Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Is It Wednesday Already?

Boy, time sure flies when you're having fun.

Tomorrow's Guest


I think you'll enjoy tomorrow's guest. Evelyn David writes mysteries like I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries and Zoned for Murder, but there might be something you don't know about this author. Yes, this is a teaser. Check back tomorrow and see what I mean.


Otterocity! Bring a Joyful Spirit to Your Life


Author and Northern Colorado Writers member Tim Northburg announces the release of his book titled Otterocity! Bring a Joyful Spirit to Your Life.

"Otterocity is a story about bringing a joyful spirit to your life, no matter what challenges you face in society, the economic climate, or life in general. Follow Cory Samuelson as he embarks on a journey from Fort Collins, Colorado to San Juan Island, Washington to film a group of Sea Otters. Here, he meets an otter he names Lizzie and uncovers simple truths about otters that he infuses into his life, to bring about change and a joyful spirit, during his struggle with the economy, work, and the death of his friend/boss."

You can find out more about Tim and his book at his website. Tim will also be a guest here on August 30th.


Vermiculture

...is another name for feeding and harvesting the by-product of worms

...which is another way of saying harvesting worm poop to use as fertilizer in your garden.

I still do that. I save my kitchen veggie scraps and feed my worms which I keep in a large plastic storage bin on the patio. From time to time, like today, I don rubber gloves and stir up the mess to see how the worms are doing. Then I take a shower and wash my hair to try to get rid of the wormy compost smell. It's stinky.

Here's what I've learned after three years of farming worms:

1.  Red worms work just fine, seem to "process" fruit and veggie debris faster than earthworms, and survive against all odds, including being left out in the cold all winter.

2.  Red worms do not seem to like or are unable to penetrate the skins of whole cranberries. They also have trouble with sweet corn husks.

3.  It's gross.   



5 comments:

liz young said...

In the UK you can get special compost bins, which have a sliding panel so that you can, after a suitable period of feeding the top end with vegetable debris and some compost accelerator, slide open the bottom and remove the composted earth. If you've got the balance right, the compost is sweet and lovely and you can go through it to replace the worms without a peg on your nose. Maybe your worms poop differently from the English ones?

Patricia Stoltey said...

Hi Lizy, no, it's not the poor worms' fault. The completed compost smells fine, but the work in process is the gross part. That still contains semi-rotted fruit and veggie debris.

And knowing what I'm dipping my hands into is a little gross, too.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Worm farming does sound gross.
Like the sound of that book though!

Dean K Miller said...

Ahhhh...but the visual of you up to your elbows in worms and their poop...that's priceless!

As is Tim's book, I am sure.

Pat Tillett said...

Otterocity sounds very interesting! thanks for telling us about it.
I've always said that I'd like to end up on a small farm. Maybe I'll farm worms...NOT!