Okay... enough with the CAPS already =P
My worms were sitting on my doorstep when I arrived home today :) I was so excited! I opened the package of "1000 reds" and was greeted with some newspaper and a little cloth sack bearing the Uncle Jim's Worm Farm logo. It was rather light! I don't know why I was imagining them weighing so much more... I only ordered a pound. They were shipped to me in peat moss "to absorb all moisture". The worms were very small looking, which is normal, apparently, because they have gone roughly three days since the last had food and water. Worms in shippment can lose up to 75% of their body mass, according to "Jim". I promptly put my worms in a bowl and gave them 1/2 cup of water, as reccomended.
Then I set to work! I took my bin and drilled 1/4 inch holes in in, evenly spaced, about 15 of them on the bottom, fewer on the sides. This is for ventilation. I then filled the bin with my shredded newspaper pieces, and I dampened them as I went. Worms are very particular about their environment-- it can't be too dry or too wet, else they shall not be happy and might die =( I will find out soon whether I met the requirements or not-- if they try to escape something is wrong! It'd be an easy fix though. If dry, add more water. Worms like it moist (and absorb water through their skin!). If too damp, add more dry newspaper and take out some damp.
I then went outside and gathered some of our leaf hummus. It's been in an impromtu compost pile at the back of our yard for a few years-- my stepdad, Peter, always puts all the leaves back there. They have turned into a nice, thick and nutrient filled muck. I also gathered some nice, drier soil to add to my worm bin. This soil will provide the grit the worms require to digest their food (kitchen scraps!) and will add helpful and essential microbes and other good bacteria to the bin. Next I took the brocoli stems I had chopped up (scraps from tonight's dinner) and added them to the middle of this assortment now in my bin.
FINALLY I got to add the worms! I took my red wigglers (all named humphrey, godfrey and daniel... my mom wanted me to name them... but there are 1000 of them... I shall post the final list of all 1000 later... if I don't conveniently forget) and scooped them onto the top! I spread them out a little bit over the top, then covered them with a wet newspaper, per "Jim's" reccomendation. The worms shall be fully up to speed in their new home within 24-48 hours time. I am so excited!
I actually think the worms are pretty cute :)
Why "cute", I have been debating. My bf and I have been debating what "cute" really means. Usually it means you think it is visually pleasing, sometimes small (or small in it's kind, such as a baby) and you want to care for it in some way. Like a kitten. For me, a kitten would fit the definition of "cute". It would be small, furry, cuddly and I would just want to take it home and love it! However I find myself seeing my newfound vermicomposting pals as "cute". Why?!? I don't know exactly! But I think that their ability to squirm is somehow endearing. AND I do want to nurture them-- they will nurture our garden! They will be most helpful friends to have. I hope people get over their aversion to worms, they really are nice pals. They require little (though picky about environment) and give so much. In 2-3 months time it will be time to harvest the worm castings and all the compost-- and start a new worm bin! I can't wait. Plus, any excess fluid that drips into the catching tray will be another great source of nutrients for our plants, like my favorite! The magical chive plant.
More to come-- and PICTURES!
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