Each school year the kids and I choose a topic to study for science. The past two school years we have focused our time learning about beneficial creatures for our garden. Last year we learned all about ladybugs and we even raised them and set them free in our garden to eat our pesky aphids. I didn't particularly care for this project, the larva stage was absolutely disgusting! This year we're researching worms! Not just any worms but red wrigglers! Let me share with you what we have been discovering about this wonderful creation of God. They are different from regular earthworms that you find in the garden, we keep them in the house!
Why on earth would we keep worms in our house? Not just for educational purposes but because they cut our kitchen waste down by a third and then recycle it into organic fertilizer for free. Vermicomposting is much faster and more effective than regular composting, and can be done right through the winter. Start by shredding all your old newspapers, junk mail, paper bags, leaves, house plant clippings, ect... whatever you have laying around. Then soak it in water and squeeze out the excess moisture. Put the dampened material into a bin, and there you have it, a bed for worms. Feed your worms your vegetable and fruit scraps. They also like tea and coffee, bread, rice, and other grains. Feeding and watering is really all you have to do, they do the rest!
This is what they leave you with. Rich fertile compost, well actually it's worm castings (poop). They will turn the entire junk mail bed into garden gold. This is God's miracle grow, all 100% natural. Another repulsive but wonderful thing they do is make compost tea. All that excess moisture from their slimy bodies drains out from vents on the bottom of the bin. You may not want this for your morning tea but plants will absolutely adore you if you offer them a cup. Make sure to mix it with water first, you may burn them.
We have so much fun with our new pet worms we actually named a few.
This is Layla and her cocoons. She is expecting her new arrivals in eleven weeks.
There is so much more to tell but I just don't have the time. If your interested in learning more here are some good websites.
http://www.joansworms.com/
http://www.wackywild.com/lfstuff/articles
That is so cool! I've read about composting with worms before, but we have never tried it yet. I think maybe we will put this on our list of things to try next school year! Thanks for sharing the links; I will check those out.
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