I've got worms! No, really!

How many people do you know that they have worms. I mean, seriously, it seems like something you would be hush-hush about and going to the veterinarian for a little pill to give your animals to kill said worms. But no! I have these in my kitchen intentionally!! I started a redworm composting bin, which is in the kitchen because it's not yet warm enough to have them outside. Sure, everyone has a redworm composting bin in their kitchen, right?

Everything started with me surfing the web and looking through the articles on Yahoo after logging out of my email account. I stumbled across a video for the Johnson's who live a Zero Waste lifestyle. I was intrigued, and at first thought it wouldn't be realistic for me. I barely have enough money to do regular grocery shopping/living, and am frazzled as it is. Zero waste must be more expensive, complicated, right? It did get me thinking that I'm not doing as well as I thought I had been as far as being earth friendly.

I decided that starting a compost bin would be the perfect place to start. But the compost bins that you buy are pretty pricey, so I did a search on how to make your own compost bin. I envisioned the round kind on a frame out in the garden. You know, the kind that has a crank that you can turn the compost. While doing my research, I stumbled upon a site that had great information on how to get started composting with redworms.

http://www.redwormcomposting.com/getting-started/

They suggested having two rubbermaid totes, and to put drain/air holes in one, set it in the second for drainage. They have a great tutorial on how to set up the bin step by step, as well as great information on the care and maintenance of the redworms. Since I live in Maine, and it gets cold in the winter here I decided to do this type of bin so I could have it indoors during the cold months. I would also have the option to move it outside in the summer. So I set up the layers of paper, cardboard and food, and waited about a week before I placed the order for my worms through Uncle Jim's Worm farm.  http://www.unclejimswormfarm.com/

As the redworm composting suggested, I called my post office and let them know to call me when the worms come in. One morning I was on my way into work, and I got a call from a number I didn't recognize, and almost didn't answer it. Turns out it was Norma, my mail lady to tell me my worms have arrived. Well, her words were "Um, they're wiggling out of the box". I told her to leave them inside my door, and later thought maybe I shouldn't have suggested that because who knows what my dog might decide to get into. I had horrible thoughts of 1,000 wiggling worms on the floor.

When I got home, I found the box and a few stray worms on the floor. Not the huge mess I had envisioned. Zizie and I picked up the worms, and gently put them into their new habitat. We've had the bin for about a month now, and they seem to be happy and healthy! I'll make sure to post a pic of my compost bin soon!

Gwen