So today, after years of saying someday I will make a compost, I finally decided to get off my butt and get started! Why today of all days? I needed an excuse to procrastinate studying of course!Due to limited space, I decided to build a compost suitable for vermiculture (composting with worms)-surprisingly, these units are smaller than regular composts and are perfect for apartments (and can be kept under the kitchen sink).
So, how does one find the specific red worms used in composting?
"Aunt Mary, I know since you're a crazy hippie you will know somewhere out on the Island that sells worms"...this of course was followed by a "hey I may just be a crazy hippie! and no need to buy them, I have my own worms!" Where is this exchange going down you ask? At my sister-in-law's baby shower of course! Auntie Mary is going to show up with a bucket of worms taken straight out of her very own hippie compost! I will
make sure this exchange is done as conspicuously as possible.If you don't have your own crazy aunt, there are a lot of places online that ship the worms straight to your home. I've read that bait shops sell them, but truthfully, I'm a little weary of them because they're catering to a different crowd. I called one shop and the guy on the phone, lets just say, wasn't so informed. His answer was, "Yeah we have red worms and grey worms, whatever you want!" Followed by, "WHAT THE HELL, why do you want a pound of worms!! Is this for a science experiment?". Hmmm, perhaps sir. Maybe others have had better luck, this was just my experience.
Something I wish someone had told me about before I started to make the unit:
It's a real pain to drill these holes. Make sure that you use a drill thats fully charged, and don't expect to speed right through it. Also, I have heard a lot of people don't pay attention to the size measurements. While the sizes are not absolutely important, make sure that the holes that go around the outside of the container are not too big, or else the worms will be able to get out (remember, these aren't regular earthworms, red worms are very tiny).
So, as of 8:45 PM (just in time to watch The Office!) the compost unit is made! All I have to do now is get worms! Write Soon!
