Vermicomposting

I recently attended a composting workshop hosted by my city's Environmental Services Division. These are the people who organize the city trash pickup and recycling programs. The workshop gives people an introductory lesson composting. For newbies like me this is a great way to lean about being environmentally conscious. In the workshop, they discuss the various types of composting and what type of space and time it will require to maintain the different composting bins. To encourage composting, the city offers the composting bins at a reduced rate.

After learning about all the bins and the time/space they require, I chose to start with a Vermicomposter. Vermicomposting is composting with worms that eat your food garbage and produce a really great fertilizer that can be used all over your garden. I picked up a bin called a "Wiggly Ranch", which cost me $45. It comes with two trays for worms and a bottom tray for any liquids to drip into. According to the instructor, some use the liquid to make a watered down fertilizer called "Worm Tea."


A brick of coconut fibre husks is included with the worm bin. The husks are soaked in water and are used as filler for the tray:




The husks in one of the worm trays. (The paper goes in too):




Then you toss the worms in the bin. I bought my red worms from a local worm breeder, they are mixed in with some compost from their former home:





And there you have it. Just feed them once a week and make sure they are moist.

In the garden

I love gardening. I had no idea how much fun it could be to watch things grow. About a month ago, I planted a bunch of herbs and veggies, and they have really taken off. The basil (above) was purchased at the farmers market. This is what it looks like now:

So cool!