landscaping master next door, AKA my great neighbor, generously donated some black eyed susans to our ongoing landscaping project yesterday. (He also let me swim in his pool this past weekend, but who's keeping track?)

When my husband dug the holes to place the plant gifts inside, guess what we found....jealous worms!

These poor outdoor worms were skinny and trying to make their way through some of the hardest, weirdest colored clay southwestern PA has to offer.

Did they know I am the landlord of a very posh, luxury worm community, whose tenants are kept warm with their bellies full?

Too bad! Lilliworms are eisenia foetida, or red worms, used specifically for composting (and for trout fishing- ouch!). My worms enjoy eating their way through rotting organic materials these outdoor worms would squirm away from.

So, no reason for jealousy- the outdoor worms wouldn't like my accommodations anyway- and they can easily handle the changing weather, food choices, and varied soil outdoors. Plus, technically they still are my tenants- in my giant outdoor worm bin, AKA my yard.

Now, let's see if we can get these plants to thrive...

Escape from the Wigwam

2008-07-07T17:21:00.007-06:00

Despite having an attentive worm-keeper, despite being fed some of the best scraps this side of the Mississippi, and despite having new digs in the Wigwam- some red wigglers STILL try to escape.

Here are a few adventurous squirmers on a fruitless quest for the after-bin life. The silver lining is the insulation that's supposed to keep them cozy in cooler temps. The wall design of the wigwam is: green plastic inner wall/silver lining/green plastic outer wall- and here are these guys in between.

Sigh. Another successful rescue and more saved worm lives at Lilliworm!

Official Lilliworm Logo Unveiled!

2008-07-06T19:46:00.010-06:00

Finally...the anticipated reveal of the Lilliworm logo!

I thought carefully about what type of logo would work best going forward. I asked opinions, took informal surveys, and in the end had 2 viable contenders.

A few things made this logo work best for Lilliworm: shape, colors, and the flexibility of both.

I can easily envision it on a circular sticker seal, square retail tag, or rectangular business card, plus I am able to change up the colors for each product I {might someday} offer.

A talented and insightful writer friend said it reminded her of an old fashioned barn hex. Even though this option wasn't her favorite, I liked that association so much it helped solidify my choice. Barns remind me of farms, farms remind me of crops, and crops remind me of fertilizer, and fertilizer reminds me of worms- see the connection?

Berries Banished

2008-06-29T19:13:00.004-06:00

After 12 days of berry feasting, the worms have finished virtually all of them. There are a few small green pieces of tops I can see if I sift around, but other than that- all the red fleshy stuff and the rest of the leafy parts are GONE.

While investigating, I saw tons of cocoons and all different sized worms- hooray! I don't know how I'll ever know- in pounds - how many worms I have now that they are in the wigwam, but I guess I'll be able to tell by how fast they eat X pounds of food. I'll just weigh the food from now on and keep track of how long it takes them to finish.

I also finished screening all the castings from the old bin, FINALLY. It took them forever to dry out. I have giant bucketful now to use in Lilliworm's first worm casting tea bags.

What are worm casting tea bags, you ask? They are regular tea bags filled with worm castings (instead of tea) that you leave in your full watering can overnight. The good bacteria and nutrients from the castings leach out, turning the regular water into a nutritious organic plant drink (for plants- not you).

Wigwam Modifications

2008-06-26T20:39:00.006-06:00

After the big berry feed last week (still not completely gone!), I noticed something was up with the wigwam. Problem: whenever I tilted up the giant black cover to look in, the condensation on it would run down until it dripped all over the floor in a big puddle. Not good. My bin was becoming a miniature rain forest.

I didn't have this problem with my other bins. The old bins had screened tops and allowed plenty of air circulation (check the pics).

Time for action. My husband likes the worms a lot more when they present him with an opportunity to show his dexterity with power tools. He was more than happy to cut a big circle in the wigwam cover with a jigsaw. I caulked in some screen over the hole, and the wigwam is fixed.

Enjoy the fresh air, wormies!

Berry-licious Worm Food

2008-06-18T19:57:00.005-06:00

Working at America's Favorite Traditional Amusement Park has its perks, but unless you are a worm farmer you couldn't appreciate what I got today: an entire day worth of strawberry tops- about 7-8 pounds- from the funnel cake stand! A wormy culinary delight!

