Cleaning supplies … an extra roll of paper towels … plumbing pipes. By glancing under your kitchen sink, you’re bound to find any number of things, but what of a population of red wiggler worms?
Don’t be taken aback. These tiny creatures are being used with great effectiveness in one of our planet’s most serious problems – environmental protection against climate change. It seems that the little wrigglers have proven themselves very handy as waste composters. Without getting too graphic, the worms eat your dinner leftovers. Through the worm’s digestive process, this passes through the worm’s body and exits as compost. This process, called vermicomposting, will appeal to many environmental supporters – specifically gardeners. Those with a green thumb can use this nutritionally-rich compost to grow plants.
Setting up your own red wiggler worm composting system is a snap. Begin by selecting a proper container. This can be wood, plastic or glass. The tubs can be purchased in various sizes, dependent on your own family’s size. Ensure that your container comes with a tight-fitting lid, air holes to allow the worms to breathe and some type of drainage system. Your worms will not require much light or much space to live – they will be quite happy in about six inches worth of soil. Worms do prefer a comfortable place to sleep. Ideal worm bedding can be a combination of shredded leaves, damp newspaper strips, dried grass clippings and even old manure.
How many worms do you have to buy? The recommended ratio is two pounds worth of worms for each pound of garbage disposed of. And if you come up short with your worm count, don’t worry. Over the course of time, the worms will reproduce.
If you’ve ever thought of building a backyard compost bin but hesitated with the amount of work involved, why not start with vermicomposting? The worms require very little care and attention and, in return, will be avid workers. Nobody needs to know that you have worms under your sink, unless you tell them!
