Feed the worms...and your child's curiosity

Vermi-composting (composting with worms) is a great way to incorporate nature in your daily life. It can happen up to three times daily as you toss your kitchen vegetable and fruit scraps into the compost bin! Kids love worms and this can also provide a great biology lesson.

Save eggshells from your breakfast!

Can-o-worms

 I use a "Can-o-worms" which is a glorified giant tupperware container with several layers that you can rotate. You can also just get a large rubbermaid container, drill small holes, and cover these holes with pantyhose and duct tape. Something like this one, but you need it to be opaque: Rubbermaid 71 Quart Clever Store Non Latching Storage Bin FG3Q3400CBLUE - Pack of 4

 First, add shredded newspaper as your base (or old computer paper or unwanted kids' drawings/coloring book pages). This is a great way to teach recycling and reuse!

 Kids of all ages love shredding newspaper. Toss it in!

 Next, add in your vegetable scraps. In this picture, there is egg shells, sweet potato peels, and carrot peels. Egg shells add lime to your compost therefore reducing acidity-this creates a more productive compost (and less smelly one, too). Never add any bread, meat, or dairy.

 You can also use old egg shell cartons in place of the newspaper. You also need to throw in a little bit of soil to start your compost.

 And, you need a handful of red wiggler worms. These can be found at fishing tackle shops (call first to check that they have them) or wormwoman.com sells them. They MUST be red wiggler worms-they decompose garbage at a much faster rate.

Every kid loves handling worms!

 

You can also add some fun by having the kids cut-up the produce scraps you will be adding. If you are using peels and small pieces of veggies and fruit, you don't have to do a thing. But larger pieces, like apple cores and old lettuce need to be cut up into 1-2 inch pieces (you'll get faster and less smelly results this way).

Next, mix it all up. Then cover with more newspaper. Be sure your additions each day are covered with newspaper so you don't create fruit flies and smells.