Strawberry tops are great worm food for two reasons:

1. They smell DELICIOUS and don't send me delirious from a wicked waft when I open the bin to peep.

2. They have a great mix of watery fruit that breaks down quickly and a green part that takes longer.

Did I mention they smell FANTASTIC?

Just to experiment with timing, I didn't food processor-ize this time. I'll let you know how long the worms take to finish the whole strawberry smörgåsbord. I have two worm bowls in waiting, so they better hurry it up.

In other news, I am almost ready to debut my exceptionally cool logo. You'll be so jealous.

While you wait patiently for the grand reveal of the official trademark of Lilliworm, get inspired to break out of your own cubicle nation.

Just How Fertile Are Worm Castings?

2008-06-15T19:19:00.007-06:00

I'll tell you.

This is a snapshot of my bin just three days after putting in about six pounds of left-over tomato slices.

You got it- all the tomato seeds sprouted.

Inside the container.

In pitch darkness.

Those puffy dark brown worm castings must be the greatest plant food ever to have sprouted seeds in just three days in the dark, which makes me pretty darn happy.

After work today, we biked on the Youghiogheny River Trail, which is part of The Great Allegheny Passage- a 150 mile network of biking/hiking trails (we only saw 10 today). We turned around at slightly freaky Dravo Cemetery, which the Elizabeth Township Historical Society is supposed to be up-keeping (so says a sign), but I beg to differ. It was WAY overgrown and weedy.

Some headstones have the engraving worn off, but one had the eeriest epitaph: "As you are now so once was I, as I am now you soon shall be, prepare for death and follow me."

Spooky!

Saving Pods? Eggs? Cocoons?

2008-06-03T20:09:00.011-06:00

After some research online, the little pellet thingees I've been picking out of the old bins really are cocoons filled with worm eggs. I'm retrieving as many as I can with the primitive worm egg retriever (PWER) I've devised. I sort through the bin with a gloved hand, scoop up the eggs at the front of the PWER, and then tap them into a glass holding bowl. Once my eyes start crossing, I dump them into the wigwam to join their friends and families. I would feel bad leaving any worm (or its cocoons/eggs/pods) behind while the rest moved on to bigger and better housing!

I don't think I mentioned this yet, but the biggest, greatest, fastest, free-est food processor ever died on me a few weeks ago. I admit it may have been from overuse/abuse. I LOVED that thing and what it did to giant food scraps, and I loved to hold that button down and watch all that scrap turn to MUSH! So much so, I'm afraid, that I held it down a little too long, and pfftttt.....it died. My brother took it apart with great intentions, but it was fried, fried, fried. So I was back to using my miniature one again.

Tonight, the big bad processor was born again, as I picked a Black and Decker version up at a crazy discount store for less than $20. It is HUGE, and did a bang up job on THREE BOWLS at once! Which, my husband quickly pointed out, was exactly how I broke the last one- putting too much in and running it too long. I guess I'll try to be more gentle this time around.

A Whole World of Wormers!

2008-05-31T16:54:00.003-06:00

Finally, an online community I can appreciate!

I joined vermicomposters.com a few days ago, mainly so I could put my very own pinpoint on the cool map documenting the names, locations, and scrap amount recycled by all the worm-lovers who join.

The worm pics on there give me a slight case of the willies, but the forums seem to be full of friendly, low-worm-tech-speak comments. Some of the worm/ recycling/ vermicomposting sites I've read are so verbose and scientific, vermicomposters.com is a refreshing, light-hearted alternative.

Moving into the Worm Wigwam

2008-05-28T19:29:00.008-06:00

The worms made the big move from their bins to the Wigwam yesterday. As the directions explain, the Worm Wigwam is different in that you keep feeding the worms and layering bedding, over and over and over again on top, until the whole mountain of worms and bedding and food and poo gets near the top. Then you crank the magic handle, and the poo falls out the bottom. (The hope is all the worms have migrated up with the fresh food each time and don't get cranked out.)

First, with the help of my trusty husband, we mixed up a big bin of peat moss and shredded newspaper for the bedding with lots and lots of water. About a half a bale/bunch of peat moss seems to hold about two watering cans full of water.

