During first grade, my friends and I formed the "Save the Worms" club. When it rained we would run outside and gather worms that were flushed from the cracks of the sidewalks into buckets so that they wouldn't drown. We were revoked of our fishing priviledges during our class field trip to the lake when the game warden caught us throwing the worms used for bait into the bushes. We were happy to sit in the cars and wait for the class to return, glad that we had saved a few worms from certain death.
I remember my mother finding a tiny baby bird in our yard, which she promptly brought into the house and set up a little box for it. After doing our research we discovered it was an insect eater. That summer was the summer of cutting worms in half with scissors to feed to the bird. I was terrified at first, but if it meant that the baby bird would live, then I did it. I refused to pull the legs off of crickets so that the bird could try to catch them himself, however. But I vividly remember holding a squirming worm in my fingers as I worked up the courage to slice it in half with my dull scissors. My life changed that summer as I learned about holding life in my hands and the give and take of nature.
Since living in the city, I haven't seen many worms. In fact, I can't remember the last time I found a worm on the sidewalk or in the mouth of a robin. I'm determined to change this.
The idea of having my own worm bin has been in the back of my mind since last year and I think it's time to make it happen. I know that this is going to be a learning process and I'll probably make some mistakes along the way, but I've found a few resources to help me along with the process and to work up the courage to bring these red wrigglers into my little studio apartment.
To make the worm bin, I'm going to use these instructions and make them from a couple of plastic bins: Cheap and Easy Worm Bin
I'm also going to read this Chicago Composting website thoroughly so that I can troubleshoot if anything goes wrong: Worm Composting in Chicago
I've also read a great book about worm composting by Mary Appelhoff called Worms Eat My Garbage. She's no nonsense and she knows everything there is to know. Who knew an entire book could be dedicated to worms eating your garbage...
Ooook I can do this! I really can! I'm actually really excited to introduce these little nutrient-producing life forces into my apartment. I just home they don't attract any annoying ones like fruit flies, but we'll work through it if it does!
