Last year, I put a washtub in the far back corner of my yard. I would diligently save all my produce and compostable materials in my beautiful hand thrown Rising Sun Earthworks (www.risingsunearthworks.com) compost bucket. Each day I would run the contents to the back of the yard where the birds would pick at it. I was left with nothing but egg shells and rabbit crap, God rest Thumper's soul. But I took that watery washtub full of rabbit crap and egg shells and I spread it in my garden this year. My Netherland Dwarf rabbit did not die in vein.
NO MORE! I said. Then my friend Kristi mentioned Vermicomposting. It was like a heavenly light shown down on my computer. I talked my Dad into researching it as well and we decided we'd give it a go!
Dad saved a ton of newspaper scraps. He shred them up very well and I took it from there!
I bought 2000 Red Wiggle worms for $39.95 + free shipping from a website that was supposed to have a great reputation. Since they have not been great, I will not share his website with my friends. And if you decide this is something for you and in your research a special 'uncle' tries to sell you something... I advise to go in a different direction. I ordered my worms on March 30, 2010. I have yet to receive them. After two emails, he finally told me that they were mailed out, again, on April 12, 2010. Nothing. I just want my dang worms!
SO... I digress... but it's my blog and I can do that if I choose.
After ordering the red wiggle worms, which are much better for vermicomposting than earthworms. Trust me, they just are. I went to Walmart and bought two 18 gallon Rubbermaid storage bins. Remember, I bought two because I'm setting me and my Dad up.
Then I had Damon use a drill to make air holes in the top and about 2 inches down from the lid
Then I split all the newspaper shreddings evenly between the bins. I used unchlorinated water (water from a tap left outside for a day or two for the chemicals to evaporate) to sprinkle into the newspaper. The news paper is about two inches tall in my bin dampened. The newspaper is supposed to feel like a squeezed out sponge. Then I threw in a few handfuls of dirt and mixed it well. You may need to add a little more water after you add the dirt.
Well, that's it for now.
Stay tuned!
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