Next, we put in four layers of newpaper pages on the grate at the bottom then about six inches of the bedding. We loaded in the worms on top, just basically pulling them out in clumps from their bins. Then a little more bedding, then a little food mush, then some more bedding. Quite a production.

So the finished bin with everything looked something like a giant mulchy mountain in a big green barrel.

The worms crawled right into the new bedding, no problem.

I noticed a rescue mission was needed in the old bins, as not only were a few smaller, faster, friskier, slippier worms still in there, but also tons of little worm cocoons.

Crazy how you find things just when you need them- I used a thick blue straw off a souvenir mug from America's Favorite Traditional Amusement Park, with the top cut off into a little spoons shape, to scoop out the worm cocoons- sigh- one at a time.

I've got through two bins so far, and it is a snoozer of an activity. Plenty of time to think about environmentally friendly endeavors!

Speaking of which- I got logo options from a fantastic graphic designer yesterday. It was exciting to see some visual interpretations of Lilliworm, and it jump started my brain in terms of what else I might be able to accomplish with my environmentally friendly endeavors. Hopefully in the next few posts, I'll be able to pick a logo that gives the perfect look and feel to Lilliworm!

Big Digs

2008-05-17T17:23:00.004-06:00

First- the castings I used on my flowers are working GREAT. I planted perennial bulbs in four pots and more around the sides of the house- ALL of them are coming up! If it ever quits raining, I can go out and take some pics to prove it. I may need to retreat to an ark soon.

Second- if you didn't go to the Venture Outdoors Festival, you missed a great time. I bought an environmentally-conscious Keen bag real cheap to lug all my stuff to work, me & the hubby & the poochie got to take a kayak ride, we got a free sycamore tree to plant courtesy of the Allegheny Land Trust, and learned about a sustainable feast and hiking challenge on the Rachel Carson Trail.

Finally- I got my new Worm Wigwam set up today! A few concerns I have about the worms' new BIG DIGS: the instructions say its best to start with 20 lbs. of worms- about 10 lbs. less than I have right now- so I'm just gonna pray for an active next few weeks in the worm love department. Next, my current bins are real contained- specifically, they have screened tops so I don't have to worry about unwanted visitors. The Wigwam looks like there might be potential for intruders- nothing big, just a few cracks/gaps that I'll have to cover with the extra screen just to be safe.

On the productive business front, I've been collecting advice and edits on my slowly growing business plan and I'm looking forward to picking a logo and working on some web copy soon soon soon.

Attitude is Everything- Even With Worms

2008-04-14T20:33:00.005-06:00

I met with a team of fantastic people last week for 'business counseling' through Pitt. They encouraged me to start small at first (as I was hoping they would) and gave me a short list of tasks to complete before we meet again. I liked that they were reasonable, inquisitive, and open-minded to worms and environmentally friendliness as a business idea. Not one eye roll or sigh in the bunch.

I don't mean to turn this into a personal development entry, but it really helps to keep a positive attitude and take one step each day toward my goal of starting an environmentally friendly worm business. Even if its just a tiny bitty step, at least I am headed in the right direction. Worms have taught me there's so much I don't know about so many things- but lucky for me, I have every day to learn it and plenty of willing teachers.

Speaking of worms- a fifth bin has now been occupied! Hooray for progress.

I screened the castings I harvested so far, too. I put the nice soft screened stuff in a giant super-tall recycled bucket, and put the left overs in an old coffee container to use on my own flowers. Those wormies are eating so fast now, I'm sure that bucket will be filled in no time. I fed the five bins two full worm bowls of scraps, plus a half head of lettuce and a giant bunch of grapes, all expertly processed into a slushy-looking, interesting-smelling scrap shake. Yum.

Back To School

2008-03-31T18:11:00.003-06:00

I went to a helpful class last week sponsored by the SBDC at the University of Pittsburgh to help me write a better business plan. I got a little worried because they were talking so "big"- like about borrowing thousands upon thousands and financing short-term vs. long-term and square footage and use tax and employees and trademarks and....UGH!

To boot, they said six out of ten businesses fail within the first four years- mainly due to underestimating start up costs and overestimating profits.

All this made me think small. Like, focusing more getting my worms a bigger more productive home that can still fit in my basement for now. Getting them a few new consistent food sources and ordering some small packaging. Getting a cool logo and website designed that I can maintain, so it can't get away from me and I don't lose my focus of being an earth-friendly endeavor.

