redhen
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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How did you get started Vermicomposting? - 2005/10/28 08:33
Everytime I talk to anyone about vermicomposting or build bins with people, I always get the question, "How did you get started doing this"?
I saw a blurb on a local TV station (Raleigh,NC) and a woman,(now a friend of mine),Rhonda Sherman, at NCSU was showing the reporter her worm bins and talking about how they turn food waste into a great soil enhancer. After thinking about this blurb for a week or so I finally called all over State's campus looking for "the worm lady". When I reached Rhonda, I asked if I could come and see her bins. She laughed and said no one had ever asked that before. I went and saw the bins she had set up and I went home with "worm bin envy"! I asked, she came, to my daughter's 3rd grade class and we built a rubbermaid bin for the class, with worms she gave to us. Oh my gosh..I was so hooked. A year later I,(lost my mind)wrote a grant proposal to Wake County Solid Waste Management. The proposal was to compost our cafeteria pre-consumer food scraps and office/classroom scrap paper in bins with redworms. It was approved and the real journey began. What a science lesson I have had and way more fun than anyone should have playing with dirt and worms!
I now build bins with people on my driveway and have met great people, that I may never otherwise have ever crossed paths with.
Okay that's my story (and I am sticking to it). What's yours?
Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth. |
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Bob Ingram
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:How did you get started Vermicomposting? - 2005/10/28 09:00
Yes maam, and what a job you're doing in your town, and beyond! You and I became acquainted shortly after that because of the "yucky" Black Soldier Fly larva. I told you they make good fish bait...
Several years ago, I was spading up a new garden area and finding lots of worms; thinking they'd be hard to find later in the year for fishing, I collected a bunch of them in a 5 gallon bucket. I set up an old livestock water tank that leaked in the cellar of our old farm home, decided I needed to learn how to keep em alive, got on the internet and the obssession began....what an adventure it's been! Luv it! Seeya, Bob
www.trinity-ranch.com |
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Judy
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:How did you get started Vermicomposting? - 2005/10/28 12:34
I saw an article in Organic Gardening, (I think they were calling it OG then)about composting with worms in difficult climates. Looking back the article was pretty vague and pollyanna, but it got me started. I dug worms and bought worms and populated plastic bins in my basement in spring of 2001. In a couple weeks, my best friend died and then we had 9/11. I spent hours meditating with my peaceful worms. The forum at Old Growth was a sensationally helpful contact for a beginner.
We were recently visiting with someone about things we 'needed'. I had to comment that now I live where I can compost and really don't need worms, except that I NEED worms.
I wish, 50 years ago, when my dad and my grandpa kept a few worms over the winter in old washtubs of dirt and dandelions, that they had gotten a picture of what they had ahold of besides early bait.
When Life Gives You Scraps, Make A Quilt. |
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Bob Ingram
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:How did you get started Vermicomposting? - 2005/10/28 14:34
Girl, you've come a long way since then....Seeya, Bob
www.trinity-ranch.com |
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loonyhiker
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A Hatchling Earthworm
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Re:How did you get started Vermicomposting? - 2005/12/11 16:24
In July 2004, I went to the Hike Inn in Georgia. You have to hike 5 miles in the mountains to get to this lodge. They introduced me to worm composting and I was hooked. My husband said he saw my brain at work as soon as they explained it to me. When they explained how the toilets also worked on a compost system, he drew the line! I couldn't wait to get home to start and practically ran back down the mountain to the car. My parents were visiting from FL that next day so we made it a big family project. My 85 year old dad is into carpentry and loved helping me build 2 bins. They ended up being too big but it was built with love, so that is what I'm using. Then I started my classroom on it and each year I teach a new batch of students how to compost with worms. Maybe it will spread to home and if I can reach one or two students, eventually they will pass it on too.
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redhen
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Re:How did you get started Vermicomposting? - 2005/12/11 21:15
loonyhiker.. I just read your post. It made me smile. Thank you! Where are you located? I do many classroom presentations here in NC and love the kids and worms combo.
Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth. |
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gnosnhoj
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Re:How did you get started Vermicomposting? - 2006/01/03 01:33
My li'l fellas are still working on my first WF tray, but I can already feel the pull to expand  second tray going on this week!
I have hot-composted for many years, plussing-up veggie and flower gardens for HH6 & I (black gold does wonders for good old KY clay!), but I got an ankle blowed up pretty good a year ago (Army), and crutches and chipper/shredders do not mix very well. Second surgery last week has me back on the sticks again now.
I just hated to keep pitching all the kitchen gack that I've always used (I do still have a full compost tumbler that I dug a few handfuls out of to kick-start the WF). Saw a worm bin ad in a catalog, researched online for a better deal and dove in. Got it set up on the "dark side" of the kitchen island, with a moisture/pH level indicator poked through ventilated cardboard on top of the bedding. Just checked 'em today - they're lovin' life  ! HH6 ain't real pleased that I've commandeered her tupperware ham-keeper for wormie-food  , but I think she'll get over it when we start planting in the spring  Got my eye on a little bit of backyard near the veggie garden that'd do right nice with something like one of redhen's cinderblock bins 
Great to find y'all; I've already learned a lot just from drilling through previous posts - TYVM
Gary
Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY |
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loonyhiker
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A Hatchling Earthworm
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Re:How did you get started Vermicomposting? - 2006/01/04 19:48
Hi red hen! Sorry it has taken me so long to reply but I've been to FL for 2 weeks on Christmas break. School started back yesterday. I live in Greenville, SC. I love telling people that my science class and I are into worms. It's a great conversation starter (or a good way to get rid of people you don't want to have a conversation with!).
I'm in the process of moving to a new classroom this week. My old classroom was pretty small and now they are giving me the old home ec room (they don't teach home ec any more at my school). There are 6 kitchen units and full size fridge. There are also 6 blenders, mixers, and other equipment in the room. Our worms are going to love our new home. My school chose me for Teacher of the Year this coming year so I guess they wanted me to have a nice room in order to compete for the District Teacher of the Year. You know how political schools are!
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sauce man
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:How did you get started Vermicomposting? - 2006/01/04 21:34
Hi everyone. I to got hooked immmediately after seeing the show " Dirty Jobs" on discovery channel. Ive been hot composting for years and its been O.K. Wanted to try something new and really thought worms would be interesting. Ive always been interested in ecosystems as I did marine aquariums for 20 years or so. So I figured why not set something up. I also researched it on the internet, but really wish I had built my own now, and bought a worm chalet. Its been a couple of months now and I am starting to see results. Lots of eggs and alot of happy worms. This site has been great and everybody on it has been very helpful. Keep up the great job everyone. Tom in MI
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Michael D
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A Hatchling Earthworm
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Re:How did you get started Vermicomposting? - 2006/01/26 21:40
I will say I started after I saw an add in a nickles worth stating grow worms for fun and profit.
I was lucky and did not have the money to buy into the scam multi-level worm opperations.
I was still very interested and found this forum years ago.
Many questions, mistakes and sucesses it has become part of my every day life as well as my families.
Michael D
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