Vermiculture

at this very moment, i'm supposed to be writing a paper for my first aid class on the common causes of childhood poisonings and how to prevent them. but instead, i'm going to blog. sorry little poisoned children. i care about you, but not enough to not procrastinate in writing a paper about you.

actually, i've already started writing it. but i only have one sentence down and wasn't focusing. so i decided to go eat an apple in the hopes that it would focus me.

mistake. after learning about isaac newtons experience with apples, i really shouldve known better than to think that an apple wouldn't inspire me. in fact, that apple is the sole reason why i'm writing this post.

you see, the other day i decided to research composting. dont ask me why. i just have random fits of nerdy pioneer person-ness. during my research, i learned that there are two different kinds of composting. there's the normal kind where bacteria break down organic material and then there's the kind where worms do the composting. this second kind is called vermiculture. so there's composting, and then there's vermicomposting.

and vermiculture is actually pretty cool. you either buy or build a special box home for the worms. then you fill it with some "bedding" (which is basically just shredded damp newspaper, sawdust, and some other things). and then you get red worms and put them in there. i know it doesnt sound very cool, but my mind likes to look at things differently.

vermiculture bin

so the way i see it, these worms are sort of like awesome pets. for one, they like to be at the same temperatures that we like to be at, so their box can be inside. kinda like an indoor dog house. and you can feed them your table scraps almost like you would a dog. plus, you only need to feed them like once a week! (and clean their box only twice a year!!)

but back to the apple.

you see, as i was peeling that apple, i started thinking about vermiculture.

i saw the apple peels and core and started having a conversation with myself (something i often do when nobody's around). it went a little something like this:

"what a waste. these apple peels could be going to good use. but nooo, they're just gunna be thrown in the trash and get put into a land fill. if only i had some red worms. (yes, i seriously think these things)

who knows, i bet there's a little ol' red worm family right now who are cold and hungry and thinking, 'oh, if only someone would come and take care of us! is there no one who will love us? no one who will feed us and keep us safe? i know we seem rather gross, but ohhh, how we long for friendship. we could make your garden the most beautiful in the land! and all we ask for in return is safe haven and your scraps.'

and to think, right now i could be making my little worm friends apple peel smoothies and they would love me. and i could give them names, and decorate their box real prettily, and they'd be so happy.

but i go off to college in a month, and my mom would never want to keep them (she would consider them bugs and refuses to have bugs in the house. even though, technically, a bug isnt a bug unless it has 6 legs, a certain kind of mouth, and a triangle on it's back). and i doubt i could bring them with me because the administration would either call them pests or pets. neither of which are allowed.

oh well. maybe one day, when i have my own house, i can adopt a little red worm family (or someone can give them to me as a house warming present. hint, hint.). then i can feed them all the table scrap smoothies i want. and i can water some of my plants with the "tea" i drain from their box and fertilize my garden with their castings. i'd never have to buy fertilizer or miracle grow or any other synthetic plant growth stimulants.

i realize this is a very strange dream. but please, try not to judge me. because this whole thing boils down to me wanting to be kind to some lesser creatures while having the healthiest and lush-est garden around. and kindness and beauty are always good things to have around :)

if you want to learn more about vermiculture, here's a link: http://www.composting101.com/worm-composting.html it also talks about regular composting on that site. you know, in case you want to find out about regular composting too ;)

ps- sorry this post is so long. i guess i got a little passionate. but hey, it's hard not to when you find something interesting, practical, and all around awesome in an abnormal way.