Some people jump into business with both feet, sign their savings away, and trust their business to employees they don't know guided by an unproven plan.

Stay tuned for a business that grows just like a worm bin: slowly but surely and almost all by itself!

Worm work

2008-03-13T18:54:00.005-06:00

The worms have been multiplying like rabbits. I think it has something to do with the intense chopping up of the organic scraps by the new processor. I mentioned getting a little food processor for their food a few weeks ago, but a great friend from work one-upped me with my own worms by handing down a mega size food processor to me.

I'm telling you, this new processor could tear up metal scraps if it had to- plus, the glass bowl you load the scraps into is about three times as big as mine, which is huge time saver. Not that the worms were taking up so much of my time anyway!

Business plan update- I've been emailing some other worm-related businesses to get some advice and whatnot on some businessy stuff, and most are so pleasant and helpful and really give me a warm fuzzy feeling about my idea. But I got a mean response the other day. OK, maybe not mean exactly, but really discouraging and negative. Plus, he tried to sell me something at the end- no kidding!

Poo on him and his disappointing response. With so many other encouraging and positive responses...

Onward and upward!

The Tortoise and the Worms

2008-02-22T19:26:00.002-07:00

The new food processor has turned my worms into EATING MACHINES! They are chomping through their food 2-3 times as fast as before, plus the bins are more fluffy now. I am not sure if because they are able to move and eat faster they are making more little air pockets or what, but the castings look fuller than they used to. I can't wait til I have enough to share, and (eventually) enough to sell.

I have been working on a business plan now for a few weeks, and it's a lot of work. (Not that you want to hear another excuse for me to blog any less about slow moving worms.) I'm truly impressed with people who set out to start their own business and follow through no matter what. It's such hard work and hoop jumping, that I would bet 3/4 of those planning to do it get tripped up right away just looking at the business plan structure, knowing they have to fill all those answers in to make a valid story for their funding and future. I am pacing myself and tackling one small section each day, sometimes writing just a paragraph and sometimes filling in a whole section in a sitting. There are so many rules, regulations, permits, and licenses with all different departments, you can get overwhelmed real fast.

But it's just like everything else. Take a deep breath. Keep your eye on the prize. Onward and upward!

I come bearing gifts

2008-02-10T20:08:00.000-07:00

With some credit left on Kohl's gift card, the worms got a great gift this past week: a snappy little food processor from Cuisinart.

Not that feeding wasn't a joy for me every time, but it may have been slightly harder on the worms. They don't have any teeth, and I am not the best food musher ever.

But using this new appliance, I was able to grind up four banana peels, several potato peels, strawberry tops, and coffee grinds into quite an interesting gooey mess that was far more palatable (and digestible) for the worms that what I had been giving them in the past- which was some very clumpy scraps with some pretty big chunks that I may have even had a hard time getting down.

In other news, I am going to get started this week on a business plan. I have some great plans for worms, recycling, and my financial future. If you listened to Joel Osteen this morning, you know the message was about setting goals and making plans to succeed.

Well, here goes!

AT LAST!

2008-01-13T16:38:00.001-07:00

Things aren't always what they seem- that would have to be the theme phrase for today.

FINALLY, I kicked into high gear with the wormies and weighed, moved, and cleaned up their area. However, the results were not as spectacular as I had dreamed.

First off, if you've been reading this blog you understand that worm progress is mind-numbingly slow...almost past the point of watching paint dry. They move slow (you can figure this one out), they eat slow (one batch of food per week for thousands), and apparently they mate slow (go figure). Now, don't get me wrong- if this was any other business or endeavor and I ended up with three times as many of anything else, I'd be jumping for joy.

Worms give your dreams a chance to take hold and fly like crazy, because you can't really see exactly what they're up to til Moving and Weighing Day. And in my imagination, I pictured worms so overjoyed and elated to have found such a wonderful, magnificent home and such delicious carefully prepared scraps that they were wildly slithering far more copiously than your regular old hum-drum worm. I guess I was wrong.

I started with one pound (about 1,000) worms back in August. Right now in January, about five months later, I have a little over three pounds. (In my imagination, I had about six pounds. ) I separated them more evenly this time and put one pound in each bin.

One bright spot was that I saw lots of babies, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for the next few months!

