Thursday, June 01, 2006

Worms.......



I spent time today harvesting one of my worm bins. Yes you have heard correctly I have worms, many worms, thousands of worms. For those of you that have never heard of vermicomposting it is a way to process kitchen scraps.
I first learned about vermicomposting many years ago while watching a daytime soap(who says there is nothing educational on Soap operas?) I decided to start my own worm bin over 2 years ago. Composting red worms cost $40 per pound Canadian, I was able to buy at a great discount from an American company that was going out of business.
No the bins don't stink! if they do then there is a problem. A proper working system will smell just like it does after a good rainshower in the spring; earthy, crisp and clean.
For some reason my worms are really therapeaudic to me. I guess I can't help but be amazed at how God thought of everything when creating the Earth and worms are our natural waste digesters. Worm castings(their poop) is many times more efficient and enriching than compost or manure, And any gardener will tell you how important they are.
Worms will turn any decaying organic material and make it a usable, necessary and potent aid to healthy plant growth. Worms also aerate the soil causing water and air to infiltrate the soil to where plant roots can readibly utilize it. Show me a soil full of worms and I will show you how it will also support much plant life.
While going through treatment for Breast cancer I struggled deeply with depression and Bill would find me many a times just looking or messing with the worm bin. It usually would only take a short time and I would feel like I had a chance in this world and also had Very Dirty Hands!
I do relate with the worm in that seemingly insignificant, God in his wisdom created it with such a humble necessary position, how much more then will he do through me?