VERMICULTURE ~ which is rearing worms for the purpose of making compost.
The stars of the show saw me coming camera in hand and went into hiding. No wriggly mass of worms in sight but if you peek very carefully you might see the odd character squiggling by. They do not like light so disappear from sight rather quickly.
My wormery came as a ready to put together package from Wriggly Wrigglers but it is possible to make your own wormery, which does work out considerably cheaper. Chris Beardshaw gives a demonstration in this short video ~
The worms came to live with us in May 2009 - you can read about their first meal here. They live outside in the shed and when inclement weather is forecast I wrap their residence up with horticultural fleece or an old blanket - sometimes both. I must admit that they do not produce vast amounts of compost for me to use in the garden. This could be because there are only the two of us (humans) producing waste for them but we also have a compost bin in the garden. However they provide me with much entertainment and I usually visit them every day with food or without. Unlike us they do not eat as much in winter!
You can view more on the vital letter V over at ABC Wednesday!
What a nice project. I think it is so cute that you wrap their little home in a blanket. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat word. I wish I could have a wormery (and a garden). I have some red wrigglers that help keep the substrate in my land hermit crab terrarium clean and aerated, though.
ReplyDeleteI would love a wormery but as the hens like to roam in the garden I worry they would eat them!
ReplyDeleteAny thoughts?
Great post.
Denise
ABC Team
My grandsons would love this project!!!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting "V" choice.
How interesting!
ReplyDeleteI compost, but I don't do it correctly, evidently.
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
Worms are some of my favourite creatures, - I love to see them big and fat and wriggling in the garden!
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed when the compost pile suddenly seems to be alive with those little red worms, brandlings or whatever.Where did they come from?
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I see worms as a good indicator that alls well with the soil. I have a strip of land alongside the tobacco drying barn where I grow roses. For years I noticed that there was never a worm in the ground, however folowing years of soil improvement incorporating manure and compost, eventually the worms arrived. These years the roses are generally doing better, soils good enough for worms, good enough for my roses!
I don't have a wormery, just the usual compost bin. I think it would be like having another pet, making sure they were warm and well fed.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely, to keep them all warm and cosy in the winter!
ReplyDelete