Jingle worms, jingle worms

2007-12-26T12:52:00.001-07:00

Oh, the weather outside is frightful- and it is still a bit chilly in my basement. But, all seems to be well with the wormies and we are getting ready for the big weigh in and move this weekend.

Just to update from previous posts, the mighy Serra Eagles did indeed make it all the way to Hershey, to the State Championship for the Single A Division. Hooray! However, what they did when they got there rhymes with "booze" and we are not going to say it out loud in this blog!

Since I have off work til right after the New Year, I am able to devote more attention to the squirmers. They are still getting down on some grapes from last week- I don't know what's taking so long, I wonder if they are getting drunk on the grapes?- but I got plenty of Christmas goodies in the wing for the first feeding after the new bins are done.

One of my favorite Christmas gifts this year was a purse and wallet made from recycled billboard. Check them out and save the Earth!

Worm Blankets?

2007-12-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

It gets kind of chilly here in Pittsburgh, PA, and so does our basement on a 10 degree night. So what are the wormies to do? I wrote to my worm advisor, and he said they can survive fairly cold temps, but that the colder temps make them lose weight and not multiply as fast.

Hmmmm....sounds like a solution for a few other world problems to me....

Anyway, until someone invents worm blankets, worm comforters, or worm warmers (say that three times fast!), I'll just have to pray they know to stay burrowed down in the nice cozy peat, paper, and food mush!

Wiggling their way to the state playoffs...

2007-11-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

So, the worms are great. But do you want to know what's even better? SERRA CATHOLIC EAGLE FOOTBALL!

While I am busy with worms, my husband is an assistant coach for the Serra Catholic Eagles. Last Friday, they won the WPIAL Championship at Heinz Field, beating Springdale 10-6. To punctuate the win, my Dad and I had a great time afterward at the Bettis Grille 36- where they serve a mean deep fried Italian hoagie and have the best TVs anywhere. This week, the Eagles move on the PIAA State Playoffs against the North Star Cougars.

I thought the worms were taking a long time, but this football season has been lasting a long time, too! It had better end with a win in Hershey, PA!

I promise promise promise I will focus on the worms next time. I have three new bins ready for action. All I gotta do is find the time and not cop out on the weighing!

Pumkin Eaters

2007-11-13T20:36:00.000-07:00

This story loses points for timeliness... but the wormies enjoyed Halloween by eating all the insides of the pumpkins we carved! Also, they got a bunch of rotten bananas after our eyes were bigger than our appetite for bananas last week at the grocery store.

Moving on (they are happy, healthy, and crawly- all a new worm farmer could wish for!)- time to discuss my new favorite fruit this week- pomegranates. They are yummy and interesting and bitter sweet and take a lot of effort to eat. I mean, like by the time you are done cutting, soaking, and picking out the good arils, you have probably burned all the calories that are in the whole thing.

I swear next week I'll get back to concentrating on worms. Worm farming is just so easy and requires so little energy and focus, that it's easy to leave your little friends hanging (both the ones in the bin and the ones expecting to read a worm-type blog).

I promise next time I'll be buying up more bins and weighing worms- just you wait and see! I'll use that scale yet!!!

Zzzzzz....

2007-10-21T14:59:00.000-06:00

Feed, spray, watch. Feed, spray, watch. We are kind of in a holding pattern here, folks, while the wormies eat, stay moist, and procreate. Not much action to report unfortunately.

At this point, there are three bins and each has PLENTY of worms inside. Next steps are to create seven more bins so I have a total of ten, and of course do what I couldn't do the first time out- weigh them.

In other news, big dog day today....Barktoberfest at South Park seemed to be a smash success with our dog. We also walked dogs today at the local humane society. Gotta love those poochies!

Save the Babies!

2007-10-02T20:13:00.001-06:00

You may remember this photo from my last post:Get ready for some shock and awe involving this image.

As a novice worm grower and worm mover and worm binner and worm re-settler, I dumped the bin out and put the contents into a big heap. The worms moved away from the light and I took the first layer of castings and put them in another pile. I did this a few times and then picked out some doodads that weren't castings- i.e. eggshells, paper bits- to come up with the five bags shown above.

Eventually, I got a little freaked by the sheer volume of worms (I'm new at this!) and felt a little bad (stress! stress! stress!) and I quickly placed them in their new bins with the rest of the castings.

