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Many weeks have passed since I first took the steps to begin worm composting. I needed a bin, some bedding and, of course, the worms. As you can read in my earlier blogs, I wasn’t quite sure how well the whole process would go. Suffice it to say, things are going just fine.
As I set off into the world of vermiculture, staffer Heather Leszczewicz questioned me about the process, wondering if it would all stink. Keeping my homemade blue compost bin near my kitchen and living room, I was hoping it wouldn’t smell, but I was uncertain. All that I read about composting told me it shouldn’t smell. And, luckily, as I have found since taking this on, it really doesn’t smell. I should know I stick my nose in the bin enough.
If my worms could communicate, e-mail or instant message, I’m certain they would be contacting my reporters, condoling with them on the fact that my nose is always in their business. I can’t help it, but I have to monitor my worms as they work.
My worm oversight has two valid reasons: general maintenance and sheer fascination.
When I’m sticking my nose into the worms business, I’m checking to make sure the bedding, comprised mostly of newspaper, is damp enough. Since the weather is warmer, I’m finding the newspaper is getting dry more often and more easily. So, I keep a squirt bottle handy and spray down the newspaper and other bedding – shredded toilet paper rolls and cardboard - regularly. (They will also consume some of this paper.)
Along with making sure the bedding is cozy for them, I am also checking on their progress as they eat through my scraps. I read that it was best to feed the worms about three times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I’ve tried to keep to that schedule. But, I also read that if the worms aren’t eating quick enough, it’s a good idea to hold off on feeding them until they catch up.
Some items the worms eat more quickly, such as banana peels, than others, like apple cores. So, it takes a little thought, but not much, to maintain their feeding schedule and living environment.
And, slowly but surely they make their way through my scraps.
And, that is where the fascination part comes in. I open the bin just looking for the little guys and I am always happy to see them squirming around. I’m even happier when I see them busy at work, usually a bunch of them in one of the areas where my scraps are deposited.
One day I deposit stuff and when I look back a few days later, it’s easy to see it’s compacting and disappearing. I just can’t get over how cool nature can be.
The diet for my worms isn’t too varied, but they don’t seem to mind much.
My dog loves bananas (more than me), so the peels are always on hand. I’ve also given them coffee grounds, lettuce bits, eggshells, orange peels, an apple core and a tea bag. When composting, it is advised not to give the worms stinky items, because they will be stinky.
Most items I chop into little bits, which I’ll be honest is gross. I’m not big on hanging on to scraps let alone less chopping them up once they get mushy, but the “experts” say it’s easier for the worms to do their work that way. Some people suggest blending it up, but I’m not that dedicated.
The time commitment isn’t much. A few times a week I chop stuff up. And, two times a day I check on the worms to see that the bedding is wet. That’s it. The result will be compost (worm poop) that is so rich with nutrients I will be able to use it to nourish all my plants, vegetables and flowers.
As I continue to recycle and add in composting to my efforts, the amount of trash I toss in the garbage will be increasingly reduced. At the end of the day, I can feel good that although it may not be much, I’ve made a difference. The worms have too.
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