I kept the little plastic bags of harvested castings open to try to air them out and make sure they dried out before I closed them. A few days later, I checked the bottom of the bags to see if they were dried out and....here comes the shock and awe......

There were teeney, tiny, barely there BABY WORMS in the bottoms of all the bags where a little moisture was left- and, THANK GOD!- they were still alive! I switched in to worm-saving overdrive mode and picked those little babies out with my bare hands and threw them back in with their families! I am so sorry, baby worms! No one told me this might happen! No where in the worm literature did I read about baby worm sacrificing during casting harvesting! NO WHERE! Who would have guessed???

The only question is....what happens next time? What is the proper procedure to save the baby worms?

Wormy new digs

2007-09-23T14:13:00.001-06:00

So this is what my first bin was down to when it finally came time to move them into their wormy new digs. The remaining paper was browning and they were eating little bits of it. I had a wild goose chase for a small postal scale- my husband who is just learning to save the earth came home first with a digital one that I had to return.

He redeemed himself by drilling the holes in the bottom of the new bins (for drainage) and cutting out large squares in the top so I could replace them with screen. But then he went upstairs- he is still not overjoyed with the worms (or saving the earth) just yet. Love is carrying him through these tough environmentally friendly times!

I cut the rest of the newspaper into small squares and mixed it with peat moss and some water. And then I did the big dump....I dumped the whole first bin onto a tarp and got down to business separating castings from funky stuff from wormy clumps.

First observation: no more eggshells, or maybe just one every other feeding. They don't eat them fast enough and I was picking little eggshell pieces out of everything.

Second: you don't really get dirty sorting the worms. The castings are just a little damp but real soft and fluffy with no smell. Interesting.

Third: there is no dang way I was going to weigh these things at this point. I am hoping by dividing them into three bins the next time I can actually weigh them. Here was the issue: they are lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of worms. Some of them were in clumps (like a giant bunch stuck to a small banana peel piece- ew!) and the rest were just so willy-nill that I felt bad trying to corrall them into being weighed. It seemed stressful enough just with the dumping and sorting. And, truthfully, I was equally stressed by seeing this very alarming amount of worms for some reason. So I hurriedly got them into their new homes and breathed a sigh of relief.

I left the big bin to air out, and figure if I get ambitious and order more, I'll get them started in the big bin just like their ancestors.

On to the good part... I did get some bags of castings. I need to get a big screen to screen them through, because picking all the little paper and eggshells out of them is NO FUN.

I am going to try some out on my own houseplants and see what happens.

Why put off today what you can do tomorrow?

2007-09-16T20:36:00.000-06:00

Because worms are slow. I've told people for forever I'm moving the worms into new bins. However, I was planning that out at MY work pace, not THEIRS. These worms have turned me into a liar, because I've had these three bins for a few weeks now, waiting patiently for them to finish this last large batch of scraps so they can move on up into their new digs. They are STILL finishing up, and eating most of the newspaper while they are at it. The bin is about 50-60% worm poo at this point, particularly at the farthest side.

I am moving on without them for now. Next steps are to cut holes in the new bin tops, line them with screen, and put the drainage holes in the bottom so it doesn't get too mushy and wet inside. I am supposed to dump the first bin onto a tarp, sort out the castings vs. the worms, and fill the new containers with damp peat/coffee grinds/shredded newspaper, and weigh the worms. There had better be more than a pound, let me tell you! With these optimal conditions, I am expecting increase.

Sidenote: I was in Walmart the other day tree and plant shopping, and what did I see but a giant display with the words "WORM POO" real big. WHAT? Some dang worm poo company got into Walmart and just comes right out and says "WORM POO"....BUT....then I read the label and there is more than just worm poo in there. That made me kind of ticked, not to mention the fact it seemed to be in plastic containers? WHAT??? My issues with this are: 1. Worm poo by itself is the great organic natural fertilizer, why mess with it, and 2. So much for saving the earth with your plastic container! Sheesh! I got myself all worked up and was shouting at my husband and could barely continue to shop.

Yes, we have no bananas...

2007-09-05T16:08:00.000-06:00

because we let them go bad and the wormies got them! I fed my vegetarian recyclers again today and the bowl was crazy with bananas: peels, parts, and entire bad bananas- again courtesy of a co-worker. The last time the menu included bananas, the worms were all over them and finished up pretty quick. So, we'll see....these bananas had the added nutritional value of carrots and onion tops. Yum.
Also, great news.....I am at the last "row" of feeding in this bin. I have fed all the way across the length of it, so when this batch is finished, we'll be having the official "weigh-in"- will there be over the pound I started with?- and "moving day" into three new deluxe accommodations!

Getting Misty...

2007-08-30T15:50:00.000-06:00

So I've had my worm bin for about a month and a half and although the little squirmers aren't a lotta trouble, the sprayer I bought at the local Rite-Aid is a python sized pain in the posterior! Every time I go to spritz the wormies, it gives me two good sprays, starts leaking all over for two more squirts, and then just quits altogether.

Today I ventured to another fine discount establishment and bought a new and hopefully much improved sprayer. This one was a little cheaper- only $1 versus the first $2.99 one- and much more cheerful looking in an enticing clear bright yellow. They also had super-inexpensive plastic containers- so I now have three new homes for when the current arrangement starts overflowin' with worm happiness!

Scrappy friends and family

2007-08-27T16:38:00.000-06:00

Just when you thought it was safe to look in the fridge...it is overrun by worm food! Seriously, how do two people (and two of our friends) produce so many biodegradable scraps? I have two almost overflowing worm bowls taking up a lot of fridge shelf space, and that's just from four people over about week! I am trying to imagine how much of this kind of WASTE my street/neighborhood/small town must be throwing away EVERY DAY! AARRGGHHH! That's terrible, embarassing, and FIXABLE!!!

I fed one of the bowls to the wormies tonite, and it had a bad peach in it. This bad peach was so squishy and juicy and made the whole mixture real runny, ew. But, it smelled peachy and sooooo much better than the last batch that almost knocked me out cold. This mix was kind of like a fruity coffee perfume for worms.

This week I am going to get a few more bins and start dividing these suckers up. They are eating like crazy, and the castings are all over the place and seem a few inches deep now. Look out worm world, here I come!

I spy

2007-08-19T14:54:00.000-06:00

I spy with my little eye....a bunch of squirmy worms I am not supposed to keep looking at! That's right, I am a peeping tom with these dang worms. I know I am supposed to just spritz them, feed them, and add some nice bedding and be on my way, but I feel like I NEED TO KNOW what is going on underneath that shredded paper!

Before I leave for work in the morning, I turn off their little nite-lite and I cannot resist popping the top off, putting on my garden glove, and pulling back some bedding to see WHAT IS UP. Are they eating? Are they sleeping? Are they mating? I NEED TO KNOW.

Then when I arrive home, I give them some spray water and again, I put on the garden glove, pull back the bedding, and do another check. WHAT ARE THESE WORMS UP TO? Let me tell you, NOT MUCH. They are really squirming in their new batch of food- this time featuring mashed grapes, berry tops, coffee grinds, and potato peels. But, that's about it.

Worms as pets on a scale from 1 to 10 would get about a 1.5 for excitement and a 2.5 for activity- however, as far as ease of upkeep, they'd be a solid 10, and keeping me environmentally friendly, another solid 10!

As the worm turns...

2007-08-08T19:13:00.000-06:00

As I may have mentioned, worms are not the most active and exciting animals on the planet. So here's a pic of my real pet and husband, who are pretty fun and always exciting.

Back to business. The food from the first batch seems to be done, except for a few potato peels. The next wormbowl of food comes from the hard work and recycling efforts of a fellow co-worker, and is full of different foods than last time like carrots and banana peels. Hats off to her for giving them such variety in their little lives!

HOWEVER...this one smells wildly and mind-blowingly worse than the last and took a lot more cutting and mashing and crunching up to make it into mush. Like my instructions point out, WORMS DON'T HAVE TEETH! I would like to point out, CARROTS DON'T MUSH!

Last week, I shredded another edition of our city newspaper to add more bedding, as it seemed to be disappearing. When I pulled it back to put the food in (new row!), some of the worms were mixed in with the paper near the top. Hmmm. I hope in wormspeak this means "Put in new various delectables- I am hungry, ready to mate, and make lovely organic fertilizer!"and not "Just wanted to check the local headlines from a few days ago!"

As for ever getting a shot of that feeding frenzy, forget it. These dang worms are private eaters and not hot on light, so every time I try to pull back the paper and snap one of them squirming around- FORGET ABOUT IT! Away they go!

The Feeding Frenzy....not really

2007-07-30T16:24:00.000-06:00

It was time to do some feeding. The worms had been with me a week or so, and I had issued various friends and family "worm bowls" to save their veggie scraps in. The first "worm bowl" filled up at my house.

I mashed up potato peels, strawberry tops, egg shells, green and red pepper tops/stems, and more coffee grinds. It looked not good, and smelled not good. I tried to keep in mind this would have all ended up in the garbage, but I was turning it into yummy (gulp!) food for helpful creatures. Ew anyway.

Went downstairs and pushed the shredded newspaper out of the way about a quarter way across the bin. I had read to feed them in a new row each time and slowly move across the bin, so by the time they get to the last row on the farthest side from where they started, you'll have all the castings (POO!) left. That sounds like a swell idea, but my worms seem to be all over the place. Hopefully, I have received intelligent enough worms that they will understand this slow migration of food across the bin.

I will try to photograph the worms actually feasting, if and when this feast takes place.
By the way, worms are kind of boring. I was very elated building the bin, overjoyed when they arrived, and way ecstatic to show them their new home. Then, a lull in activity. Hmmm...worms just don't take all that much energy. I guess that's a good thing, or I would be complaining how much work the worms are!

There Was Darkness and Potential Escape

2007-07-26T15:09:00.000-06:00

In the morning, I got ready for work and headed to the basement on my way to the garage. I stopped to take a heartworming, Earth-loving peek at my bin.....HOLY TERROR and ALARM! I was witnessing an escape attempt by about forty of my creepy crawlers!

They were crowding up around the top of the bin, which thank goodness had a top on it (with the middle cut out and replaced with screen so they could breathe!). Still, I looked around with a panic I had not known would come with worming. WHEW! No escapees had made it past the top! A few quick taps on the side of the bin later, they were all laying back in the bedding.

I got to work and emailed my supplier- what the heck was going on? Were they trying to get back home? Did these worms have a innate sense of direction I had not read about while I was researching them? HELP! I did not want unhappy guests!

My connection to the worm world, a great gentleman from Da-Le Ranch with the quickest, most complete, and positive thinking emails EVER, emailed me a nice calm reply and noted that I should leave a light on at night so they stay put in their bed (bin). They tend to move away from the light, and you don't even need a bright light- just a small one.

I obviously need to consult my directions more closely. I have been missing some key points.

Stay tuned for the first feeding.

In the beginning...

2007-07-25T08:45:00.000-06:00

I couldn't wait to see how worms were shipped through the US Mail like a Christmas card. I was amazed that within two or three days, a whole pound of living wiggling worms would be on my doorstep. They arrived from a ranch in California. After mapquesting, I found out my little friends travelled over 2,400 miles. They have already logged more miles than me this year!

The worms arrived in a regular cardboard mailing box marked with red felt pen alarmingly "LIVE BAIT!" Yikes! I was not planning on hooking my worms as fish food!

In the box was a ton of shredded newspaper, and in the middle lay a tightly packed cloth bag with a little drawstring. I dampened the newspaper and placed it into my bin like the directions mentioned- oh, yes, worms come with directions! Sometimes in projects, you might just breeze over the directions figuring you know the deal- but THIS WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE TIMES! Not with hundreds of little lives on the line!

Not knowing how productive/successful I would be, I only ordered 1 pound for about $30; however, it looked like I had received the bargain deal of the century because there looked to be, oh, about a kizillion in the cloth bag.

I dumped them quickly into the bin and shuffled them around with the newspaper. Then I sprinkled in the coffee grounds I made my husband save and shuffled them around, too.

I gave them a few sprays with my new water sprayer purchased strictly for worm sprinkling.

I looked at the worms, newspaper, peat moss, and coffee grounds in the bin. I pushed some stuff around to make sure they were still alive.

And then I thought, wow, that was easier than I imagined. I had pictured wild worms needing to be wrangled back into the bin by way of worm lasso.

And then, with day one of my worming adventures over, I shut off the light and went upstairs. You'll never guess what was going on the next morning...